MUCH ADO ABOUT LATERAL ENTRY

The govt's biggest lateral hiring initiative came undone in three days, but the issue remains alive

Does the bureaucracy need specialists, especially in niche areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles, climate change, cryptocurrency and many others? Is there resistance among civil servants to outsiders? How can the road ahead for lateral entry be smoother? And should there be reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs within the lateral recruitment system? Business Standard spoke to several officials who have held key positions in the government.

One of the renowned lateral hires, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who held many positions including economic adviser in the finance ministry, special secretary to the PM, commerce secretary, finance secretary, and then deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, says the idea that a generalist civil service pool is sufficient to fill all jobs in the government is simply wrong. "The idea that all government jobs should be filled by promotion from within ignores the fact that many jobs require specialised experience which cannot be acquired by working within the government. This is especially so in an economy developing rapidly and when technology is changing," he points out.

Even as some lateral hires believe there is tension while working in the government, Ahluwalia says: "I think resistance by civil servants is exaggerated. In any case, it can be overcome by allowing civil servants to take a five-year break and work in the private sector in mid-career. This would introduce a degree of parity."

Consultants, experts Former Election Commissioner and retired IAS officer, Ashok Lavasa, brings in the consultant angle into the narrative. While stressing that in principle he is in favour of lateral entrants, he says the government needs to make clear the need for such recruitment. "Expertise in any subject can be offered by a consultant. Recruitment of those consultants into the government will not make a difference in what they have to offer as advice," he says.