More than 5.59 lakh job seekers are preparing to take part in a competitive exam for 4,002 police constable posts in Jammu and Kashmir, which will begin on Sunday.
The examination will be conducted across the Union Territory in three phases: December 1, December 8, and December 22. Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) Chairperson Indu Kanwal Chib confirmed that a total of 5,59,135 applicants have registered for the exams.
Meanwhile, a group of young aspirants staged a protest, demanding age-relaxation and the re-scheduling of the exam.
The Chair personshared details of the exam schedule during a meeting led by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, where civil administration and police officials reviewed preparations for the event. The exams will be held at 856 centres across 20 districts, with 2,62,863 candidates registered for the first phase of the exam on December 1. The largest group, 54,296 candidates, will be appearing from Jammu district.
The exams are for various police constable roles, including those in the home department, executive, armed forces, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Additionally, 1,67,609 candidates will take the exam for constables in telecommunications on December 8, and 1,28,663 will appear for the photographer constable exam on December 22.
In a first, both male and female gazetted officers will serve as "frisking supervisors" at each exam centre, and the entire process will be recorded through videography to ensure transparency.
The Chief Secretary emphasized the need for thorough staffing at all exam centres, including observers, supervisors, and invigilators, and urged district officials to visit centres and monitor the exam's smooth conduct. He also highlighted the importance of deploying sufficient security personnel and ensuring that sensitive materials are properly delivered to the centres.
However, not all candidates are satisfied. A group of young aspirants, who were unable to apply due to age limits, protested, demanding age relaxations and a rescheduling of the exam. They expressed frustration with the administration for not addressing their concerns despite multiple requests for changes.
Youth leader Mehran Anjum Mir, speaking on behalf of the protesters, stated, "We have long aspired to join the police force and serve our country. However, the administration's delay in holding the exam has excluded us. We’ve made representations to the government, but our pleas have been ignored."
The protestors continue to press for adjustments to allow those who missed the opportunity due to age restrictions to compete for the posts.
In other recruitment news, the SSRB has announced a notification for the hiring of 669 sub-inspectors in the Jammu and Kashmir Police department. The application process for these positions will open on December 3 and close on January 2, 2025.