J&K Govt collects Rs 48.88 crore as job application fees in 2 years

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where Government jobs remain a primary aspiration for many qualified individuals, the Government has collected approximately Rs 48.88 crore in application fees from job aspirants over the last two financial years. In Jammu and Kashmir, the unemployment rate stands at 6.7 per cent, nearly double the national average of 3.5 per cent.

This figure was disclosed in the Legislative Assembly on Monday in a written reply to a question from PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para. The revenue came through the two main recruitment bodies, the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).

JKPSC collected around Rs 17.90 crore (Rs 7.39 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 10.50 crore in 2024-25). JKSSB generated the remaining portion, totalling Rs 30.98 crore, across the two years. The total amount realised from candidates during this period stands at Rs 48.88 crore.

During the day, the House was also informed that a baseline survey was conducted across the Union Territory by the Employment Department in collaboration with the Union Territory Administration under Mission YUVA.

The survey identified 4.73 lakh individuals in the age group of 18-60 years, out of which around 46.8 per cent reported that they were “not working but willing to work”, highlighting the magnitude of employment challenges, particularly among the youth.

Replying to questions regarding steps taken to address unemployment, the Government said that employment generation, especially among youth, remains a top priority. It clarified that the focus is not only on short-term job provisioning but on creating sustainable livelihoods by encouraging youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.

In this context, Mission YUVA was highlighted as a transformational initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship across Jammu and Kashmir. Since its launch, the mission has witnessed a strong response, with around 70,000 applications received on the YUVA platform, reflecting growing interest among youth in enterprise-led employment.

Out of these, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for nearly 52,875 applicants have been prepared through Small Business Development Units (SBDUs). Following scrutiny by banks, about 47,816 applications were examined, of which 16,141 cases have already been sanctioned.

The Government said around 9,500 applications have been rejected, largely due to eligibility and credit-related issues, while the remaining cases are at various stages of completion.