Modi government’s 6 U-turns: From Farm Laws to Broadcast Bill

On August 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took swift action, directing the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to cancel an advertisement issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the appointment of joint-secretary-level officers and other key positions through the lateral entry process.

This decision came in response to mounting criticism from the Opposition and some BJP allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Just two days prior, on August 18, the UPSC had advertised 45 positions to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. The aim was to recruit officials for various roles in specific central ministries through lateral entry, either on a contract basis or through deputation.

The recruitment was slated to take place across 24 ministries, with 10 joint secretary and 35 director/deputy secretary posts up for grabs. The deadline for filling these positions was set for September 17.

The announcement sparked outrage from the Opposition, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati criticizing the lack of reservations for SC, ST, and OBC candidates.

Even NDA allies like Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janashakti Party raised objections, prompting the government to backtrack on its initial decision.

Ultimately, the government had to retract the controversial ‘lateral entry’ hiring initiative on August 20, just three days after the UPSC’s advertisement.

The Opposition seized on the government’s reversal, claiming that this was yet another instance of the government rolling back its decisions, reminiscent of previous instances like the indexation benefits and the broadcast bill.

The overturn on the ‘lateral entry’ issue is significant as it falls under the Ministry of Personnel, which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister.

The perception of a ‘weak Modi 3.0’ stems from the BJP’s failure to secure a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leading to the reliance on allies to form the NDA government. This dependency on allies has been seen to influence decision-making within the government.

Previous governments under Modi have also experienced rollbacks, demonstrating a pattern of flexibility in governance decisions.