As unemployment shows no respite among young professionals in Kashmir, more youths are showing interest in competitive exams like Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) in thetroubled Valley.
In 2001, when there was less awareness among people about administrative exams, SN Das Gupta College in Srinagar started coaching for the exams. As per figures of every year since its inception, admissions are increasing manifold. The reason is obvious — rising unemployment.
“Admissions and responses are immense every year. Students are more interested in competitive exams due to corruption, nepotism and tactical backdoor entries. Highly qualified students in Kashmir who are unemployed are now trying their luck at civil services,” said GN War, director of SN Das Gupta College.
In the last many years, unemployment in the Valley has come up as one of the growing problems which the government has failed to address. The official record shows that 2,22,180 youths have registered themselves across the state, which is an alarming figure.
Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the state having the highest unemployment rate in North India and eighth highest unemployment rate in India, according to the survey released by the Labour Bureau under the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The young educated Kashmiris now feel that they need to try harder to achieve their goals as a government job has turned out to be a distant dream.
“The first reason is that deserving candidates do not get government jobs due to obvious reasons of corruption. So now, it is better to try our luck in civil services, mostly IAS, where there is no corruption. The system in Kashmir is rotten as it has failed to provide opportunities to the educated youth,” said Owaius Ahmad from Char-e-Sharief. After pursuing his master’s degree, he is now preparing for civil services.
The craze among youth regarding civil services picked up in 2009 when Kupwara-born Shah Faesal became the first Kashmiri to top the Indian Civil Services Examination. Since then, dozens of youths have cracked the exam and many continue to try their luck.
“Earlier we would only study and wait for government jobs. But now, there are not many opportunities. So we are trying explore the options of competitive exams and many students from Kashmir have made it. We can make it big if we keep trying,” said Muneeza Nissar, an aspirant.
Bookshop owners in the Valley have seen an increase in sale of books for competitive exams. “We have witnessed a decrease in sale of magazines and newspapers due to the obvious reason of switching to online media, but the demand for competitive books has become huge. Nowadays students not only want to pursue a simple degree, but are preparing for different national exams as well. The vision of Kashmiri youth regarding their careers has changed in the last many years,” said Hilal Ahmad (40), owner of Khan News Agency at Regal Chowk.
