Jammu Tawi/Srinagar, Dec 7: Around 61 per cent of candidates appeared for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) on Sunday as the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) conducted the test as scheduled, despite demands for postponement due to widespread flight cancellations and an ongoing row over the upper age limit.
The examination was held in two sessions — 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm — bringing an end to the uncertainty caused by tensions between Lok Bhavan and the Omar Abdullah-led government over the age-relaxation issue. Several political parties, the elected government, and many aspirants had urged the JKPSC to defer the exam in view of the extraordinary situation.
JKPSC Additional Secretary and Controller of Examination, Sachin Jamwal, said the test was conducted smoothly at 53 centres across Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 22,573 registered candidates, 13,732 appeared, marking a turnout of 60.83 per cent. He said the attendance was consistent with previous years, where participation has typically remained around 60 to 61 per cent. The exam was held under strict guidelines, with observers and magistrates deployed at each centre.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had written to the JKPSC chairman on Saturday, noting that severe flight disruptions had thrown travel plans into chaos and that uncertainty over age relaxation had further complicated the situation. He termed the circumstances “extraordinary” and urged the commission to reconsider holding the exam.
However, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha rejected the claim that Lok Bhavan had delayed the decision. He clarified that he had returned the age-relaxation proposal the same day — December 2 — seeking clarification on whether the exam could still be held on schedule if relaxation was granted. He said no further communication was received from the elected government. Sinha also noted that the JKPSC had issued its exam advertisement on August 22, announcing December 7 as the exam date.
The JKPSC had earlier set the upper age limit at 32 years for open merit, 34 years for reserved or in-service candidates, and 35 years for physically challenged candidates. The government had proposed relaxing these to 35, 37, and 38 years respectively.
Aspirants expressed mixed feelings. “This exam is a dream for many. We hoped the relaxation would come,” said candidate Abhinandani Gupta in Jammu. Another aspirant, Sahil Mathur, said the JKPSC’s midnight confirmation ended the uncertainty but added that many students suffered hardship due to the last-minute confusion.
Candidates said they remained unsure until the final hours whether the exam would be held, amid continued friction between the lieutenant governor’s office and the elected government.
