Lateral Entry Portal
CANCELLED

2024 Recruitment Cancellation

45 posts cancelled within 72 hours due to reservation policy concerns

Executive Summary

Advertisement No. 54/2024 for 45 senior positions (10 Joint Secretaries, 35 Directors/Deputy Secretaries) was cancelled on August 20, 2024, just 72 hours after publication, following intense political opposition over the absence of SC/ST/OBC reservation quotas.

72-Hour Timeline

Aug 17

Advertisement Published

UPSC publishes Advertisement No. 54/2024 for 45 positions

Aug 17-19

Political Opposition

Congress, SP, BSP, and NDA allies (LJP, JD(U)) protest absence of reservations

Aug 20

Cancellation

Minister requests UPSC to cancel advertisement; UPSC complies immediately

Core Issue: Reservation Policy

The Problem

  • No SC/ST/OBC quotas in advertisement
  • Classified as "single-post cadres"
  • Constitutional equity concerns
  • Political pressure from opposition and allies

Government's Position

  • Based on Supreme Court precedent (PGIMER case)
  • Single posts technically exempt from reservations
  • Requires comprehensive policy review
  • Parliamentary committee examining issue

What Was Lost

The cancellation left critical expertise gaps in:

Digital Economy & FinTech
Cybersecurity
Climate Change Policy
Technology Innovation

Official Statement

"The Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation."

— Minister Jitendra Singh, August 20, 2024