UPSC to select 'suitable candidates' for lateral recruitment at JS level

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Union Government has entrusted the task of selecting 'suitable candidates' for lateral recruitment to senior positions at ten of its departments and Ministries -- for which the Centre had invited applications directly from citizens -- to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the country's central recruiting agency, said here on Tuesday.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) had invited applications on June 10 from "talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation building to join the Government on contract basis".

The Central government was criticised for advertising and inviting applications directly from citizens to become bureaucrats at the Joint Secretary (JS) level - a position which is usually filled by officers selected through the UPSC exams.

Applications were invited for the Department of Revenue, Department of Financial Services, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Economic Affairs, and Department of Commerce.

"The task of selection of suitable candidates from amongst those who have already applied in response to the same has now been entrusted to the Union UPSC by the competent authority on October 29," the UPSC said in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that all the candidates who have already submitted their applications online to DOPT are "now requested to fill up a Detailed Application Form (DAF) which seeks to obtain additional specific information from the candidates regarding qualifications and experience so as to facilitate the selection process".

"A mail is also being issued separately to each of the candidates who have applied, through their registered e-mail ID indicated in their online applications submitted in response to DoPT Advertisement," it said.

The candidates can access the link indicated in the mail addressed to them and submit online all the requisite information asked for in the DAF before 6.00 p.m. on January 1.

"The DAF received from candidates after last date of submission would not be considered," the statement said.