J&K unemployment hits 6.7%, nearly double the national average – and job seekers have paid ₹48 crore in application fees

For comparison, the national average was 4.8 per cent in 2019-20 and has since shown a consistent downward trend.

The data also said that the J&K Employment Department conducted an extensive baseline survey across the Union Territory in January last year in collaboration with district administrations under Mission YUVA.

The government said addressing unemployment — particularly among youth — was its priority, and that its strategy was not confined to short-term job provisioning but focused on creating sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship, skilling and institutional reforms “so that youth become job-creators rather than job seekers”.

“In this context, Mission YUVA has emerged as a transformational initiative, witnessing unprecedented enthusiasm and participation from youth across the Union Territory,” it said, adding that over 1.71 lakh youth have registered on the platform since its launch, leading to around 70,000 formal enterprise applications — a scale that clearly reflects growing confidence in the programme.

In response to a question from Pulwama MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para, the General Administration Department said in a written response that its recruitment boards — the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) – have together collected Rs 48.88 crore in application fees from candidates across the UT between 2023 and 2025.

Of this, the JKPSC has collected Rs 17.90 crore and the JKSSB has earned Rs 30.98 crore, the GAD said.

During the debate that followed, Para said this was “despite the government’s explicit promise that all application forms would be made free”, alleging that charging exorbitant fees from jobless youth not only contradicts the stated policy of the government but also amounts to “blatant exploitation of unemployed aspirants, who are already under severe economic distress.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, in response to another question, informed the Legislative Assembly that the de-freezing of teacher posts is under “active consideration” of the government to overcome teacher shortage in J&K.

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd