YOUTH OF J&K: The unemployment and equal opportunity conundrum

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination remains one of India’s most respected gateways to public service. For aspirants from Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), it is not merely an exam - it is a bridge toward dignity, empowerment, and equal participation in the national mainstream. Until recently, J&K aspirants enjoyed a special five-year age relaxation in the UPSC examination, introduced in recognition of the unique challenges of pursuing education in a conflict-affected region. However, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the erstwhile state in 2019, this relaxation was withdrawn. This policy change has had a profound and adverse effect on thousands of aspirants who continue to face educational disruption, limited access to resources, and socio-economic challenges unlike those elsewhere in India. Restoring age relaxation is therefore not a matter of favor - it is an act of fairness, equity, and justice.

1. 
   Historical Recognition of a Disrupted Region

The Government of India had, for decades, acknowledged the impact of instability on J&K’s students. Prolonged curfews, security lockdowns, and interruptions in internet and transport had repeatedly derailed education. The earlier age relaxation policy was a corrective measure, compensating for these years of loss and acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances under which Kashmiri students studied. Even today, such disruptions persist. The communication blockade following August 2019 lasted for over a year and a half, paralyzing online learning. For UPSC aspirants - who rely heavily on digital resources and current affairs updates - this blackout meant losing an entire preparation cycle. Removing age relaxation in this context effectively punishes students for living in a region still striving for normalcy.

1. 
   Unequal Access to Competitive Resources

UPSC preparation has evolved into a highly resource-dependent process involving coaching institutes, online lectures, mock tests, and access to high-speed digital materials. Candidates from Delhi, Pune, or Bengaluru enjoy continuous educational access, while aspirants in remote districts like Kupwara, Poonch, or Kishtwar must cope with unstable connectivity, limited mobility, fewer libraries, and a shortage of expert guidance.

According to recent data, youth unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir stands at over 17 percent, nearly double the national average. This reflects deeper systemic issues: weaker private sector development, slower academic calendars, and fewer career alternatives. In such an environment, age relaxation is not a luxury - it is a necessary equalizer, ensuring that students from J&K compete on the same footing as their peers across India.

1. 
   Constitutional and Ethical Justification

Equality, as guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution, does not mean identical treatment; it means fair treatment in light of differing circumstances. As Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said, “To treat unequals equally is the greatest injustice.”

By restoring age relaxation, the government would be upholding the Constitution’s true spirit - ensuring substantive equality by compensating for historical and structural disadvantages. It would also align with the principles of social justice and regional balance, which form the moral foundation of India’s democracy.

1. 
   Socio-Economic Context and Employment Challenges

J&K’s economy has struggled under the weight of limited industrialization, frequent disruptions, and uncertainty. For thousands of educated young people, UPSC represents one of the few transparent and merit-based pathways to upward mobility. Restricting age eligibility in such circumstances severely narrows this opportunity. Many aspirants begin their serious preparation late - owing to delayed graduations, lack of coaching facilities, or family obligations - and thus require an extended window to attempt the exam meaningfully. Restoring the earlier relaxation would open the door once again for those who are capable but constrained by systemic realities.

1. 
   Representation and National Integration

Civil servants from J&K serve as ambassadors of unity and inclusion, embodying the idea of “unity in diversity” within India’s administrative framework. Their presence in the All India Services enhances understanding, bridges cultural divides, and reinforces the idea of federal balance. Reducing the number of aspirants who qualify from the region by tightening age eligibility inadvertently weakens national integration. The restoration of age relaxation would not just empower individuals - it would strengthen India’s democratic inclusiveness.

1. 
   Precedent and Policy Consistency

Several regions in India have received special provisions in recognition of unique challenges - be it the North-East, Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas, or backward regions of Central India. Jammu and Kashmir’s case is, in fact, more pressing given the combination of historical conflict, educational instability, and limited access to employment. If such regions are entitled to special consideration, denying the same to J&K contradicts the very logic of fairness and federal equity. Policy consistency demands that the earlier provision be restored.

2. 
   Why It Is Even More Important for Kashmiri Women

Among all aspirants, Kashmiri women have suffered the greatest loss due to the withdrawal of age relaxation. Their path to education and employment is already hindered by social conservatism, security concerns, and domestic responsibilities. In many parts of J&K, women enter higher education late, face mobility restrictions, and shoulder family care duties - often forcing them to pause their academic journeys. These realities mean that women reach their competitive potential later than their male counterparts.

