Jammu & Kashmir SSB Recruitment 2025-26 Notification for 390 Various Posts

Your Application Timeline and Age Eligibility Decoded

A Strict One-Month Window with Zero Correction Facility

The application window for JKSSB Recruitment 2026 opens on 27 January 2026 and closes on 25 February 2026. You must complete your application within this period as there is no provision for extension. The notification is silent about a specific time cut-off on the last day, so submitting well before the deadline is highly recommended. Crucially, the board has implemented an absolute zero-correction policy. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit any detail—not your name, date of birth, or uploaded documents. Any discrepancy discovered later will lead to candidature cancellation.

Age Calculation and Category-Wise Relaxations Explained

Your age eligibility is calculated as on 01 January 2025. For Open Merit candidates, the maximum age is 40 years. However, significant relaxations are provided: candidates from SC, ST, RBA, ALC/IB, EWS, and OBC categories have an upper age limit of 43 years. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities get a relaxation of 2 years over the OM limit, making their maximum age 42. Ex-Servicemen receive the highest relaxation, with an upper age limit of 48 years. Ensure your date of birth falls within the specified range for your category to avoid rejection at the Document Verification stage.

390 Government Posts Across Multiple Cadres

Understanding the Vacancy Distribution and Cadre System

The JKSSB has announced 390 vacancies across various departments of the Jammu & Kashmir administration. The Open Merit category has the highest share with 176 posts, while the remaining 214 posts are distributed among reserved categories as per government policy. These positions are further classified into three cadres: UT Cadre, Divisional Cadre (Jammu/Kashmir), and District Cadre. Candidates must carefully check Annexure-A (Pages 14-31) of the notification to find specific posts (Item No. 275-322) with exact cadre and district details. Remember, these vacancy numbers are provisional and subject to change.

Salary Structure and Important Reservation Limits

Selected candidates will be placed in the Jammu & Kashmir Pay Matrix with pay levels ranging from basic SL-1 to higher levels like Level-6E. For example, Level-4 offers ₹25,500 to ₹81,100, while Level-6 offers ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400. In addition to basic pay, employees receive all allowances as per UT government rules. A crucial technical detail: horizontal reservation for Ex-Servicemen applies only to posts with pay up to Level-6E. Candidates claiming ESM reservation for higher-level posts should verify their eligibility against this limit mentioned in the J&K reservation rules.

Academic Benchmarks and Mandatory Domicile Requirement

The Non-Negotiable J&K Domicile Rule and Qualification Cut-off

A primary eligibility filter that candidates must note is the mandatory Jammu & Kashmir Domicile Certificate. Only candidates holding a valid domicile certificate issued on or before 25 February 2026 are eligible to apply. This certificate must be uploaded during the application and presented again during Document Verification. Applications without a valid domicile certificate will be rejected. Additionally, your educational qualification must be complete and obtained on or before the same cut-off date. Candidates appearing in their final year or awaiting results are not eligible. The required qualification varies post-wise and is detailed in Annexure-A.

The Three-Stage Selection: Written Test and Document Verification

The selection follows a clear three-stage process. After application submission, candidates must appear for an Objective Type Written Examination conducted in OMR or online mode. The exam consists of Multiple Choice Questions in English only, with negative marking of ¼ mark per wrong answer. Those who qualify are called for Document Verification (DV), where all original certificates are physically verified. The final merit list is prepared based on written exam performance, subject to successful verification. The detailed syllabus will be announced separately on the JKSSB website. Remember, there is no TA/DA provided for attending either the exam or DV.

Special Marking for Social Welfare Supervisor Posts

Candidates applying for Social Welfare Supervisor should note a unique marking scheme. Out of 100 marks, 95 marks are for the written examination, while the remaining 5 marks are awarded as a subject bonus to candidates with degrees in Home Science, Child Development, or Sociology. This provides an advantage to candidates with relevant academic backgrounds for this specific role.

Step-by-Step Application Guide and Compliance Checklist

Navigating the JKSSB Portal and Fee Payment Process

Applications must be submitted exclusively through www.jkssb.nic.in between 27 January and 25 February 2026. The fee is ₹600 for General/OBC candidates and ₹500 for SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD candidates. Payment must be made online via net banking, debit card, or credit card, with transaction charges borne by the candidate. The fee is non-refundable, non-adjustable, and no chargebacks are allowed. After successful submission, save and print your confirmation page. Remember, JKSSB will not send admit cards by post—you must download them from the website approximately one week before the exam.

Preparing Documents for Upload and Physical Verification

For the online application, prepare clear digital copies of your recent photograph, signature, domicile certificate, and category/PwBD certificate (if applicable). Ensure scans meet size specifications—blurred uploads cause rejection. If shortlisted, you'll be called for Document Verification (DV). For DV, carry all original certificates (educational, DOB, domicile, category) plus two recent passport-sized photographs. Ex-Servicemen must bring Form-XIV and candidates with degrees from outside J&K must bring a Bonafide Certificate. On exam day, you must carry your admit card and two recent passport photos (not older than 6 months) for verification.

• Irreversible Application Submission: The notification is unequivocal: "No correction after submission is strictly prohibited." There is no edit window. Any mistake in personal details or document upload leads to permanent rejection. Review everything before final submission.
• False Information = Legal Action: Providing false information regarding age, category, qualification, or PwBD status can lead not only to candidature cancellation but also to criminal proceedings under applicable laws. The board treats fraudulent claims seriously.
• One Application Per Item Number Rule: Submitting multiple applications for the same Item Number will result in cancellation of all applications and debarment from future JKSSB examinations. Apply only once for your chosen post.
• Mandatory J&K Domicile Certificate: Only candidates holding a valid Jammu & Kashmir Domicile Certificate issued on or before 25 February 2026 are eligible. This is not just a document but a primary eligibility criterion. Applications without it will be rejected.
• Provisional Vacancies & Court Cases: The advertised 390 vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease without prior notice. The entire selection process is subject to the outcome of any pending court cases or writ petitions.
• PwBD Scribe Specific Rules: If you are a PwBD candidate using a scribe, the scribe's educational qualification must be lower than yours. You must submit a medical certificate (Annexure-B) and an undertaking for using your own scribe (Annexure-C).
• Ex-Servicemen Provisions & Limits: Reservation for Ex-Servicemen is horizontal and can be availed only once for a government job. It applies only to posts with pay up to Level-6E. They must submit a mandatory affidavit sworn before a Magistrate. Failure to attend DV leads to automatic rejection.
• No TA/DA Provision: Candidates will not be paid any Travel Allowance or Daily Allowance for attending the written examination or Document Verification. All travel and accommodation expenses must be borne by the candidate.
• Board's Final and Binding Decision: The decision of the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board in all matters relating to this recruitment will be final and binding. No correspondence or appeals will be entertained after the board's decision.
• Document Presentation at DV: You must bring all original documents plus two recent passport photographs to the Document Verification venue. Without these, you will not be permitted to participate in the verification process.