Since last month, UPSC has faced significant scrutiny following allegations of a reservation scam by Pooja Khedkar. This incident has sparked the emergence of numerous cases highlighting flaws in the recruitment process for civil service officers. Just as the previous controversy was beginning to settle, a new issue has arisen with the government’s announcement of 45 lateral entry positions for roles such as Joint Secretary and Deputy Director. While the advertisement includes provisions for physically disabled candidates, it notably lacks any reservation policies for SC/ST/OBC communities. This omission has triggered widespread criticism, with the opposition accusing the government of undermining social justice by potentially skewing these positions in favor of upper castes. The controversy has reignited debates over the fairness and inclusivity of the lateral entry process in India’s bureaucracy.
