Student associations on Saturday urged the Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) administration to postpone the JKAS Preliminary Examination, scheduled for Sunday. The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) cited widespread travel disruptions and "deep confusion" over the exam’s age relaxation policy. They appealed directly to J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for immediate intervention.
Travel Disruptions Strand Aspirants
IYC National President Uday Bhanu Chib detailed the travel crisis in his letter to the J-K leadership. He stated airline disruptions in recent days left a large number of JKAS aspirants stranded. These students were stuck at major transport hubs in Jammu, Srinagar, and Ladakh. Many candidates reported they could not secure affordable last-minute tickets or find alternative travel routes to their examination centres. Chib emphasized that despite months of rigorous preparation, a significant number of candidates were simply unable to reach their assigned test locations.
The travel challenges stemmed from ongoing issues, specifically affecting IndiGo flight operations. For at least five consecutive days, IndiGo reported numerous flight cancellations and delays. These disruptions caused significant hardships for thousands of passengers, including many JKAS aspirants. In addition to delays, many passengers also faced issues with misplaced baggage, adding to their stress and uncertainty before a crucial exam.
Age Relaxation Policy: A Cloud of Confusion
Chib also flagged a critical issue concerning the age relaxation policy for the JKAS exam. He highlighted "deep confusion" among candidates regarding its current status. Previously, an age-relaxation policy granted five additional years for open-merit candidates. This raised the upper age limit from 32 to 37 years. However, students remain unsure if this specific policy has been officially restored or formally withdrawn for the current recruitment cycle.
Aspirants express significant fear that their eligibility for the examination may be questioned at a later stage. This concern persists because no written order clarifying the policy has been issued. Such an order would typically come from either Raj Bhavan or the General Administration Department (GAD). Without this formal communication, candidates face uncertainty regarding their qualifications to sit for the test.
Associations Demand Immediate Action
The IYC put forth clear demands to the J-K administration:
- Immediate postponement of the JKAS Preliminary Examination.
- Restoration of the earlier age-relaxation policy to benefit eligible candidates.
- Issuance of an immediate official notification to remove all ambiguity regarding the age policy.
The JKSA reiterated these concerns through a separate public statement. Association National Convenor Nasir Khuehami conveyed "deep concern and disappointment" over the continued delay in formalizing the age-relaxation decision. Khuehami pointed out that the matter has been repeatedly deliberated between the Chief Minister’s Office, Raj Bhavan, and the GAD. This bureaucratic back-and-forth left students "anxious and sleepless" just hours before the scheduled exam.
Khuehami further explained that countless aspirants, including many who relocated outside J-K for specialized coaching, now face profound uncertainty. They do not know whether to incur travel costs or if they will even be permitted to sit for the test once they arrive. He clarified that students are not seeking a favour. Instead, they demand a "fair and essential relief" to ensure an equitable and level playing field for all eligible candidates. Both the IYC and JKSA urged LG Sinha and Chief Minister Abdullah to personally intervene, issue a clear public notification, and guarantee that the exam is conducted in a "fair, transparent, and inclusive" manner.