The 'permanent' problem: Why is there a 'caste system' in govt employment?

One reason why the govt and associate entities are exploring contractual employment obviously is cost, and the other is productivity, notes T N Ninan

The protests over the Agnipath scheme have died down, and youngsters have settled down to applying under the temporary-job scheme for the armed forces — perhaps because they have no option. In truth, though, this points to a larger trend in government employment and the caste system of permanent, contractual, and casual employees. The first category gets paid much better than the latter two, and (at most levels) better also than the market. Since water must find its own level, governments and their agencies have turned increasingly to hiring in the cheaper two categories. Those who want to understand what