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J&K Govt Collects ₹48 Crore in Job Application Fees Amid Youth Unemployment Crisis

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has collected nearly ₹49 crore in application fees from job seekers over the last two years through its recruitment bodies. This comes amid a severe unemployment crisis, with over five lakh qualified youth actively seeking work in the Union Territory. The J&K Services Selection Board and Public Service Commission advertised about 12,150 positions combined during this period, highlighting the intense competition for limited government jobs. Even professional graduates in medicine and engineering are struggling to find employment, with thousands reportedly sitting idle despite their qualifications.

Key Points: J&K Job Application Fees Hit ₹48 Crore in 2 Years

  • ₹48.88 crore collected in fees
  • 12,150 posts advertised in two years
  • Over 5 lakh unemployed youth in J&K
  • MBBS, engineering grads facing joblessness
  • Entrance tests now norm for govt jobs
2 min read

J&K govt collects Rs 48 crore in job application fees over two years

J&K government collects ₹48.88 crore from job aspirants via PSC and SSB as over 5 lakh qualified youth remain unemployed.

"Over five lakh qualified unemployed youth are presently seeking employment in different vocations in the union territory. - Report"

Jammu, Feb 9

The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Monday that it has collected over Rs 48 crore as application fees from candidates during the last two years through the J&K Public Service Commission and the J&K Services Selection Board.

The government said this while responding to a question raised by MLA Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para.

The UT government said that Rs 14.48 crore was collected in 2023-24 -- including Rs 7.39 crore by JKPSC and Rs 7.09 crore by JKSSB.

"In 2024-25, JKPSC collected over Rs 10 crore, while JKSSB generated more than Rs 23 crore as application fees from job aspirants. The total amount collected over the two years stands at Rs 48.88 crore," the government said.

It further informed the House that around 10,400 posts have been advertised by JKSSB in the last two years, while JKPSC has advertised around 1,750 posts during the same period

Waheed Para has previously criticised the administration regarding the 2026-2027 UT Budget, arguing it lacks initiatives for youth, daily wagers, and fails to address unemployment.

Jammu and Kashmir has a high number of qualified unemployed youth, and in the absence of any worthwhile industrial sector, government jobs remain the best available employment option for them.

Over five lakh qualified unemployed youth are presently seeking employment in different vocations in the union territory. With limited employability in government jobs, the competition is often fierce among the candidates.

A decade back, educational/professional merit would suffice for getting into government service, but now an entrance test that includes a written exam and an interview has become the norm for selection into government services in the union territory.

Interestingly, once most preferred courses like graduation in medicine and engineering, which would get candidates hassle-free government jobs, are no longer the preferred choice of the youth. According to reports, over 15,000 MBBS and more than thrice this number of engineering graduates are sitting without employment in Jammu and Kashmir.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
This is heartbreaking. So many qualified doctors and engineers without jobs. Families spend lakhs on education, then more on application fees for these competitive exams, and still there's no guarantee. The system feels like it's profiting from our desperation. 😔 We need job creation, not just fee collection.
A
Aman W
Waheed Para is raising a valid point. If the budget has no real plan for youth employment, what is this fee money being used for? Shouldn't a portion be reinvested into skill development or creating more posts? 10,400 posts for over 5 lakh aspirants... the math is just depressing.
P
Priya S
My brother has given 4-5 exams in the last two years. Each application costs 500-1000 rupees. It adds up so fast for a middle-class family. The competition is insane. The government must focus on attracting private investment to J&K to create alternative career paths.
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David E
Looking at this from an outside perspective, this seems like a significant revenue stream. The key question is accountability. Is there an audit report on how the PSC and SSB utilize these crores? Transparency in public fund usage is crucial for trust, especially on such a sensitive issue.
K
Karthik V
The article mentions MBBS and engineering grads are no longer preferred. That's a massive shift. It shows the crisis isn't just about jobs, but about the relevance of our education system. We're producing graduates for a job market that doesn't exist here. Time for a complete rethink.

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