Way Ahead

♤ 2nd ARC recommended an institutionalized, transparent process for lateral entry at both the Central and state levels. But pushback from bureaucrats, serving and retired, and the sheer institutional inertia of civil services that have existed largely unchanged for decades have prevented progress.

♤ Also the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs headed by Dr. Shashi Tharoor has urged the government to facilitate the entry of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) into foreign service in order to expand the country’s diplomatic corps.

♤ In addition to lateral entry, the method of civil service training also needs to be revamped.