Jammu, Feb 9 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has collected nearly Rs 50 crore as application fees from job aspirants over the past two years through recruitment examinations conducted by the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB), official data tabled in the Assembly showed on Monday.
In a written reply to a question by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para, the government said a total of Rs 48.88 crore was collected since 2023, with a sharp rise in the current financial year.
According to the data, Rs 14.48 crore was collected in 2023–24, including Rs 7.39 crore by the JKPSC and Rs 7.09 crore by the JKSSB. In 2024–25, collections increased significantly, with the JKPSC collecting over Rs 10 crore and the JKSSB over Rs 23 crore.
The figures, however, show that recruitment numbers remained relatively modest during the same period. The JKSSB advertised around 10,400 posts, while the JKPSC, which handles gazetted cadre recruitment, advertised approximately 1,750 posts over the two years.
Reacting to the disclosure, Para described the fee collection as a “tax on unemployment” and accused the National Conference-led government of failing to address youth distress.
“This government has turned unemployment into a revenue model. There is no clear roadmap for youth empowerment, and the latest budget offers no relief or long-term vision for unemployed young people,” Para said.
Jammu and Kashmir has consistently recorded unemployment rates higher than the national average, making government recruitment a crucial source of livelihood for thousands of aspirants. The issue has gained added sensitivity as the JKSSB continues to rebuild credibility following the 2022 recruitment scandals, when several examinations were cancelled amid allegations of paper leaks and investigations.