Applications have been invited for 10 joint secretary posts, which include two each in finance and MeitY (electronics and IT) ministries, and one each in environment, steel, shipping, science and technology, renewable energy and home ministry.Considering the need to go for people with specialisation, the MeitY has invited applications for joint secretary for ’emerging technologies’ and another for ‘semiconductor and electronics’.
Opposition slams lateral entry move, says it undermines quotas
The two joint secretaries in the finance ministry will be hired for FinTech, cyber security and investment.
According to the notification, the applications for the posts will have to be submitted by Sept 17 and will be on contract basis for three years, extendable to five years depending upon performance. The vacancies for joint secretaries in the shipping and environment ministries have been advertised as the term of two such officers hired earlier through lateral entry is ending.
The fresh notification has triggered a strong protest from the opposition, which accused govt of systematically undermining the reservation system that safeguards opportunities for marginalised communities and their “rightful” share in governance.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “BJP, which has ripped apart the Constitution, has made a double attack on reservation! Under a well-planned conspiracy, BJP is deliberately making such recruitments in jobs so that SC, ST, OBC classes can be kept away from reservation.”
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) neta Tejashwi Yadav slammed the move as a “dirty joke” on the reservation system and the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. He said if these 45 posts were filled through the traditional civil services examination, nearly half of them would have been reserved for SC, ST, and OBC candidates.
According to the UPSC notification, applications have been invited for 35 director and deputy secretary posts. These appointments will be for climate change and soil conservation, credit, natural farming, organic farming and water management in the agriculture ministry; commodity pricing in the consumer affairs department, insolvency and bankruptcy in the corporate affairs ministry, two in the education ministry to deal with education laws and technology to name a few.
Applicants for the post of joint secretary need a minimum of 15 years of experience and must be in the age of 40-55 years. The gross salary will be approximately Rs 2.7 lakh per month. Similarly, director and deputy secretary candidates need a minimum of 10 and seven years of experience respectively. They must be in the age group of 35-45 years for director and 32-40 years for deputy secretaries.