NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has now opened the doors of bureaucracy to skilled people from the private sector, inviting applications for ten senior-level posts. The post of the joint secretary – crucial to policy making and implementation of government programmes – is filled by career bureaucrats, who usually join the service after passing exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
The idea of lateral entry into bureaucracy has been under discussion on and off for years, but this is the first time it has been acted upon. The government has said it is keen on it to bring in "fresh ideas and new approaches to governance".
The notification from the Department of Personnel Training says it is looking for 10 "outstanding individuals" who are willing to contribute towards nation building. Those eligible include "Individuals working at comparable levels in Private Sector Companies, Consultancy Organisations, International/Multinational Organisations with a minimum of 15 years' experience".
The recruitment will be done on contract basis for three to five years. The recruitments will be made in 10 departments – including Revenue, Financial Services, Economic Affairs, Commerce and Civil Aviation.
The posts are also open to officials of any state or union territory government who are already working at a similar level, and individuals working at comparable levels in public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, universities and research institutes. To attract talented individuals from the private sector, the government has also kept the salary structure at par.
'Selected applicants shall be placed at the beginning of the pay scale as applicable to Joint Secretary i.e. Rs.144200-18200 per month (Level 14 of Pay Matrix).
To maintain transparency in the recruitment drive, the DoPT has barred any physical applications. And all interest individuals must submit their applications online at online at http://Lateral.nic.in from 15th June, 2018 to 30th July, 2018 till 5 pm.
It should be noted that such open recruitment drive for private sector individuals was first suggested by the Niti Aayog last year.
However, the move has come under severe criticism from the opposition, with Congress leader PL Punia calling it a ploy to induct people with RSS leanings who would then influence government decisions. Bihar Leader of Opposition and RJD member Tejashwi Yadav said the government had made a joke out of the Constitution.