The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (August 21, 2025) that reservation norms do not apply to lateral entry appointments in government services.
In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh stated that since 2018, 63 appointments have been made at the level of Joint Secretary/Director/Deputy Secretary on a contract/deputation basis into various government departments through lateral entry in three cycles (2018, 2021, and 2023).
In light of their specialised knowledge and skills in the field, the minister explained that these appointments were made for specific tasks. “Since each of these appointments has been made against a single post cadre, the reservation is not applicable in view of the
Hon’ble Supreme Court judgement in the case titled ‘PGIMER, Chandigarh Vs. Faculty Association and Ors’ and accordingly category wise data of the appointed officers has not been maintained,” he stated.
According to Singh, 43 officials currently hold posts in several ministries and departments. He was answering questions about “whether a reservation pattern has been followed in this recruitment” among other things, and about the hiring of central government officers through lateral entry during the previous five years. In August of last year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled an offer to fill important positions in government ministries through lateral entry because of a political spat over the absence of a reservation provision.
The hiring of experts, including those from the private sector, in government agencies is known as “lateral entry”
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