Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) – Pattern

• 30 Aug 2024

Introduction

The examinations conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), are also the center of attraction for the candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Despite the subtle differences in the nature and procedure of examination, the syllabus of Preliminary and Main of UPSC CSE has a significant role in the examination conducted by JKPSC. This is the reason why students preparing for UPSC CSE are succeeding in this JKPSC examination as well.

The Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), popularly known as Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, consists of the three successive stages:

Preliminary Examination

• Comprises of two papers of 200 marks each.
  • General Studies Paper-I
  • General Studies Paper-II
• Both the question papers will be of the objective type (multiple choice questions).
• The General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) of the Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
• The question papers will be set in English.
• Clearing the Preliminary Examination is mandatory to be eligible for Main Examination.

Main Examination

• Comprises of Eight papers.
• The question papers are conventional essay type.
• Marks of seven papers are counted in deciding the final merit list.
• In one paper (English), a candidate must secure the minimum qualifying marks.

Personality Test (Interview)

• Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, in any or all the papers (Paper I to Paper VII) shall be summoned by them for a Personality Test (Interview).
• The number of candidates to be summoned for the Personality Test (interview) will not be more than thrice the number of vacancies to be filled. The Personality Test (interview) will carry 250 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).

NOTE 1: If the number of candidates belonging to any reserved category who qualify for the interview, based on the above shortlisting criteria, falls short of three times the number of vacancies reserved for such a category, the Commission shall call additional candidates from that category, over and above the number originally shortlisted for the interview.

NOTE 2: The Final merit of a candidate shall be determined on the basis of marks scored in written part as well as interview.

Table Shows the Marks Distribution Counted For Final Merit
Paper	Subject	Marks
Qualifying Paper	English (Minimum Qualification Standard- 25% / 75 Marks)	300
Paper-I	Essay	250
Paper-II	General Studies–I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World and Society)	250
Paper-III	General Studies–II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations)	250
Paper-IV	General Studies–III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)	250
Paper-V	General Studies–IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)	250
Paper-VI	Optional Subject – Paper 1	250
Paper-VII	Optional Subject – Paper 2	250
Sub Total (Written Test)		1750
Personality Test		250
Grand Total		2000

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a domicile of UT of J&K; and
• Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognized University in India or from a Foreign University declared by Government in consultation with the Commission to be equivalent to a degree of a recognized University.

Age Criteria

Category	Age limit
OM (Open Merit)	32
Reserved Category Candidates and In-service Candidates	34
Physically Challenged Candidates	35

Number of Attempts

• Every candidate appearing in the examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six attempts at the examination:
• Provided that this restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates who are otherwise eligible;
• Provided further that the number of attempts permissible to candidates belonging to Resident of Backward Areas (RBA), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) & Resident of Areas Adjoining Line of Actual Control (ALC)/International Border (IB), who are otherwise eligible, shall be nine. The relaxation will be available to the candidates who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.
• Provided also that a physically challenged candidate will get as many attempts as are available to other non-physically challenged candidates of his or her community, subject to the condition that a physically challenged candidate belonging the General Category shall be eligible for nine attempts. The relaxation will be available to the physically challenged candidates who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.

NOTE:

• An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be deemed to be an attempt at the Combined Competitive Examination.
• If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he/she shall be deemed to have made an attempt at the Examination.
• Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt.