India’s Lateral Entry Scheme: Challenges, Controversies, and the Road Ahead

The Lateral Entry Scheme’s fate hinges on the Modi government’s ability to navigate competing priorities. While reservations address equity concerns, diluting merit risks defeating the scheme’s original purpose.

Introduction The Indian government unveiled the Lateral Entry Scheme, a revolutionary policy aimed at transforming the country’s bureaucracy by injecting private-sector expertise into mid-level roles. The goal was ambitious: to modernize governance, accelerate decision-making, and bridge the gap between India’s policymaking elite and grassroots realities. Fast forward to 2024, and the scheme lies in tatters. After … Read more