Last updated: August 19, 2024 12:32 IST
Indian National Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the system of recruiting civil servants through cross-sectional recruitment would undermine reservations for SC, ST and OBC. (PTI file photo)
On Saturday, Gandhi alleged that reservation quotas for SC, ST and OBC categories are being “openly snatched away” through sidelining in key posts.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies after he criticised the Modi government’s cross-sectional recruitment system in the civil service.
Mr. Gandhi on Saturday alleged that reservations for SC, ST and OBC categories are being “openly taken away” through sidelining in key posts in central government ministries.
“Narendra Modi is violating the Constitution by recruiting civil servants through the ‘National Service Corps’ instead of the Union Public Service Commission,” the Indian National Congress party leader said in a post on X.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ों की भर्ती रसंविधान पर हमला कर रहे हैं।केंद्र सरकार के विभिन्नमंत मरालयों महत्वपूर्ण पदों पर एंट्रे ज़रिए भर्ती कर SC, ST और OBC वर्ग का आरक्षण छीना रहा है।
मैंने हमेशा…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2024
“INC Hypocrisy” by Ashwini Vaishnav
In response, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav pointed out that the concept of cross-sectional entry was developed under the Congress-led UPA government and accused the Congress of hypocrisy.
“The hypocrisy of the INC is evident on the issue of lateral entry. It is the UPA government that developed the concept of lateral entry. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was set up in 2005 under the UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily was its chairman,” he said in a X post on Saturday.
Cross-sectional entryThe hypocrisy of the INC is evident in the issue of cross-sectional entry.It was the UPA government that developed the concept of cross-sectional entry.
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was constituted in 2005 under the UPA government and was chaired by Shri Veerappa Moily.
UPA Period ARC…
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 18, 2024
Vaishnav asserted that the BJP-led NDA government has created a “transparent way” to conduct the process.
“Recruitment will be done through UPSC in a transparent and fair manner. The reforms will improve governance,” the Union Minister stressed.
The current system follows established guidelines: Amit Malviya
Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya responded to Gandhi’s post, stressing that the Congress had previously recruited new entrants across the board “without any process”, as opposed to the current system which follows existing guidelines.
“Instead of ad-hoc responses, the Government of India is now ensuring that cross-sectional entries are made based on established guidelines and that the quota and reservation system is not affected,” he asserted.
Malviya further cited official memoranda of 2016, 2019 and 2020 mandating compliance with reservation policies and list maintenance for SC, ST, OBC and PWD, as well as a Union Home Ministry memorandum of 2020 emphasising strict adherence to these reservation guidelines for cross-sectional entries.
UPSC Notification
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued an advertisement inviting applications from “talented and motivated Indian nationals” for cross-sectional recruitment to the posts of Secretaries, Directors and Additional Secretaries in 24 Union government ministries and agencies.
According to the notification, the government has invited applications for 45 subject matter expert posts, of which 10 are at the rank of Under Secretary and the rest at the rank of Director General or Additional Secretary. These posts are being recruited in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Electronics, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Renewable Energy.