INDIA
India’s Central Government has agreed that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is to be responsible for clearing entry appointments to 10 Joint Secretary posts in the Public Service.
Cabinet Secretary, P.K. Sinha (pictured) said the aim was to avoid allegations of favouritism while facilitating the entry of experts into the bureaucracy from outside to deal primarily with policy-making.
Direct entry into the Public Service is controversial in India where until now the only way in was though annual examinations conducted by the UPSC.
However, the Government of Narendra Modi believes this method excludes talented individuals who had initially made their careers though the private sector.
The decision to put the UPSC in charge would mean the Commission would still have the final say on entry into the Public Service.
However, it will have to start from scratch as it has no assessment criteria for screening candidates.
More than 6,000 people have applied for the direct entry jobs with a majority vying for the posts of three Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance where appointments will be for five years and the successful candidates will become permanent officers.
The Ministries will initially identify the sector for which they wish to induct an expert through set up panels for shortlisting candidates which will then be sent to the UPSC for interviews.
Joint Secretaries constitute a level of senior management taking the lead in policy-making as well as the implementing various programs and schemes.
In a separate development, the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has voted to constitute its own Public Service Commission (PSC).
This empowers the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to conduct recruitment for posts in various Departments instead of relying on the Lieutenant Governor, a presidential appointee.
The AAP lawmakers said the previous system foundered on the “repeated refusal” of the Lieutenant Governor to cooperate with the political executive, leading to a vast number of unfilled positions.
The new PSC will control recruitment, transfer and discipline of officers.
New Delhi, 10 August, 2018
