Question : Policy for Lateral Entry in Bureaucracy

(a) whether the Government has introduced the policy of lateral entry in the bureaucracy and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether such move without transparency, would increase the unaccountability and nepotism in the system and demoralise the civil servants and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is an urgent need to review the existing appraisal system for civil services;
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government has proposed to link service/cadre allocation for candidates who clear the Civil Services Examination to their performance in the 15-week foundation course and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): Government has, from time to time, appointed some prominent persons for specific assignments in government, keeping in view their specialized knowledge and expertise in the domain area. NITI Aayog, in its three year Action Agenda, and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) on Governance, in its report submitted in February 2017, have recommended for induction of personnel in the middle and senior management level in the Government. Based on this, it has been decided, in principle, to appoint outside experts to 10 positions of Joint Secretary in identified Ministries/Departments and 40 positions at Deputy Secretary/Director level.

Advertisement inviting application from individuals for the post of Joint Secretary in ten identified Ministries/Departments was issued by DoP&T. The entire selection process of the candidates was entrusted to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC, after conducting the selection process, has recommended nine individuals for appointment as Joint Secretary in nine identified Ministries/Departments.


Contd.P.-2/-
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(b): No sir in view of reply to part (a) above. No adverse effect on the morale of the civil servants has resulted from lateral recruitment.

(c) & (d): The appraisal of performance of all civil services officers (other than All India Services(AIS)) is governed by Government instructions. The officer reported upon submits his self-appraisal in the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR). The reporting authority, reviewing authority and in some cases the accepting authority record their remarks. The full APAR is communicated to the officer reported upon giving an opportunity to submit representation, if any, against the entries and the final grade in the report. The existing performance appraisal is consultative and transparent.

(e): No such proposal is under consideration.


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