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Lateral Entry into Civil Services (Making it workable: How? (Setting…
Lateral Entry into Civil Services
In news
Department of
Personnel and Training has invited for
10 senior level positions(Joint Secy)
Why this move by Govt?
To infuse talent, bring domain expertise to the Country's bureaucracy
Assumption that IAS are generalists, and hence are ill suited to deal with emerging tech , techniques. policy, new thinking, complex economic issues
Democracies train their higher civil servants to be accountable rather than efficient and India is no exception - Civil servants are expected to follow decisions of Political executive-->Real masters
Civil Servant: recruited through Competitive exam cope with increasing matrix of decision making at senior levels of management?
Diverse Portfolios: Can IAS handle?
IAS designed for pre-economic reforms era--> inadequacy of Govt Machinery
Present day recruitment errors: Good administartor fail to make it and those selected fall short of administrative requirement
Security of 35 year postings: lethargy creeps in;
No performance analysis; only penalty is fringe area postings
Critical Analytical abilities of an IAS is lost to pressure from Political Masters
How present secretariat works?
Proposals are sent by the
specialized departments manned by Technical experts
Later, in consultation with other ministries
bureaucracy in the Secretariat will prepare a
cohesive note
Then, facilitation for the Minister to take final decision
Beureocrats merely guide and advice,political executive take final call
Fears in mind of IAS?
Feel threatened and Territory under assault
Would 'Divide and Rule' and demoralise the 'steel frame of Governance'
People of Politician's choice may be brought in==> UPSC should handle recruitment process
+ves of IAS
have wide field experience.
cutting edge level exposure comes
in handy
Experience of handling pressure comes in handy
Is lateral entry needed?
Certainly, will bring in much needed
outside experience and buffer
the talent within the administration and challenge the IAS into continuous self improvement
Domain experts will come handy due to their specialsied domain experience
Problems with Lateral entrants
Difficult to establish benchmark for selection in modest compensation and existing ecosystem
Difficult to refrain them from working for corporate interests: prone to crony Capitalism
Monetary compensation of pvt cant be provided for under Govt
Haven't made through arduous competitive process but through favours and lateral selection process
Way forward
institutional system by UPSC recruitment into
the IAS of mid-career professionals from diverse fields can be thought of
Making it workable: How?
Setting standards for selection: they can work with no fear of bias towards caste, geography, political affiliation etc
Targeting the top Talent: Maintaining an Extensive Database of pvt sector leaders to ID and approach excutives with skills and experience
Consensus between beareaucrats and lateral entrants
Should be a win win situation for both, useful ideas merging with career experience
More Extensive selection process to provide insights to Candidate's character, integrity and moral compass
Bridging the cultural connect between the old and new