New Delhi: The Modi government is set to resume the task of reforming the recruitment of officers to the premier civil services.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), ThePrint has learnt, is expected to share its 100-day plan with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) this week with a recommendation for a unified foundation course on recruitment to top civil services such as the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, among others.
It is also expected to recommend an expansion of the lateral entry programme, a top DoPT official said.
“The plan has been agreed upon in the ministry, and will be now presented to the PMO any day,” the official said.
‘Unified Foundation Course’
The idea of a unified foundation course was first proposed by the PMO last year. It was suggested that candidates selected by the UPSC would be allotted services not on the basis of their rankings in the UPSC exam, but on the basis of a unified foundation course.
The proposal, however, was put on the backburner after the government faced enormous backlash for attempting to tweak the recruitment of civil servants, and introducing a high degree of subjectivity in the process of service allocation.
The DoPT wants to make a fresh attempt to bring all 1,000-1,200 candidates selected by UPSC under a unified foundation course soon after they are recruited by the commission.
But it is not clear yet whether the ministry plans to tweak the service allocation rules on the basis of the foundation course or hold the course after the candidates are allotted their services.
One official said this is a first step towards implementing the original proposal to allot services after the foundation course.
“The ministry has been mulling over the issue for the past year since the idea has merit,” another official said. “We have been trying to find a way to introduce it in a manner that the criticism against the proposal is adequately addressed without diluting its merit,” the official added.
“Even last year the idea of holding a unified foundation course in the national capital was being explored.”
The foundation course is an introductory course for freshly recruited civil servants in India. While the course is mandatory for all, it is a formality since probationers are allocated services and cadre on the basis of their ranking in the UPSC, way before the course begins.
Also read: IAS to blame for govt wanting domain experts, say officers of other civil services
Expansion of lateral entry
Another fundamental reform that the DoPT is expected to share is the expansion of the lateral entry scheme under which the Modi government recruits domain experts into the bureaucracy.
According to sources, the DoPT would suggest expanding the lateral entry system at the director and deputy secretary level in the government.
As reported by ThePrint earlier this week, even NITI Aayog is set to hire over 50 domain experts through lateral entry at the level of directors, joint secretaries and additional secretaries.
Last year, the Modi government announced that it would recruit 10 domain experts as joint secretaries in the central government. Earlier this year, UPSC recommended the appointment of nine lateral entrants, who are yet to be given their appointment letters by the government.
Also read: UPSC has shortlisted lateral entry aspirants, but no one knows when they’ll be appointed
Lateral entry from other govt organisations like the armed forces which are in any calamity/ pressing situations called to intervene can well be trusted by the government to serve the country in administrative matters too. Their rich experience in managing tough situations can be used by the government too.
IPS should b scrapped frm UPSC .why b coz Police is state subject on part of law nd order. Hence, police constable to SP of a district is enough to deal with Da situation.above Collector,District magistrate r Chief secty r Cabinet secty in position of IAS ‘ll look after.so no need of DyIG to DGP not required..practically ..plse explore in this regard for better justice n governance /implementation of L and O. thank u .
This is totally rubbish so the people who don’t know anything will serve at a higher post whereas the person who have done so much of hard work to pursue such a prestigious job profile will have to work under someone who got the opportunity due to the government wants to settle their favorites person having a common idealogy to make things worst for other peoples.
Now belonging to upper caste is the key to get prestigious job in IAS ,IPS .It will break the moral of aspirants who struggle to score high marks in the exam rest of upper caste.
Don’t try to change the constitution, follow it …dear govt..we vote u to develop india …..not to do politics with administration system of nation.
I think politicians should not interfere in UPSC exams since they will tweak this for their personal benefits.
Secondly, UPSC exams itself is a toughest exams then what the need for foundation programs after qualifying in UPSC exams.
This is the policy of BJP to spoil the image of UPSC.
Its all about bring nepotism , favouritism in this prestigious services it would not be public.Ranking system is public i. e every one knows who will got ias, Ips. Inshort whom BJP wants to bring in office they will bring them
Some people say that RSSPeoplw may come thru latwral entry. If for 64 years People from Congress and communist ideology can be recruted and people send by Italian and pakistani ISI can be recruted, then let RSS People also come. As they are more patriots than people with Congress ideology.
Good step taken by government but it should be insured that selection of candidates should be done by high ranking officials from various departments having good history, good working experience and loyal to nation.
A conference should be responsible for selection of candidates. Conference should include experienced members from inside as well as from outside government and it should be unbiased from politics similarly as in defense selection system. However all steps should be taken to keep it at distant from politics
This best proposal not only to reinvigorate the administration but also to break the monopoly. The results of having monopoly in administration are there to see before all.
I would rather say that entry of state service officers into IAS should also be based on absolute merit to stop the dud from entering into the premier service.
The only thing in this world unchanged is change.but it should be useful.The lateral entry scheme process will definitely affects our system badly.those guys r corporates .most of the officers belonging to all india services r came from different background.they r serving for our people very well.corporates wnt service.they always work for profit.they r not suit for public services.The foundation course to allot cadres will be major disaster among the candidates .it will affect the morality of the candidates.the direct recruitment of RAW is stopped in early 80 s due to neoptism affected our intelligence agency s pride which still we cnt reagain. This ideas will adversely affects our pathetic people.
