The Jammu and Kashmir government revealed that it has gathered more than Rs 48 crore in application fees from candidates over the past two years through the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB). Responding to MLA Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para’s query, the government stated that Rs 14.48 crore was amassed in 2023-24, with JKPSC and JKSSB contributing Rs 7.39 crore and Rs 7.09 crore, respectively. In the following year, JKPSC collected over Rs 10 crore, while JKSSB brought in more than Rs 23 crore in application fees, totaling Rs 48.88 crore over the two years.
The government also informed the House that JKSSB advertised around 10,400 positions in the last two years, whereas JKPSC advertised approximately 1,750 posts during the same period. Waheed Para had previously criticized the administration for the 2026-2027 UT Budget, claiming it lacked initiatives for youth and daily wagers and failed to address unemployment concerns. Jammu and Kashmir has a significant number of qualified unemployed youth, with government jobs being the primary employment option due to the lack of a robust industrial sector.
In the union territory, over five lakh qualified unemployed youth are currently seeking employment in various fields. With limited opportunities in government jobs, competition among candidates is intense. A decade ago, educational and professional merit alone could secure a government position, but now, a selection process involving a written exam and an interview has become standard. Notably, courses like medicine and engineering, which were previously preferred for hassle-free government jobs, are no longer the top choices among youth. Reports indicate that more than 15,000 MBBS graduates and a significantly higher number of engineering graduates are unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
