Only 2 pc applicants fit for lateral entry interviews

The government announced the opening the higher bureaucracy to private sector with much fanfare last year but only around 2% of the applicants were found to be eligible to be short-listed for interview.

After the government issued applications for joint secretary-rank posts through "lateral entry" mode in June last year, 6,077 people have applied. Of this, only 89 has been short-listed for an interview in ten departments or ministries.

The largest short-list is of Ministry of Shipping and Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with 14 each while the lowest is Ministry of Commerce with just two and Department of Economic Affairs with three.

Asked about the lesser numbers in short-list, a senior official said it was not low as one would want to see. “We cannot expect bigger numbers for a short list in such higher positions,” the official said.

However, another official said this could also mean that the offer did not excite those who have the required experience and expertise. Only around 2% cleared the criteria set by the UPSC, the official said.

The government had roped in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) later and it had asked these applicants to submit a 'Detailed Application Form', which formed the basis of a scrutiny and short-listing. The posts are in the departments of revenue, financial services, economic affairs and agriculture and farmers welfare and ministries of road transport and highways, shipping, environment, new and renewable energy, civil aviation and commerce.

Of the total 6,077 who initially applied, only 3,768 submitted the DAF, which contained additional specific information from the candidates regarding qualifications and experience so as to facilitate the selection process.

Among those who submitted the DAF, the highest number was for the post of joint secretary (financial) at 641 while the lowest was for the department of economic affairs with 162.

For the Ministry of Commerce, the UPSC could short-list only two out of 341 final applicants while for Economic Affairs, it was three from 162.

In the Ministry of Commerce, the applicant should have an MBA or master's degree in Economics or Commerce or Business Economics or Foreign Trade preferably with additional qualification in IT, computer science, operational research and supply chain management.

The applicant in Department of Economic Affairs should have a master's degree in economics or finance or engineering or business administration. The applicant should also have an experience of at least five years in top management position across various facts of the project life-cycle including project design, appraisal, financing, implementation, commissioning, monetisation.

	Originally Applied after govt notification	Those who submitted DAF	Short-listed for interview
Dept of Revenue	374	299	9
Dept of Financial Service	1100	641	10
Ministry of Shipping	327	201	14
Ministry of New and Renewal Energy	899	590	9
Ministry of Civil Aviation	374	238	13
Dept of Economic Affairs	291	162	3
Ministry of Commerce	584	341	2
Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare	910	545	14
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways	573	346	8
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change	645	405	7