Overview

• Union Minister Jitendra Singh affirmed on June 18 that the lateral entry policy remains operational and has not been suspended
• The government is assessing legal and procedural options to integrate reservation norms into single-post recruitments
• DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah stated that around 60 experts have been appointed through lateral entry since the scheme’s 2019 launch
• In August 2024, the UPSC withdrew an advertisement for 45 lateral posts following criticism over the absence of quotas for disadvantaged communities
• Key BJP allies, including the Lok Janshakti Party and Janata Dal (United), had opposed the policy due to its exclusion of reserved-category candidates