Srinagar, Mar 31 (KNO): The Jammu & Kashmir government on Tuesday said there is no proposal under consideration to grant concession or exemption in job application fees charged by recruitment agencies in the Union Territory.
Replying to an unstarred Assembly Question No. 997 tabled by MLA Hilal Akbar Lone regarding waiver of application fees in view of rising unemployment and financial hardships, the government, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said recruitment bodies incur substantial expenditure in conducting selection processes.
The reply stated that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) bear significant costs for recruitment to gazetted and non-gazetted posts, respectively.
“These expenditures arise from multiple stages of the selection process, including written/OMR-based examinations, interviews, engagement of subject experts, and deployment of manpower and infrastructure,” the government said.
It added that the recruitment process involves intricate and sensitive procedures requiring strict adherence to standards of security, fairness, and transparency. The costs have further increased due to the introduction of advanced technological interventions aimed at ensuring integrity and efficiency.
“Accordingly, the prescribed examination fee is essential to defray a portion of these escalating costs incurred at various stages of the recruitment process,” the reply said, ruling out any immediate relief for job aspirants—(KNO)