Harnessing talent, shoring up system, Pg13.

Key Highlights:

• The Government of India is set to reform the appointment system for individual consultants in major departments like Economic Affairs and Niti Aayog.
• These consultant positions, including young professionals and interns, are currently selected by departments independently, outside the UPSC or SSC systems.
• Consultants are typically appointed for up to two years, extendable to a maximum of five years.
• The government aims to streamline the selection process, extension policies, and maximum tenure for these consultants.

Detailed Insights:

• The government's need for individual consultants arises from its expansion into non-core economic and commercial services requiring specialized skills beyond those of regular civil servants.
• Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) faced productivity challenges due to rigid personnel policies aligned with government services, prompting the need for external expertise.
• Departments like the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) require specialized knowledge to address emerging challenges in areas like e-commerce, digital infrastructure, and financial technologies.
• Hiring consultants and partnering with organizations like NIPFP and Vidhi Centre helps bridge the skill deficit in policy formulation and legislative drafting.
• A streamlined system with fixed term limits for consultants is necessary to prevent the desire for permanent absorption into government service, which can undermine the system's value.
• The proposed reform suggests a firm limit of two to three years for individual consultants, with extensions up to a maximum of five years only in exceptional cases.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Lateral Entry: The entry of professionals from the private sector into government positions based on their expertise and experience.
• Public Goods and Services: Non-excludable and non-rivalrous goods provided by the government, such as defense and internal security.
• Contractualisation: The practice of hiring employees on a contract basis for a fixed term, rather than as permanent employees.