In a significant move, the Centre has decided to induct more private sector specialists into different government departments at the crucial decision-making level of Joint Secretaries and Directors.

According to requisitions received from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T), talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation-building are being invited to join the government at the level of Joint Secretary on contract basis in the Commerce & Industry Ministry, Department of Revenue, Finance Ministry and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ministry, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

Executives from the private sector will be appointed as Directors on contract basis at a few ministries, the statement said. These include the Commerce & Industry Ministry, Department of Financial Services, Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ministry.

Other departments that will recruit executives are the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of School Education & Literacy, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Civil Aviation and in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,

Detailed advertisement and instructions for candidates will be uploaded on the Union Public Service Commission's website on 6th February, the statement said. Interested candidates can apply from 6th February to 22nd March, it said.

These candidates will be appointed through the lateral entry mode, which relates to specialists' appointment from the private sector in government organizations, officials said.

The lateral entry mode is considered an ambitious step of the Modi government to bring in fresh talent in the bureaucracy. Usually, the posts of Joint Secretaries and Directors' are manned by officers selected through the civil services examination and UPSC tests.

The Personnel Ministry had in June 2018 invited applications for ten joint secretary-rank posts through lateral entry.