The approval of the recommendation for allowing lateral entry into the government service implies that private sector specialists can be hired and appointed to government posts, including possibly cadre posts, with salaries that are market-linked.

Government officials said the scheme was aimed at bringing in outside expertise for specialised functions in technical, scientific or other streams. The terms of the contracts, including the emoluments to be paid, will be the responsibility of the nodal ministries.

The enhanced expenditure would have to be met by the ministry or department from its annual budgetary allocation.

The lateral entry scheme is expected to boost the availability of talent in government departments. Citing instances, officials said professionals like actuaries, harbour pilots or IT specialists could not be inducted into service at government pay levels.

The detailed guidelines in this regard are being framed by the Department of Personnel and Training. This will be done after consultations with other departments and involve expenditure clearance, sources added.

Finance ministry sources also pointed out that the claims of disparity in emolument between the armed forces and their civilian counterparts were not correct, adding that on a level-on-level comparison, defence personnel would get paid more over their civilian counterparts as a consequence of the new pay structure that has come into effect.