The Indian government has withdrawn its newly announced policy for hiring senior government officials through lateral entry, just days after its implementation, Bloomberg reports.
The decision comes after widespread opposition from both coalition partners and opposition parties, who criticized the move for potentially undermining affirmative action in government employment.
The policy, announced last week by the Union Public Service Commission, aimed to fill federal positions with candidates hired from outside the traditional civil services examination process. This sparked outrage, particularly from the opposition, who argued that the policy would disproportionately benefit candidates from privileged backgrounds.
“The underprivileged are not represented in all the top positions in the country, including the top bureaucracy,” said Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition and Modi’s fiercest critic, on social media platform X. “Instead of improving this, they are being pushed further away from top positions through lateral entry.”
The policy reversal highlights the growing pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government following its failure to secure an absolute majority in the recent elections. The dependence on coalition partners has limited Modi’s ability to push through bold legislation and policies with ease, as seen in his previous two terms.
Notably, the government recently deferred a bill on broadcasting services, demonstrating a shift in political dynamics.
