UPSC Lateral Entry Sparks Political Clash Over Reservation Rights

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended UPSC's lateral entry posts, accusing the Congress-led UPA of hypocrisy. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the move, alleging it undermines reservation rights for OBCs, SCs, and STs. The political debate continues, with Gandhi vowing to oppose the measure.

The notification from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding lateral entry posts has sparked a political firestorm. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lashed out at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), accusing them of 'hypocrisy' for criticizing a concept they initially developed during their tenure.

Recently, the UPSC announced openings for Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry, which drew sharp criticism from opposition parties. These parties argue that the decision undermines the reservation rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Vaishnaw took to social media platform X to emphasize that the idea was conceived under the UPA regime, particularly pointing out the recommendations made by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) chaired by Veerappa Moily. However, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi countered, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is filling key government positions through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) rather than the traditional UPSC route, thus attacking the Constitution and social justice.