The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently announced the largest ever lateral entry recruitment for 45 positions across 24 central ministries. This initiative is part of the Indian government's ongoing effort to bring in specialists from outside the traditional civil service to enhance governance.
The advertised positions include 10 posts at the Joint Secretary level and 35 at the Director/Deputy Secretary level. These roles are typically filled by officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or other all-India services, but the lateral entry mode allows professionals from the private sector, PSUs, and academia to apply. The posts are contractual, with terms of three years, extendable up to five years based on performance.
Candidates interested in these roles must have substantial experience—15 years for Joint Secretary positions, 10 years for Director-level, and 7 years for Deputy Secretary-level. The recruitment is seen as a significant step towards infusing new talent and perspectives into central government operations.
Applications for these positions are open until September 17, 2024 (Tribune India) (India Today).
