Modi government junks UPSC, offers 10 Joint Secretary level posts to non-civil servants

NEW DELHI: Just days after Congress President Rahul Gandhi slammmed the Modi-led government of attempting to saffronise the Indian bureaucracy, the Center has sought applications for Joint Secretary level jobs, a mid-ranking position usually filled through the Union Service Public Commission route (UPSC).

The government on Sunday in an official release said it is looking for 10 “outstanding individuals” even people from the private sector to senior positions in the Government of India. It means even a non-civil servants with the pro-RSS think-tank or any other private entities with remote RSS links will also be eligible to apply.

Titled as ‘LATERAL RECRUITMENT TO SENIOR POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,’ the advertisement by the Department of of Personnel and Training said, “The Government of India invites talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation building to join the Government at the level of Joint Secretary.” It then went on to explain the role of Joint Secretaries stating ‘Joint Secretaries are at a crucial level of senior management in the Government of India.’

“They lead policy making as well as implementation of various programmes and schemes of the Department assigned to them. Joint Secretaries report to the Secretary/Additional Secretary in the Ministry/ Department,” the ad said.

As for the eligibility, the ad said, “Officers of any State/UT Government who are already working at equivalent level or are eligible for appointment to equivalent level in their cadre, with relevant experience. Individuals working at comparable levels in Public, Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Autonomous Bodies, Statutory Organisations, Universities, Recognized Research Institutes with a minimum of 15 years experience.”

The move sparked a controversy and elicited angry response from activists and journalists and leaders of Opposition parties.

“How can this Manuwadi government ignore UPSC and appoint people they like in posts as important as that of a joint secretary without any exam? This is a serious violation of both the Constitution as well as reservation criteria,” Yadav tweeted.

“Tomorrow they will appoint the prime minister and the Cabinet without elections. They have made a joke of the Constitution,” he said.

Earlier Rahul Gandhi had warned the students against the government’s plan to “appoint” officers of RSS’s choice into the Central Services.

In his tweet along with a letter issued by a Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, he wrote: “Rise up students, your future is at risk! RSS wants what’s rightfully yours. The letter below reveals the PM’s plan to appoint officers of RSS’s choice into the Central Services, by manipulating the merit list using subjective criteria, instead of exam rankings,” Gandhi tweeted.