The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by PM Modi has approved the move.
New Delhi:
Twenty-five experts from the private sector will soon join key positions at the Centre, part of the Modi government’s ambitious plan to induct such talent to further improve ease of governance, officials said today.
He said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of three joint secretaries and 22 directors/deputy secretaries in various departments of the central government.
Generally, the posts of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary are held by officers from All India Services – Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFOS) – and other Group A officers. Services, among others.
Officials said the latest induction is being done through the lateral entry mode – otherwise known as the appointment of private sector experts to government departments – aimed at bringing in fresh talent and perspective into the government.
Under the Lateral Entry Scheme launched in 2018, recruitment is done at the level of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary. Officials at these levels play an important role in policy-making.
Officers who come through the lateral entry process become an integral part of the government system.
The Ministry of Personnel had invited applications for 10 Joint Secretary-rank posts through lateral entry mode for the first time in June 2018. Recruitment for these posts was done by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The officials cited above said that the Commission had again recommended 31 candidates for appointment as Joint Secretaries (3), Directors (19), and Deputy Secretaries (9) in various central government departments in October 2021.
He said a total of 38 experts from the private sector – including 10 joint secretaries and 28 directors/deputy secretaries – have joined the government so far.
At present, there are 33 such experts, including eight joint secretaries, 16 directors and nine deputy secretaries, working in key government departments, he said, adding that two joint secretaries have completed their full three-year tenure.
Under the Lateral Entry Scheme, recruitment is made to posts requiring domain expertise from the private sector or State Government/Autonomous Bodies/Public Sector Undertakings etc.
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