Lateral Entry in Government Departments Will Not Be Discontinued – Union Minister
On June 18, 2025, Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances Jitendra Singh stated that the government has not abandoned the lateral entry policy, and the central government is still prepared to proceed with it. He reiterated that reservation rules do not apply to such recruitment processes.
His remarks came a year after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), under the instructions of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), cancelled its advertisement for filling 45 lateral entry posts including Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary roles across various ministries.
Singh emphasized that inclusive development is essential for India to become a global power. The policy, originally scrapped on August 20, 2024, drew criticism from opposition parties and allies such as Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Janata Dal (United) due to lack of reservation provisions for marginalized communities.
During a press conference celebrating 11 years of the Modi government, Singh said, “Lateral entry began with good intentions... Let’s not forget that the most famous lateral entry was that of Dr. Manmohan Singh, who later became Prime Minister. We tried to institutionalize the process through UPSC, which earlier had no objective system.”
He reiterated that reservation rules are not applicable for single-position appointments. DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah noted that nearly 60 positions have already been filled through lateral entry, with 40–45 officers still serving. “It was done to bring in new talent with specific qualifications. This is under active discussion and consideration,” she said.
The Minister assured that when roles requiring special expertise become available, the government will reinstate lateral recruitment. “Even the Supreme Court has said that reservation is not applicable in single post recruitments,” Singh added.
According to the DoPT, lateral recruitment is aimed at enhancing availability of mid-management professionals with domain knowledge and specific skill sets, and was formally initiated in 2019 with selections handled by UPSC.