Critically Assessing the Policy of Lateral Entry into Higher Civil Services in India Introduction The Indian administrative system has long been dominated by the permanent, generalist civil service, particularly the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). In recent years, however, the policy of lateral entry into higher civil services has been adopted to address perceived inefficiencies, skill … Continue reading Critically assess the policy of lateral entry into higher civil services in India. Analyze its rationale, impact on administrative efficiency, federal ethos, and institutional integrity. Examine the debates around meritocracy, accountability, and bureaucratic reform in the context of democratic governance.