SRINAGAR: Open Merit appointments in Jammu and Kashmir have averaged just above half of total selections over the past six years, even as reserved categories have expanded their numerical footprint across both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted recruitments, according to official data.
The current reservation framework in the Union Territory was notified through SO 176 dated March 15, 2024. The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has not yet carried out selections under the new framework, and the category-wise and division-wise break-up of appointments after the notification remains nil. However, 10,313 posts have already been advertised and are to be finalised in a time-bound manner.
Data from the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), which conducts recruitment for UT cadre Gazetted posts, shows that from 2020 to 2025 a total of 3,581 selections were made. Of these, 2,096 appointments went to Open Merit candidates, accounting for approximately 58.5 per cent of total selections.
Year-wise analysis shows that in 2020, 84 out of 134 selections were Open Merit, about 62.7 per cent. In 2021, 257 out of 432 selections were OM, roughly 59.5 per cent. In 2022, the proportion declined to 175 out of 324, or 54 per cent. In 2023, 575 out of 1,073 selections were OM, about 53.6 per cent. In 2024, the share rose to 761 out of 1,149, or 66.2 per cent. In 2025, it again moderated to 244 out of 469, around 52 per cent.
While Open Merit remains the single largest category in Gazetted recruitments, reserved categories collectively account for over 41 per cent of appointments during the six-year period. RBA secured 422 posts (11.8 per cent), SC 283 (7.9 per cent), ST 319 (8.9 per cent), EWS 171 (4.8 per cent), PSP 90 (2.5 per cent), ALC/IB 99 (2.8 per cent) and SLC 84 (2.3 per cent). The ST-2 category, which had no selections in earlier years, recorded 17 appointments in 2025.
A sharper shift is visible in Non-Gazetted recruitments conducted by JKSSB. Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 25,161 selections were made. Of these, 12,942 went to Open Merit candidates, which translates to approximately 51.4 per cent overall.
In 2020, Open Merit accounted for 924 of 1,447 selections, or 63.8 per cent. In 2021, 5,121 of 9,329 selections were OM, about 54.9 per cent. In 2022, however, the share dropped significantly to 1,708 of 4,276 selections, or just under 40 per cent. In 2023, 1,930 of 3,695 selections were OM, around 52.2 per cent. In 2024, 2,842 of 5,653 selections were Open Merit, approximately 50.3 per cent. In 2025, 417 of 761 selections were OM, about 54.8 per cent.
The data shows that while Open Merit candidates continue to secure slightly over half of total appointments in Non-Gazetted posts over the six-year period, the margin has narrowed compared to earlier years, with 2022 marking the lowest proportional share at about 40 per cent.
With the new reservation framework yet to be reflected in finalised selections, the 10,313 advertised posts will be the first major indicator of how category distribution evolves under the revised policy. The eventual outcome will determine whether the Open Merit share stabilises near its current average of roughly 52 to 58 per cent across services, or shifts further under the updated reservation structure.
Recruitment authorities have stated that all selections are being conducted strictly in accordance with notified rules and statutory provisions, with adherence to transparency, fairness and merit-based processes.
