Union Minister Jitendra Singh has requested UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan to withdraw the advertisement for lateral entry to 45 government posts, citing the need for "rightful representation" of marginalized communities in the government services. This decision comes after objections raised by the Opposition and key NDA allies JD(U) and LJP. Despite the government's reliance on a 1978 instruction to conclude that lateral entry does not require reservation for SC/ST/OBC candidates, the issue of reservation has been sidelined, causing concerns about fair representation for these communities.
Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will take over as the new UPSC chairperson starting Thursday. She will replace Manoj Soni and will hold the position until April 2025. Sudan, a retired IAS officer of the 1983 batch, has previously held key roles in various ministries and initiated significant flagship programmes. She has also served as a consultant with the World Bank and has been part of several global health initiatives.