UPSC Cancels Lateral Entry Recruitment Amid Political Controversy

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has cancelled its advertisement for lateral entry recruitment following a request from the Centre. The notification had aimed to recruit 45 joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries from both the public and private sectors. This decision came after opposition parties criticized the move, claiming it undermined reservation rights for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

In a move that has stirred significant political debate, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled its advertisement for lateral entry recruitment to bureaucracy on Tuesday. This decision followed a request from the Centre.

On August 17, the UPSC had issued a notification to recruit 45 joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries through lateral entry, which aims to bring specialists into government departments, including those from the private sector.

The initiative faced immediate backlash from opposition parties, who argued that it would undermine the reservation rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In an official cancellation notice, the UPSC stated that the advertisement for the 45 posts had been withdrawn as requested by the requisitioning authority.

Earlier, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh penned a letter to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan, urging the cancellation to ensure marginalized communities receive their rightful representation in government services.

(With inputs from agencies.)