A rigid upper age limit of 32 years effectively eliminates a significant section of talented women who could otherwise become exceptional administrators. Restoring age relaxation would give them the time and confidence to compete fairly. Women in conflict-affected societies face a double disadvantage - first as members of a region struggling with instability, and second as women facing patriarchal constraints. Denying them compensatory age relaxation deepens this inequality. Moreover, every Kashmiri woman who enters the civil services becomes a symbol of empowerment and resilience, inspiring other young women to break traditional barriers. Restoring relaxation for them is not only about policy fairness - it is about nurturing change-makers who can redefine gender roles in one of India’s most sensitive regions.

3. 
   Why Age Restoration in JKAS Is Equally Important

The same reasoning applies - perhaps even more strongly - to the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), the state’s own premier recruitment platform. For many local graduates, JKAS is not just a job opportunity - it is the primary vehicle for participation in governance and community service. When the upper age limit was reduced from 37 to 32 years, countless aspirants who had spent years preparing or working in community roles suddenly found themselves disqualified. This abrupt policy change deprived the region of mature, motivated, and experienced candidates.

1. 
   State Civil Services as the Main Career Path

With limited private sector opportunities, state civil services are the backbone of career aspiration in J&K. In remote districts where educational facilities are few and economic hardship is high, youth often begin serious exam preparation later than those in other parts of the country. Maintaining a 37 year limit would allow greater participation and prevent a generation of capable candidates from being left behind due to factors beyond their control.

1. 
   Academic and Recruitment Delays

Frequent disruptions, academic backlog and postponed recruitment cycles are common in J&K. Many candidates complete their degrees later than their counterparts in other states. The 37 year limit had historically compensated for these structural delays, ensuring that aspirants had adequate time to prepare and attempt the examination without fear of premature ineligibility.

1. 
   Inclusion of Experienced and Grounded Candidates

Many JKAS aspirants bring valuable experience from teaching, journalism, social work, or grassroots activism. Their maturity and understanding of local issues enrich the administrative fabric. Limiting entry by lowering the age cap excludes this pool of socially aware and service-oriented youth, to the detriment of effective governance.

1. 
   Parity with Other States and Policy Fairness

Several Indian states - including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh - allow general category aspirants to appear for their state civil services up to 37 or even 40 years of age. There is no reason why J&K, which faces far greater educational and logistical barriers, should impose stricter limits. Restoring the 37 year age limit would ensure parity, fairness and regional balance.

1. 
   Rebuilding Trust and Confidence

Public policy is not only about administration - it is also about emotion, trust, and belonging. Many youth in J&K perceive the rollback of relaxation as a sign that their struggles are unacknowledged. Restoring it would serve as a confidence-building measure, signaling that the state values their efforts and stands by them in rebuilding their future.

Conclusion (Heartfelt and Appealing)

The demand to restore age relaxation and the 37-year upper age limit for Jammu and Kashmir aspirants - both in UPSC and JKAS - is not a cry for privilege. It is a call for recognition and justice. For the youth of Kashmir, every examination attempt is not just a career step - it is a test of perseverance, patience, and belief. They have studied through curfews, power cuts and prolonged internet bans, often without access to libraries or coaching centres. Every additional year of eligibility is not a luxury - it is a chance to make up for years lost to circumstances beyond their control.

For Kashmiri women, this demand holds even deeper meaning. Each year of delay caused by family duties, social barriers, or safety concerns narrows their dreams a little more. By restoring relaxation, the government would be extending not a policy concession but a gesture of respect - a recognition of courage and struggle in one of the country’s most resilient societies.

Integration of J&K into the mainstream has been a central pillar of Prime Minister Modi’s avowed vision for Naya Kashmir. True integration therefore will have to absorb the aspirations and dreams of its young and restive. Integration is not achieved through uniformity alone - it’s achieved through understanding and enabling the productive energy of J&K’s deserving youth. Restoring age relaxation would reaffirm India’s commitment to inclusion, fairness, and opportunity for every region.

Let this not be seen as a technical amendment but as a symbolic act of national empathy - a reminder that the Union stands by every aspirant who dreams of serving the country, regardless of where they were born or what hardships they endured.

In empowering the future of Kashmir’s youth - India empowers its own.

(Author is an eminent Political Analyst advocating age relaxation and equal opportunity to J&K youth in competitive state and UPSC exams.

He can be reached at @JAVED0909/X - Facebook/@javediqbalshah)