Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Feb 9 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday disclosed that the Union Territory’s two major recruitment bodies Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) have together realized more than ₹48 crore as application fee over the last two financial years.
The information was furnished in a written reply to a question raised by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para in the Legislative Assembly as per news agency JKNS, Government said, during the financial year 2023–24, JKPSC generated ₹7.39 crore, while JKSSB collected ₹7.09 crore from candidates applying for various posts.
In the subsequent financial year 2024–25, the revenue from application fees increased considerably, with JKPSC realizing ₹10.50 crore, whereas JKSSB collected ₹23.88 crore, the government informed the House.
Cumulatively, the government said, JKPSC realized ₹17.90 crore, while JKSSB collected ₹30.98 crore during the two-year period.
The surge in application fee collections by recruitment agencies reflects the growing number of job aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir, largely driven by rising unemployment. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the Union Territory recorded an unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent during the July–September 2025 quarter, a figure officially placed before Parliament.
This trend is further substantiated by the Economic Survey 2025–26, tabled by the J&K Government, which reveals that more than 3.61 lakh educated youth were registered as unemployed as of September 2025. (JKNS)
