Narendra Modi

New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move, the Modi government is set to welcome 25 private sector specialists into crucial government roles, marking a significant stride towards enhancing governance efficiency. This initiative, part of the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline administration and bolster policy-making, was announced today by officials in the national capital.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has green-lighted the induction of three joint secretaries and 22 directors/deputy secretaries across various central government departments. Traditionally, these influential positions have been occupied by career bureaucrats from all-India services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS), among other Group A services.

This latest wave of appointments is facilitated through the lateral entry mode, a strategy designed to infuse the government with fresh talent and perspectives by recruiting specialists from the private sector directly into key administrative roles. Initiated in 2018, the lateral entry scheme targets levels critical to policy formulation and implementation, aiming to leverage the unique insights and expertise that seasoned professionals from outside the traditional civil service can offer.

Since its inception, the lateral entry scheme has sought to enrich the government’s administrative capabilities by opening its doors to domain experts. The Personnel Ministry first sought applications for 10 joint secretary-level positions in June 2018, a pioneering step executed via the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Following this, in October 2021, the UPSC recommended 31 candidates for various roles, signaling a continued commitment to this innovative approach to governance.

To date, 38 private sector specialists have been incorporated into the government through this scheme, with 33 currently active in their respective roles, including eight joint secretaries, 16 directors, and nine deputy secretaries. This initiative not only represents a paradigm shift in the recruitment policy but also underscores the government’s dedication to adopting best practices from the private sector to enhance decision-making and policy effectiveness.

The lateral entry scheme emphasizes the government’s openness to diverse professional backgrounds, aiming to attract individuals with specialized knowledge and experience that align with the government’s strategic objectives. By doing so, it seeks to create a more dynamic, responsive, and efficient administrative framework capable of addressing the complex challenges of modern governance.

As these 25 new specialists prepare to assume their roles, the government’s message is clear: the infusion of external talent is not just an experiment but a long-term strategy to enrich India’s administrative services with fresh ideas, innovative approaches, and a renewed focus on results-driven governance.