@Ashu – Reservation aur Affimative action pad k aao.. 5-6% of total Indian population hain Brahmin and Baniyas, yet they own over 70% of country’s resources. They are heads of all Departments, even Supreme Court is full of them and so is cabinet. So, talk sensibly. Anyways question is of Govt. deciding the allotment.. superceding aspirant’s choice and imposing its will. So, that must be opposed by all, including the ones like you.
The entire selection process right from the written qualifying test to the final stage of the interview is faulty. Like in any other examinations the candidates prepare themselves keeping in mind to pass the prelims and then go for the main.What is missing in this process is the aptitude and preorientaion for civil services but since passing is the criteria and associated power and position of the post which becomes the ultimate motivating force.In given situation even a thoroughly groomedlayman can qualify and become eligible for any post.The end result is we have a huge army of bureaucrats who remain conscious of their status which makes them arrogant and unassesible to common citizen.The whole bureaucracy is founded on wrong premises of the colonial era hence not conducive for the people.Who can question the members of the public service commission whose credibility is quite often dubious.Some of the members are there simply because of their close proximity to power holders.Its time to do away with the UPSC.
Now the time has come and need of hour to introduce domain expert personnel@ decision making level i.e. Secretaries, Additional Secretaries and Joint secretaries as an expert by 50:50 which may be extended up to 60:40 in near future. More subject and domain expert from Government/ Public Sectors and Corporate world and Global faces of Indian to be incorporated at these decisions making body of India Union to comepete and make our Country at top 3-5 position of world.
General category ke candidate me talent hoga wo aage jayega itta prestigious exam dene bethte ho on what on the basis of reservation?why u dont have confidence inurself?
So, not Rank but licking boots and belonging to upper caste will decide what one gets… Anyways, Indians have citizen rights.. and DOPT or PMO is no one to decide what an aspirant wants to become. There will hell if people are forced.. mind it!
Agar iss tarah ka behuda harkat government krti hai to ye sarasar galat hai….. Inka motive ye hai ki har department me inka admi rhe, jinko ye direct entry denge….. Ye ch*t*yaPA Hai……. Training toh formalities ke liye hai, usme kha se competition krayenge………… Aise koi vote nhi dega modi ko……… Bhai upsc cse se toh mazak mat karo………
#shameful
present system of allocating service according to ranks of a candidate in the UPSC CSE examination will be discontinued and service would be allocated on the after foundation course.
Sir if the new system is implemented then merit of a candidate would be compromised and it would through the selection open to political favouritism.
Also it would make the very purpose of the UPSC CSE examination meaningless.
Dear Sir, Please look into the matter. Our future is at stake. We study for long hours and sacrifice everything for the UPSC and some poor aspirants even are forced to sell their home and precious belongings.
The problem with “lateral entry” is simple – how do we know that these “lateral entry,” people will actually be used and be capable of working in a govt setup? Govt is very different from private sector. Joining as a Joint secretary is a big deal – even if the person has high academic abilities doesnt mean they will have the ability to work with others and convince people to work with them . Indian bureaucracy is all about cooperation – any hero who thinks he will reform the system singlehandedly usually fails spectacularly. Trust among IAS/IPS officers based on cadre and batch are a real thing – these cannot be earned overnight by these “lateral” officers.
Ultimately the aim is to make administration better – not cripple what already exists. Tinkering therefore should be done after careful study – not kneejerk reactions .
It’s a way to bring RSS into system and make India rise to the top.
Good approach by Govt.Top rank may not be good administrator.
The entire structure of the Vritish-made civil service system needs total overhaul. The absolute control of the IAS must be done away with. There must be equally among all the services in all respects and this parity must be enshrined in the constitution. The special status of “Superior Revenue Establishment of GoI”, a Colonial legacy, accorded to the railway board must be withdrawn forthwith. As in the USA, the Revenue Service must be accorded the prime place in the civil services.
Ye sab reservation system khatam karne k liye kar rha hai modi jisse general category wale sab job le jaye or reservation system for sc/St end ho jaye.
IAS will try their best to sink this scheme as they want generalist not specialised people to control India
This is totally a finest & cleanest way to intrude in UPSC selection to IAS, IPS IFS other allied services. Making steel frame of India just a mere government agent (actually make it official that they will
be mere political parties’ puppet) and not public servant.
50 lateral entry is to cut the lobbying cost of all corporate houses.
If more lateral entry ocxurs then Policy will be based on what is good for companies rather than the country and its people.
So govt should not hire fresh graduate/scholer for ias, and the selection pattern/subject course should be entirely changed based on professional education/experience. Here govt should not create confused situation amongst ias aspirants. Also it should be clear whether fresh graduates should prepare for IAS services based on their academic qualification, if no, then middle school and graduation course should be entirely changed based on industrial qualifications. Here with current education scenarios it can’t be implemented.