The central government has reacted strongly after Rahul Gandhi's statement on lateral entry (direct recruitment). BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav refuted Rahul Gandhi's allegations and said that the UPA government was the government that first started the Administrative Reforms Commission.
Rahul Gandhi's allegation
Rahul Gandhi had accused on Twitter that the Modi government was recruiting from RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) instead of UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) and that this was taking away the reservation rights of SC-ST and OBC. His statement created a stir in politics, and BJP reacted immediately to it.
Union minister hits back
Ashwini Vaishnav countered Rahul Gandhi's allegations and said that the idea of lateral entry first came up during the tenure of the UPA government. He said that the Administrative Reforms Commission was formed in 2005 during the UPA government, which was headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily. The purpose of this commission was to make the Indian administrative system more effective, transparent and citizen-friendly.
Recommendation for lateral entry
Vaishnav said that a major recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission was to introduce lateral entry keeping in mind the need for experts in high government posts. Under this, recruitment should be done to those posts which require special knowledge and skills. The NDA government has implemented this recommendation and under this, recruitment is done by UPSC in a transparent and fair manner, which is improving governance.
Modi government's move
The Lateral Entry Scheme was formally launched in 2018 during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was aimed at increasing the efficiency and accountability of the administrative machinery. Under the scheme, the government announced vacancies for senior positions such as joint secretaries and directors. This was the first time that professionals from both private and public sectors were invited to apply for these high-level positions. The selection process was quite stringent, taking into account the candidates' qualifications, experience and suitability for these strategic positions.
Overall, on Rahul Gandhi's allegations, the Central Government has clarified that the idea of lateral entry came up during the UPA government and the NDA government has implemented it effectively, which can improve governance.
Ola to launch electric bikes soon
New order of the Center, strict action against those making substandard helmets