Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday sharply criticized the lateral entry system for top government positions, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is appointing public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) rather than following the traditional Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) route.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi accused the Modi government of undermining the reservation system by bypassing the UPSC and recruiting individuals aligned with the RSS for key posts. “Narendra Modi is attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ instead of the Union Public Service Commission,” Gandhi stated.
He further alleged that this practice is “snatching away” the reservation benefits meant for SC, ST, and OBC categories by filling important positions in various central government ministries through lateral entry. Gandhi argued that such moves not only bypass merit but also deprive talented candidates from marginalized communities of opportunities in public service.
“Reservation for SC, ST, and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government,” he added.
The Congress leader also raised concerns about corporate influence in government appointments, citing the recent appointment of SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, who has been linked to the Adani Group. “A prime example of what representatives of a few corporates will do by occupying key government positions is SEBI, where for the first time a person from the private sector has been made the chairperson,” Gandhi remarked.
Gandhi warned that this trend is leading to the “privatization of IAS” and is part of what he described as “Modi’s guarantee” to end the reservation system. He emphasized that the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) coalition will strongly oppose what he termed as an “anti-national move” that threatens both the administrative structure and social justice.
“This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice, including reservation for the deprived,” Gandhi said. He vowed that the INDIA alliance would resist such practices, which he described as detrimental to the nation.
Gandhi’s remarks come in the wake of a recent Allahabad High Court ruling that directed the government to prepare a fresh selection list for 69,000 assistant teacher appointments in Uttar Pradesh—a decision he praised as a “befitting reply” to what he termed as the BJP government’s conspiracy against the reservation system.
The debate around lateral entry has sparked discussions on the role of the UPSC, social justice, and the integrity of India’s administrative structure.