SRINAGANAR: A staggering 21.12 lakh applications were received for 15,964 posts advertised by J&K Public Service Committee (JKPSC) and J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) in the Union Territory between 2023 and 2026. Surprisingly, the two recruiting agencies collected a whopping sum of Rs 114 crores as application fees from the job aspirants.
While Highlighting the growing unemployment and shrinking employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra flagged the issue in the recently concluded autumn session of J&K Assembly.
According to the government data, JKPSC conducted 245 recruitment examinations involving 4,961 advertised posts during the period. The Commission received 2,76,065 applications while 1,85,808 candidates appeared in the examinations. The PSC collected ₹24.42 crores as application fees from the job aspirants.
As per the government figures, JKSSB conducted 124 recruitment examinations for 11,003 posts. The JKSSB received 18,36,056 applications for the 11003 posts. The recruiting agency SSB collected ₹89.49 crore in application fees from the job aspirants.
In total, the two recruitment agencies conducted 369 examinations for 15,964 posts, receiving 21,12,121 applications and collecting ₹113.91 crores in application fees from job aspirants during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.The government data also highlights delays in the recruitment process.
As per the government reply, 38 JKPSC recruitment examinations were pending including two from 2023-24, 32 from 2025-26 and four from the period beginning April 1, 2026.
Fees amounting to ₹28.76 lakh had been collected in connection with the pending examinations from the job aspirants. Expressing concern over the situation, MLA Para said “lakhs of applications, crores of rupees collected, examinations pending and our youth continue to live in uncertainty."
He said it is unfortunate that the government has collected revenue of more than Rs 110 crores from the unemployed youth of J&K. The MLA urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the matter.