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Fate of JKAS aspirants shrouded in uncertainty amid CMLG face-off over age relaxation

SRINAGAR: The fate of thousands of aspirants, who are scheduled to appear in the J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) exam on Sunday, hangs in the balance due to a face-off between Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over age relaxation. Aspirants, especially those from the open merit category, have been demanding that the upper age limit be raised from 32 to 37 for the exam. Aspirants in both Kashmir and Jammu have been staging protests to demand age relaxation and political parties have extended support to them. The preliminary examination to be conducted by J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) on Sunday is the gateway to the prestigious J&K Administrative Service, J&K Police Service and J&K Accounts Service. The PSC has already issued admit cards for Sundays examination. Last week, CM announced that he had approved age relaxation and forwarded the file for final approval to the Lt Governor. Aspirants have since then been appealing both the CM and LG to finalize the decision without further delay. In a post on X, the CM expressed deep concern over the travel chaos caused by the ongoing airline issues, compounded by uncertainty resulting from Lok Bhavans delay in approving age relaxation, a provision granted multiple times in the past. He also wrote to the JKPSC chairman, asking the commission to acknowledge the unprecedented stress on aspirants and consider postponing the examination in the interest of fairness and equal opportunity. With the CM blaming the LG for the delay in clearing the file, the office of the Lt Governor took to X to clarify its stand on the issue. Social media posts with regard to JKPSC exam are misleading. Lok Bhavan had received the file on 2nd Dec, 2025 which was categorically related to Age Relaxation only. File was returned the same day, 2nd Dec, 2025, with a query whether it is logistically possible to conduct exam on 7th Dec, by incorporating modifications in eligibility criteria at such a belated stage, it said. The Lt Governor said that despite a lapse of four days, Lok Bhavan did not receive any response. I fully sympathize with young aspirants, he said. The advertisement notice for the examination was published by the J&K Public Service Commission on 22.08.2025. The exam was notified to be conducted on 07.12.2025 through a notice on 06.11.2025, added the LG. Reacting to the LGs remarks, Education Minister Sakina Itoo in a video message said the delay in clearing the file by the LG has caused distress among aspirants. We have come to know that a query has been raised now, she said. She said the CM has written to the JKPSC requesting postponement due to the unresolved age-relaxation issue and the ongoing IndiGo flight crisis affecting travel plans. Aspirants have also appealed to JKPSC to postpone the exam, citing severe air-travel disruptions and uncertainty over age relaxation. So far, the J&K Public Service Commission has not announced any postponement and instead has asked candidates to follow the already-published schedule and ensure timely attendance at exam centres. Former CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti urged LG Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah to step in and resolve this issue without any further delay. Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the uncertainty on age relaxation has caused widespread anxiety among aspirants who have invested years of hard work and preparation. This is not a concession being sought; age relaxation is a fair, essential relief to ensure a level playing field for the youth of J&K, who have already faced limited opportunities, repeated disruptions, and systemic instability over the years, he said. Many aspirants have lost crucial years of preparation due to circumstances beyond their control, and justice must be delivered before the examination. The BJP, Congress, Peoples Conference and other political parties have supported the aspirants and urged the government to postpone the exam in view of the ongoing uncertainty.