Lateral Entry in Civil Services – Will it Bring Better Governance?

Recently, the central government has appointed 9 non-governmental professionals selected by the UPSC, under the lateral entry scheme. In this context, it is essential to understand the issue of generalists vs specialists, the concept of lateral entry, and its implications for the governance in India.

What is a lateral entry?

• The term Lateral Entry in civil services denotes the move by the government to appoint outsiders (not candidates from the civil service examination) in the middle rung of the ministries particularly in the sectors of economy and infrastructure.