The Jammu and Kashmir government is reviewing a proposal to increase the upper age limit for candidates taking the Union Territory’s civil services exam. This consideration was disclosed in response to a motion by MLA Sajad Gani Lone. The government is evaluating the feasibility of enhancing the age limit for the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination (JKCCE).
The government is examining the issue in light of various factors, including the existing rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination, service requirements, cadre management, and recruitment standards in other regions. Before the introduction of SRO 103 of 2018, the upper age limit for the Combined Competitive Examination was 30 years for Open Merit candidates and 32 years for specific categories.
In a separate update, the government informed the Legislative Assembly that out of 877 ventilators installed in hospitals across the Union Territory, 219 are currently non-operational. This highlights deficiencies in critical care infrastructure. Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo, in response to MLA Shamim Firdous, revealed that 658 ventilators are functional while 219 are not in operation.
The minister provided a breakdown of ventilator status in various institutions. For instance, at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its associated hospitals, 209 out of 320 ventilators are functional. In GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals, excluding SMHS, 44 ventilators are non-functional. GMC Anantnag has only 10 functional ventilators out of 36. Similarly, GMC Baramulla, GMC Doda, GMC Kathua, and GMC Rajouri have a number of non-functional ventilators. At SKIMS and its associated hospitals, 40 out of 53 ventilators are operational.
