SRINAGAR: Open merit candidates will compete for 40 per cent of the 1,356 vacancies announced by Jammu and Kashmir Bank, with the remaining 60 per cent earmarked for various reserved categories under the Union Territory’s reservation framework.
The reservation provisions, detailed in two recruitment notifications issued by the Bank on Friday, mean that a majority of the advertised posts will fall under reserved categories, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, residents of backward areas, residents of areas adjoining the Line of Actual Control and International Border, and Economically Weaker Sections.
The recruitment comprises 323 posts of Probationary Officers (POs) and 1,033 Banking Associates. Both notifications apply the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, as amended from time to time, and incorporate the reservation structure notified through Government Order S.O. 176 dated March 15, 2024.
Under the prescribed arrangement, Scheduled Castes have been allocated 8 per cent reservation, while Scheduled Tribes account for 20 per cent. The ST quota is divided equally between the existing Scheduled Tribe communities and the groups added through the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The existing Scheduled Tribe categories, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Baltis, Gaddis and other recognised communities, have been allocated 10 per cent. The remaining 10 per cent is earmarked for Gadda Brahmins, Kolis, Paddari Tribe and the Pahari Ethnic Group.
The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes have a combined allocation of 22 per cent across three categories. Other Backward Classes have been given 8 per cent, residents of areas adjoining the LoC and International Border 4 per cent, and residents of backward areas 10 per cent.
Another 10 per cent has been earmarked for Economically Weaker Sections, taking the total vertical reservation to 60 per cent and leaving 40 per cent for open merit.
The distinction between open merit and unreserved-category candidates is important. The Bank’s notifications specifically provide that candidates belonging to reserved categories who qualify on their own merit and figure in the General Category selection list will be treated at par with General Category candidates. Their selection will not be adjusted against vacancies reserved for their respective categories.
Thus, the open merit list is not restricted to candidates belonging to the unreserved category. Reserved-category candidates who qualify on their own merit can also secure positions against open merit vacancies, leaving the reserved seats available for other eligible candidates of their respective categories.
The notifications also provide for horizontal reservation, which operates across the vertical categories.
For both Probationary Officers and Banking Associates, 4 per cent of the available vacancies have been earmarked for persons with benchmark disabilities. The allocation is divided into four groups, with 1 per cent each for blindness and low vision, deafness and hard of hearing, locomotor disabilities, and intellectual and multiple disabilities.
The Banking Associate notification additionally provides 6 per cent horizontal reservation for ex-servicemen. This provision does not figure in the Probationary Officer reservation table.
The notifications prescribe different age relaxations depending on the reservation category.
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates are entitled to five years of relaxation in the upper age limit. Candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, residents of areas adjoining the LoC and International Border, and residents of backward areas are eligible for three years of relaxation.
Persons with benchmark disabilities are entitled to 10 years of age relaxation, while no age relaxation has been prescribed for EWS candidates. The maximum age limit of 30 years applies to General Category and EWS candidates.
For ex-servicemen applying for Banking Associate posts, the notification provides age relaxation to the extent of service rendered in the Armed Forces, with an additional three years, subject to a maximum age of 48 years.
There is also a special provision for candidates who have successfully completed apprenticeship training with J&K Bank. Such candidates, provided they are domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir, will receive an additional one-year age relaxation over and above the relaxation applicable to their reservation category. They will also be awarded additional marks equivalent to 2.5 per cent of the maximum marks in the Banking Associate online examination.
The Bank has also prescribed different minimum aggregate qualifying marks for General and reserved-category candidates in the examinations.
For Probationary Officers, the minimum aggregate qualifying marks in the preliminary examination have been fixed at 40 per cent for General Category candidates and 35 per cent for reserved-category candidates, subject to overall merit.
The Banking Associate notification similarly prescribes minimum aggregate qualifying marks of 40 per cent for General Category candidates and 35 per cent for reserved-category candidates at each stage of the selection process.
The PO recruitment will be conducted in three stages, comprising preliminary examination, mains examination and interview. Candidates up to 10 times the number of vacancies in each category will be shortlisted for the mains examination, while up to three times the vacancies will subsequently be called for interviews.
Banking Associate selection will be based on an online examination conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
The notifications further stipulate that candidates must possess valid certificates for their respective reserved categories on the date of online registration. No change of category will be permitted after submission of the application.
For EWS applicants, the income and asset certificate must be valid for the financial year 2026-27. The Bank has also made verification of domicile, educational qualifications, age and category certificates mandatory before appointment.
Both recruitments are restricted to domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir. Selected candidates will be required to serve in the zone initially allotted to them for at least five years, during which transfer outside that zone will not be permitted.
The online application process for both categories will open on November 7 and close on November 26, 2026. Eligible candidates can apply through the Careers section of the Bank’s official website, jkb.bank.in.
