Srinagar: Ever since the Omar Abdullah led government has taken over, there is a massive demand from the youths in J&K to increase the upper age limit for administrative services (JKAS) examinations to 37 years, aligning it with the limits in other states.
The other big states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and many others have kept the upper age limit for state administrative examinations at 37 years. J&K becomes the only irony where the age limit post the abrogation of Article 370 was reduced to 32 years, something that left everyone surprised.
The reduction of 5 years in the age has dashed the hope of thousands of aspirants who are at the verge of losing every chance to get employment.
Many aspirants are either at the brisk of crossing the 37 years age limit while thousands others have lost all the opportunities, courtesy the reduction that has wasted precious 5 years of age of many hundred aspirants.
“This is sheer injustice…we lost our precious years of career and age because of this decision by the previous Lieutenant Governor led administration,” say the youths.
The youth say they fail to understand what prompted the previous bureaucratic regime to reduce the age limit which in other big states like UP, MP, Maharashtra, Punjab and many others have the upper age limit at 37 years.
The aggrieved and hopeless youth have now pinned hopes on the newly elected Omar Abdullah led government.
Meanwhile, PDP leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed-U-Rehman Parra too has joined the chorus and has demanded restoration of the age limit to 37 years for the larger benefit of the aspirants.
In an X post, Parra said, JKAS aspirants demand for an urgent restoration to the 37-year upper age limit, especially in light of their prelims exam on Nov 17, is of utmost urgency. When other states have capped the upper age limit between 37 & 42, why do youngsters here in J&K face the 32 years limit?
Requesting @OmarAbdullah and @OfficeOfLGJandK to kindly enhance the upper age limit so that aspirants who’ve been left out due to infrequent exams and troubles since 2019 get a chance.
The J&K is grappling with unemployment and thousands of youths are aggrieved as in the next two to three years, they will be over age. (ANB)
Only J&K has 32-yr age limit for State Services
