Thousands of aspirants across Jammu and Kashmir appeared for the JKPSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) on Sunday, even as confusion over flight cancellations, age relaxation, and demands for postponement created widespread uncertainty.
The exam began at 10 AM sharp, putting an end to the last-minute tension that had grown between Lok Bhavan and the Omar Abdullah-led government. Aspirants had been waiting anxiously for clarity as both sides differed over extending the upper age limit for candidates.
In the days leading up to the exam, the elected government, several political parties, and thousands of aspirants urged the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to postpone the CCE. They argued that severe disruptions in air travel and lack of clarity on age relaxation had created an unfair situation for many candidates.
Calling the situation “extraordinary,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote to the JKPSC Chairman on Saturday, explaining that widespread flight disruptions had prevented many aspirants from reaching their exam centres. He also said the uncertainty around Lok Bhavan’s delay in approving age relaxation had added to candidates’ stress.
LG Manoj Sinha Denies Delays by Lok Bhavan
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, however, refuted these claims. In a social media statement, he clarified that he had returned the age-relaxation file on December 2, the same day it was received, only asking whether the exam could still be held on time if age limits were revised. According to him, there was no follow-up from the government after that.
He also pointed out that the JKPSC had issued the examination notification on August 22, clearly stating that the exam would be conducted on December 7.
The Age Limit Controversy
Originally, the JKPSC set the maximum age limits as:
- 32 years – Open Merit
- 34 years – Reserved or In-service candidates
- 35 years – Physically challenged candidates
The government later proposed extending these to:
- 35 years – Open Merit
- 37 years – Reserved or In-service candidates
- 38 years – Physically challenged candidates
This proposal sparked hope among many aspirants—but also fueled confusion when no final decision was announced before the exam.
Outside exam centres in Jammu, candidates shared emotional reactions.
“This exam is a dream for many of us. We were hopeful the age relaxation would come,” said Abhinandani Gupta, who waited anxiously outside her centre. She said that a postponement might have helped those unable to travel due to flight cancellations, but it would have been disheartening for candidates who had prepared for months.
Another aspirant, Sahil Mathur, said the midnight notification from JKPSC confirming the exam would be held as scheduled finally ended the confusion.
“The chief minister had sought age relaxation. What happened later, we don’t know. Students were protesting till the last day. The uncertainty caused real hardship,” he said.
Many candidates admitted that until the very last moment, they were unsure whether the exam would take place, as the standoff between the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the elected government kept the situation tense.
