J&K government to fill 7,253 vacancies by year-end, accelerates recruitment with key reforms
Jammu, March 20: In a significant move aimed at strengthening government departments and ensuring timely recruitment, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that the Jammu and Kashmir government will fill 7,253 vacant posts, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted, by the end of the year. Addressing the J&K Legislative Assembly, he stated that 11,526 selections have been made in the past two years and emphasized the administration’s commitment to streamlining the recruitment process.
The Chief Minister, who also holds charge of the General Administration Department (GAD), provided a detailed breakdown of the vacancies set for recruitment this year, which include 1,502 Gazetted and 5,751 Non-Gazetted positions. Responding to a query raised by MLA Satish Kumar Sharma, he elaborated that as of January 31, 2025, a total of 32,474 vacancies existed across 38 government departments. These comprised 2,503 Gazetted, 19,214 Non-Gazetted, and 10,757 Class-IV (MTS) posts. He further stated that 13,466 Non-Gazetted vacancies had been referred to the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) over the past two years, with 9,351 selections already completed. Additionally, 2,390 Gazetted vacancies were referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC), resulting in 2,175 selections. The remaining 10,757 Class-IV (MTS) vacancies are under Finance Department scrutiny before being sent for recruitment.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to expediting the hiring process, the Chief Minister said that more than 6,000 vacancies are ready for referral and will be sent to recruiting agencies shortly. To ensure faster and more transparent recruitments, the government has abolished interviews for posts up to Pay Level 5 (₹29,200-92,300) through S.O. 180, issued on May 28, 2020. In addition, interviews for Level 6 posts, including Junior Engineers and Naib Tehsildars, have been eliminated through S.O. 36 of 2025, issued on February 14, 2025. He further directed departments to identify additional Level 6 posts where interviews could be scrapped to accelerate recruitment.
The revised JKSSB regulations, notified on November 22, 2022, introduced online CBT-based examinations and a single-exam system for multiple posts where feasible. CM Omar Abdullah emphasized that both the J&K Public Service Commission and JKSSB have been instructed to adopt a proactive, target-based approach to ensure timely recruitments. He provided updates on key vacancies under the recruitment process, including 150 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts referred to JKSSB for selection. Once the Cadre Schedule for Engineering Gazetted and Subordinate Services is finalized, additional engineering vacancies will also be referred. Further, 150 Gazetted vacancies in Higher Education for Assistant Professors, Librarians, and PTIs are under process for referral, with 476 out of 840 referred vacancies already filled and 364 in the final selection stages. Additionally, 116 Non-Gazetted vacancies in Higher Education have been forwarded to the Finance Department for approval before referral. In the Health and Medical Education Department, 56 Gazetted and 660 Non-Gazetted vacancies have been referred for selection. The School Education Department has referred 597 Lecturer posts across 27 disciplines to JKPSC between November 2024 and January 2025.
To further strengthen recruitment policies, the Chief Minister directed all Administrative Departments to refer available vacancies to recruiting agencies without delay. Addressing the concerns regarding the regularization of Daily Wagers, he announced the formation of a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary of J&K. The committee will examine humanitarian, legal, and financial aspects related to the regularization of Casual, Seasonal, and Other Workers (CSLWs) and propose a comprehensive policy to address the issue.
The Chief Minister also highlighted a key reform undertaken by the administration, extending the deadline for notifying recruitment rules by six months in November 2024 through Executive Orders. This decision aims to resolve delays in formulating recruitment policies and ensure timely hiring for critical government positions. Furthermore, he stated that the JKSSB’s mandate has been expanded to oversee Non-Gazetted recruitments in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), government companies, boards, and other state-controlled entities, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient hiring process.
