SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s two major recruiting agencies have advertised 12,241 government posts and finalised selections for 4,702 posts since October 2024, according to a government reply tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided in response to Starred Question No. 1/6/41, tabled by MLA Yodhvir Sethi, regarding fresh government appointments made in J&K since October 2024.
The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), which conducts recruitment for gazetted posts of various administrative departments, advertised 1,862 posts during the period and finalised selections for 1,768 posts.
The government said JKPSC maintains these posts under the Union Territory cadre, meaning division-wise selection data is neither required nor maintained.
As of the time of the reply, selection processes for 935 posts advertised by JKPSC were still underway. The commission is also set to readvertise 304 posts, while 20 fresh advertisements are in the pipeline.
The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB), meanwhile, advertised 10,379 posts during the period. These included posts under the Union Territory, divisional and district cadres.
JKSSB finalised appointments against 1,376 posts corresponding to the Jammu division and 1,558 posts corresponding to the Kashmir division, taking the total to 2,934 appointments.
The government also disclosed that JKPSC and JKSSB collected Rs 15,00,99,000 and Rs 67,44,41,800 respectively in examination and application fees during the period under review.
The combined collections amounted to Rs 82,45,40,800.
Explaining why the fees had not been waived, the government said the charges were used to partly meet the costs associated with recruitment, rather than being treated as a source of revenue or profit.
These expenses include processing and scrutiny of applications, conducting examinations, hiring examination centres and manpower, preparing and handling question papers, security arrangements, information technology infrastructure, evaluation and declaration of results.
The recruiting agencies prescribe fees under the applicable rules and provide concessions to specified categories wherever such provisions apply, the government said.
It added that the practice was broadly in line with the fee structure followed by national recruiting bodies, including the Union Public Service Commission and Staff Selection Commission.
