What a difference six years and a reduced mandate make.

On Tuesday, Union Minister for Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh asked UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan to withdraw the advertisement for “lateral entry” to 45 posts, citing “the constitutional mandate towards social justice” for “rightful representation” of marginalised communities in the government services. This came after objections were raised by the Opposition and key NDA allies JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas).