New Delhi finance ministry file photo.
The clarification came hours after Congress demanded that the Center withdraw its circular requesting to “freeze” the creation of new jobs, urging it to create more vacancies while filling existing ones as a result of rising unemployment.
- News18.com New Delhi
- Last update: September 5, 2020 9:27 PM IST
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The Center clarified Saturday that a spending department circular issued Friday to cut government spending amid an economic crisis will not affect or reduce hiring for government positions.
The clarification came hours after Congress demanded that the Center withdraw the circular requesting to “freeze” the creation of new positions, urging it to create more vacancies while filling existing ones in the face of rising unemployment.
“The Expenditure Department circular of September 4, 2020 deals with the internal procedure for creating positions and in no way affects or restricts hiring,” the Finance Ministry said in a tweet on Saturday.
CLARIFICATION: There is no restriction or prohibition to fill positions in the government of India. Normal hires through government agencies such as the Personnel Selection Commission, UPSC, Rlwy Board of Recruitment, etc., will continue as usual without restrictions. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/paQfrNzVo5
– Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) September 5, 2020
He clarified that there would be no restriction or prohibition to fill central government positions. “Normal hiring through government agencies like the Personnel Selection Commission, UPSC, the Railroad Contracting Board, etc. will continue as usual without restrictions,” he said.
The Circular of the Expenses Department dated September 4, 2020 deals with the internal procedure for the creation of positions and does NOT affect or limit hiring in any way. (2/2)
– Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) September 5, 2020
The Expenditure Department had prohibited in the previous circular some non-development-related expenditures to “ensure the availability of sufficient resources to meet the needs of the critical priority plans.”
The document announced a “prohibition on the creation of new positions” unless approved by the Expenditure Department, in Ministries / Departments, Delegations, Subdirectorates, Statutory and Autonomous Bodies. The Department depends on the Ministry of Finance.
Sources say it was at the prime minister’s request that the Finance Ministry decided to cut costs. This is also to ensure that resources are channeled towards investment in these key sectors.
The ministry has issued spending management instructions with a view to improving the quality of public spending, containing non-development-related spending and ensuring adequate resources are available for critical priority schemes, the Spending Department said on Friday.
Congressional leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Center on the issue, claiming that the Modi administration’s thinking is “minimal government, maximum privatization.” The Covid-19 pandemic is just an excuse and the intention is to make government offices “free” of permanent staff, he claimed on Twitter.
“Steal the future of youth and promote friends,” Gandhi said in a Hindi tweet, urging people to speak up. In an online press conference, Congressional Leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Shukla said that the government had published the circular suggesting that new jobs cannot be created and that existing vacancies should not be filled.
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