Lok Sabha Question No. 341 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Lateral Entry into Civil Services
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 341

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016)

## LATERAL ENTRY INTO CIVIL SERVICES

## *341. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a recent survey of twelve bureaucracies of Asian economies has revealed that Indian Civil Servants are the least efficient and if so, the details thereof along with the various steps taken to usher reforms in the Civil Services;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to constitute a committee to study the feasibility of lateral  entries  into  the  civil  services  that  will  include  successful  entrepreneurs, academicians and social workers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  make  it  mandatory  for  officers  of  civil services to take up temporary postings in the multinational agencies, non-profit and other private organisations, etc. to gain management and administrative practices of other sectors; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d) :  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO THE PARTS (A) TO (D) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 341 FOR ANSWER ON 10.08.2016 RAISED BY  DR.  SHASHI  THAROOR,  MP  REGARDING  'LATERAL  ENTRY  INTO  CIVIL SERVICES'

(a):  Yes Madam.  Some sections of the media have reported about such a survey by a private consultancy called Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Limited (PERC).  The available extracts of the survey indicates that it is not an officially conducted survey and is based on a limited sample.

There are other credible surveys, conducted by renowned international organisations such as  Transparency  International  and  World  Bank  showing  positive  improvement  in  the ranking  of  India  in  the  last  two  years.      As  per  the  survey  report  of  Transparency International, the rank of India has improved from 94 in 2013 to 76 in 2015.  Similarly, as per the report of World Bank, the ease of doing business ranking of India has improved from 142 in  2015  (which  was  amended  to 134  as  per  new  methodology)  to  130  in  2016 out of  189 countries.

As regards, the administrative reforms in Civil Services, the Central Government sets up Administrative Reforms Commissions (ARC) from time to time which make recommendations.      The  Pay  Commission  set  up  by  the  Central  Government  also  give recommendations on reform measures.

It  is  the  constant  endeavour of the Government to improve its efficiency and public perception through a series of measures including administrative reforms.

(b). At present there is no proposal to constitute a Committee to study the feasibility of lateral entry into the civil services.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Cadre  Rules  of  All  India  Services  interalia  enable  AIS  officers  to  take  up postings in international organisations, autonomous bodies not controlled by the Government, or  private  bodies.    However,  the  Consolidated  Deputation  Guidelines  issued  vide  OM  No 14017/33/2005-AIS(II)(Pt.I) dated 28.11.2007 as amended from time to time for AIS officers and the Consolidated Deputation Guidelines issued vide OM No AB-14017/2/2007-Estt(RR) dated 29.02.2008 as further amended on 28.03.2012 for members of organised Group A and B  services  of  Central  Government  allow  deputation  in  private  bodies  which  are  not companies (except section 25 companies) registered under the registration of Companies Act. There is  no  proposal  to  make  temporary  postings  in  multinational  agencies,  non-profit  and other private organisations, etc., mandatory.

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