Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
In News: Lateral entry in UPSC will further distance marginalised from centres of power
The need for the induction of personnel at senior and middle management levels in government has been repeatedly upheld and affirmed by various reports. To what extent, in your opinion, can lateral entrants enhance governance ?
NITI Aayog, in its three-year Action Agenda, and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) on Governance in its report submitted in February 2017, recommended the induction of personnel at middle and senior management levels in the central government.
Lateral Entry: A Catalyst for Enhanced Governance:
1. Specialized Expertise:
- Domain-Specific Knowledge: Lateral entrants often possess specialized expertise in areas like technology, finance, management, or policy research. This can address the government’s growing need for technical skills and knowledge to tackle complex challenges.
- Industry Best Practices: They bring in valuable insights from the private sector or other organizations, introducing innovative practices and approaches that can improve efficiency and effectiveness.
2. Fresh Perspectives:
- Challenging the Status Quo: Lateral entrants are less likely to be bound by traditional bureaucratic norms, allowing them to question existing practices and propose alternative solutions.
- New Ideas and Approaches: Their fresh perspectives can stimulate creativity and innovation, leading to more effective and responsive government services.
3. Faster Decision-Making:
- Reduced Learning Curve: Lateral entrants often have relevant experience, reducing the time needed to understand complex issues and make informed decisions.
- Practical Approach: Their practical experience can help translate policy decisions into concrete actions, leading to faster implementation and results.
4. Improved Accountability:
- Performance-Oriented Culture: Lateral entrants may be more accustomed to performance-based metrics, which can help foster a culture of accountability and results-driven governance.
- Transparency and Efficiency: Their experience in organizations with higher levels of transparency and efficiency can contribute to improved governance practices.
5. Attracting Top Talent:
- Competitive Compensation: Lateral entry can attract top talent from the private sector by offering competitive compensation and opportunities for career growth.
- Prestige and Impact: The chance to make a significant impact on public policy and improve the lives of citizens can be a powerful motivator for talented individuals.
Limitations of Lateral Entry:
- Lateral entrants, often appointed for shorter tenures, may lack the long-term commitment and loyalty that permanent civil servants develop.
- Potential conflicts of interest between public service and private sector backgrounds could influence decision-making.
- Gives rise to an ethical dilemma: binary of merit vs reservation ; principle of “expertise” and “merit” against the imperatives of “social justice” and “equality”.
- Lateral entrants may not have a deep understanding of the intricacies of government processes, procedures, and regulations. This can hinder their effectiveness in their roles.
- A mismatch between the lateral entrant’s values and the government’s culture can hinder their success.
- The introduction of lateral entry will undermine democratisation of the recruitment process guaranteed by reservation.
Way ahead:
- Selection process must include contractual clauses that address conflicts of interest, enforce non-disclosure agreements, and ensure accountability.
- Transparent and Accountable Processes: Ensuring that the lateral entry process is transparent and accountable, with clear guidelines and mechanisms for review.
- Inclusive Selection Criteria: Developing selection criteria that consider both merit and social justice factors.
Constant evaluation of the system is essential and bringing changes which suits the time is necessary not just for the good of civil services but ultimately for the good of India.
| PYQ : To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots ?2022 GS2To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? 2017 GS 2 |