After significant outcry from SC/ST/OBC communities, the central government instructed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the lateral entry posts that had been advertised recently. The UPSC had announced 45 lateral entry positions aimed at bringing in experts from outside the traditional bureaucratic pool to fill senior roles in the administration. However, this move was met with severe criticism from opposition leaders and marginalized communities.
Opposition leaders argued that the lateral entry system was an attack on social justice. They claimed that the posts would likely be filled by individuals aligned with capitalist interests and the ruling party, the BJP, thereby undermining the principles of equality and representation enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Critics voiced concerns that the absence of reservation policies in these appointments would lead to a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the bureaucracy, favoring the upper castes and elite sections of society.
The backlash highlighted fears that the lateral entry system could bypass the traditional merit-based and reservation system, which has been a crucial mechanism for ensuring representation of historically marginalized communities in government roles. In response to the mounting pressure and allegations of undermining social justice, the government decided to retract the lateral entry posts to address these concerns.
