In a clear signal that administrative reforms will be a key focus area in his second term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to expand the policy of lateral entry for vacancies in the federal government by increasing the intake of officers at the Joint Secretary level from outside the system to at least 40 percent. The joint secretaries who form the backbone of various administrative ministries in New Delhi are currently sourced largely from the Indian Administration Service.
The Modi government has been aggressively pushing the idea of infusing subject matter expertise in administrative apparatus and usher in specialized niche skills to improve the governance delivery process.
NITI Aayog, which is the think tank of the government, will process the recruitment of the next batch of fifty-five officers at different levels, including directors, joint secretaries, and additional secretaries, through this route.
The idea of lateral entry of officials into the administration is not new. The late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi brought in Manmohan Singh as Finance Secretary, who then went on to become Prime Minister of India.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
