Government Proposes Standardized Pay and Tenure Limits for External Consultants
In a move to streamline the use of external consultants in government departments, the Ministry of Finance has proposed a new policy that would introduce uniform pay structures and strict limits on tenure and engagement. As per the proposal, consultants will not be allowed to serve more than three years in a single department and a total of five years across the government.
The policy aims to ensure transparency, reduce over-reliance on private-sector hires, and prevent long-term parallel bureaucracies. Currently, departments often engage consultants with varied compensation and undefined roles, leading to inconsistencies and accountability concerns.
The proposal also seeks to clearly define roles, selection criteria, and performance review mechanisms. By capping tenure and standardizing pay, the government intends to maintain institutional integrity while benefiting from external expertise in areas like technology, finance, and policy. The move is under inter-ministerial review.
