SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s two principal recruitment agencies collected more than Rs 113 crore in application fees over the three financial years from 2023-24 to 2025-26, besides conducting 369 recruitment examinations for 15,964 advertised posts, according to data presented in the Legislative Assembly.
The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) collected Rs 24.42 crore during the period, while the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) collected Rs 89.49 crore. The two agencies received more than 21.12 lakh applications, of which about 11.24 lakh candidates appeared for the examinations.
The figures were provided in reply to Unstarred Q.D. No. 1/6/188 by MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para during the sixth session of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
JKPSC conducted 103 examinations involving 2,586 posts in 2023-24, receiving 88,964 applications, of which 63,919 candidates appeared. It collected Rs 7.39 crore in fees.
In 2024-25, the Commission conducted 49 examinations for 618 posts, receiving 58,341 applications and recording 33,153 appearances. Fee collections stood at Rs 10.50 crore.
The number of examinations rose to 64 in 2025-26, involving 1,400 posts. The Commission received 1,15,523 applications, with 78,166 candidates appearing, and collected Rs 5.74 crore.
The JKSSB conducted 17 examinations involving 4,228 posts in 2023-24. It received 6,99,261 applications, with 3,44,264 candidates appearing, and collected Rs 6.76 crore.
In 2024-25, it conducted 26 examinations for 5,044 posts, receiving 7,99,523 applications and recording 4,36,714 appearances. Fee collections reached Rs 23.46 crore.
The Board conducted 81 examinations involving 1,731 posts in 2025-26, receiving 3,37,272 applications. A total of 1,57,799 candidates appeared and Rs 59.26 crore was collected in fees.
On refunds, the JKSSB had returned Rs 1.35 crore by the time of the Assembly reply. Its year-wise refundable amounts were Rs 13.69 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 1.22 crore in 2025-26. No refundable amount was shown for 2023-24.
The Board said application fees are refunded after the formal withdrawal of posts by the concerned indenting department. No refund is processed merely because an examination has been postponed, as the recruitment process continues and the examination is rescheduled.
Nine JKSSB examinations were postponed in 2024-25 and three in 2025-26. The Government said examinations postponed because of emergent circumstances, including bad weather, were subsequently rescheduled and conducted.
The JKPSC data showed one recruitment examination was cancelled or postponed during 2025-26, while 38 examinations remained pending across the period covered in the annexure. These pending examinations involved Rs 28.76 lakh in fees collected.
The Commission conducted 29 examinations involving 357 posts from 1 April 2026 to the date of the reply, receiving 13,237 applications and recording 10,570 appearances. It collected Rs 77.90 lakh in fees during this period. Four examinations remained pending, involving Rs 7.67 lakh in collected fees.
The JKPSC also recorded two pending examinations involving Rs 7.57 lakh in fees in 2023-24 and 32 pending examinations involving Rs 13.50 lakh in 2025-26. No examination was cancelled or postponed in 2023-24 or 2024-25.
One post of Superintendent Jail in the Home Department was withdrawn through Notification No. 01-PSC (DR-P) of 2026 dated January 16, 2026. The post had attracted 148 applications, with Rs 1.48 lakh collected in fees.
On reform of the fee-refund system, the Government said the JKPSC, with NIC assistance, is developing an online mechanism for refunds arising from withdrawal of posts or multiple payments. The system is expected to become operational shortly.
The J&K PSC Conduct of Examination Rules, 2022 already provide for refunds in cases including the death of a candidate before appearing in an examination, multiple payments and withdrawal of posts by the indenting department.
