UPSC Lateral Entry Explained: A Pyrrhic Victory and the Incessant Political Fallout

The Historical Context:

In ancient Greece, King Pyrrhus of Epirus, a brilliant military strategist, sought to expand his kingdom by waging war against Rome. In 280 BCE, he led his army into battle at Heraclea, defeating the Romans at a tremendous cost. Despite winning, his army was severely depleted, with many of his best soldiers lost.

Undeterred, Pyrrhus fought another battle at Asculum in 279 BCE, emerging victorious again, but with even greater losses. When congratulated on his win, he famously remarked, “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” These “Pyrrhic victories” ultimately led to his downfall, as the cost of each success outweighed the victories themselves.

The Contemporary Controversy:

On August 17, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) invited applications for 45 positions at the joint secretary and director/deputy secretary levels through lateral recruitment. This announcement sparked sharp criticism not only from opposition parties but also from some allies of the ruling government. The lateral recruitment process has been perceived as a potential threat to social justice, raising concerns about its implications for representation within the Indian bureaucracy.
Lateral recruitment into civil services, implemented in 2018, allows professionals from the open market to enter key government positions on a contractual basis. This initiative was aimed at addressing the “acute shortage” of IAS officers in the government and enhancing domain expertise in governance. Since its inception, 63 such appointments have been made. However, the initiative has been contentious, particularly regarding reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). In 2018, the then Minister of State for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) clarified that reservation rules would not be mandatory for these lateral recruits, a stance that continues to fuel discontent over the perceived loss of reservation opportunities.

This policy undermines affirmative action measures designed to ensure diversity and inclusivity. It exacerbates the already inadequate representation of SC, ST, and OBC officers at the top levels of the bureaucracy. In December 2022, Minister of State Jitendra Singh reported that of the 322 officers holding the posts of Joint Secretaries and Secretaries under the Central Staffing Scheme, only 16, 13, and 39 officers belonged to the SC, ST, and OBC categories, respectively. The representation of SC and ST officers at the rank of joint secretary and secretary in the Government of India stands at just 4% and 4.9%, respectively, according to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)^[1].

Continuing Political Fallout:

The latest round of lateral recruitment has intensified these concerns, prompting the government to reconsider its stance. Within 48 hours of the UPSC announcement, the government was compelled to retract the move, a significant victory for the opposition. This incident underscores the increasingly assertive role of the opposition  play in challenging the government on issues of democratic governance and social justice.

BJP’s Struggles in a Shifting Political Landscape:

In recent times, the BJP’s flagship schemes and attempts to curtail democratic diversity have faced persistent resistance from the opposition and rejection by NDA allies. Notable examples include the revocation of the removal of indexation benefits for Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax, the withdrawal of the Broadcast Bill, and the Waqf Bill’s referral to the joint Parliamentary Committee after drawing criticism.

These setbacks occurred against the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP faced a formidable challenge. Although the BJP failed to secure an outright majority, it emerged as the single largest party with 240 seats and managed to form a government for the third time, relying on alliances with regional parties like Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP]. These regional allies, who politically rely on secularism, federalism, and social justice, to maintain their political relevance in their respective states.

However, retaining power under new constraints with the support of regional forces with glaring contradictions in terms of ideology and political demands has proven to be a double-edged sword for the BJP. On one hand, these alliances are indispensable for the BJP to remain in power; on the other, they force the party to compromise on its core ideological principles, tempering its Hindutva agenda and potentially weakening its core base.

The Implications for BJP’s Ideological Ambitions:

This precarious position has likely decelerated the BJP’s ambitions of establishing a Hindu Rashtra. Furthermore, the ruling regime’s commitment to secularism, federalism, and social justice has come under increasing scrutiny. The government’s stance on these issues is consistently questioned by both opponents and allies. The BJP’s “Pyrrhic victory” has resulted in a government that, while retaining power, has lost its ideological sincerity, leading to an impact core Hindutva base now constrained by the need to accommodate the aspirations of its regional partners and balance competing interests. This situation represents a significant shift in politics. This shift may also have ripple effects on morale and core cadres engagement with the organisation.

Navigating a Complex Political Terrain:

The BJP’s ability to maintain its political position while addressing the aspirations of its allies will be crucial in determining its term in power. The scrutiny of its policies, coupled with increasing pressure from both opposition and allies, indicates that the upcoming period will be pivotal. These developments could significantly influence the BJP’s future trajectory and its impact on India’s socio-political fabric.

The current scenario has created necessitated space for reviving the philosophy of very idea of India. This phase has provided breathing room for the opposition while shrinking the space for the suffocating BJP, which now struggles to sustain the position and satisfy both its ideological base and its allies at the cost of depleting its own. The opposition and civil society must optimally exploit this opportunity to prevail the narrative around the future of India, and strive towards a prosperous nation as envisioned by the founding fathers of the nation. Most importantly, Exposing the fault lines with the Hindutva politics.

Conclusion:

The forthcoming periods are more salient for both the ruling and opposition as controversial initiatives like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the concept of “One Nation, One Election, One Religion, One Language, One Identity” tend to subvert the secularism, federalism and democracy enshrined in constitution are coming to the fore. It’s high time for the opposition and civil society to remain vigilant and successfully reclaiming the very democratic essence of India. This tenure in power may ultimately be remembered as a pyrrhic victory for the BJP and its Hindutva politics.

^[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/scst-representation-at-secretary-joint-secy-level-in-centre-stands-at-4-and-49-govt-data-in-rajya-sabha/article66267048.ece