JKSSB Notification 01 of 2026: Health & Medical Education Department Recruitment (239 Posts)

The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has officially released a major recruitment notification for the year 2026, inviting online applications for 239 UT Cadre posts under the Health & Medical Education Department, specifically for SKIMS Soura. This comprehensive recruitment drive, advertised as Notification No. 01 of 2026, covers a wide spectrum of paramedical, technical, and support staff roles ranging from highly specialized positions like Chest Physiotherapist and Perfusionist Technician to general cadre posts like Attendant and Nursing Aid. It presents a significant opportunity for qualified candidates seeking stable government employment within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The selection process is streamlined, relying purely on a single written examination, making it a transparent and merit-based system.

For candidates, this notification is not just about job openings; it's a call to join a premier healthcare institution. The eligibility criteria are post-specific, with clear educational and experiential requirements detailed in Annexure-A of the notification. A crucial aspect for applicants is the strict adherence to domicile requirements and the cut-off date of 25th March 2026, which governs all eligibility parameters. Whether you are a fresh graduate with a B.Sc in Medical Technology or an experienced professional with a diploma and relevant work experience, this recruitment offers multiple entry points. Understanding the detailed post-wise qualifications, age relaxations, and the application process is the first critical step towards a successful application.

The timeline for the JKSSB SKIMS recruitment is clearly defined and spans approximately one month from the start of applications to the final submission deadline. The process begins with the official notification released on 23rd January 2026. However, the active application window opens nearly a month later on 24th February 2026. This gap is crucial for candidates as it provides ample time to gather all necessary documents, including domicile certificates, category certificates, and qualification proofs, ensuring they are valid as on the cut-off date. The entire application process is online, and candidates must complete registration, form filling, fee payment, and final submission within this period. There is no provision for offline submissions or late applications under any circumstances.

The most critical date in this schedule is 25th March 2026. This is not merely the last date to submit your application; it is the absolute cut-off for determining every aspect of your eligibility. Your age will be calculated as on 1st January 2026, but you must meet the age criteria on the application cut-off date. More importantly, you must possess all requisite educational qualifications, domicile certificates, and category certificates on or before 25th March 2026. For instance, if your final degree result is declared on 26th March 2026, you are ineligible. Candidates often misunderstand this, leading to rejection. Therefore, planning your application well in advance, verifying document validity, and submitting at least 3-4 days before the deadline is a strategic must to avoid last-minute technical glitches or oversight.

The online application portal is scheduled to open on 24th February 2026. On this date, the direct link for registration and application will be activated on the official JKSSB website (www.jkssb.nic.in). Candidates are advised not to use any third-party websites for application submission. The first step involves a one-time registration on the JKSSB portal where you will provide basic details like name, father's name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID to generate a registration ID and password. This registration ID is paramount and must be saved securely as it will be required for all future logins, admit card download, and result checking. A common mistake is using an incorrect or misspelled name during registration that does not match the name on matriculation or degree certificates. Such discrepancies, even if minor, can lead to disqualification during document verification, regardless of your exam performance.

After successful registration, you can log in and start filling the detailed application form for your chosen post (Item Number). The form will require you to enter educational details, upload scanned documents (photo, signature, certificates), select examination preferences, and make the fee payment. It is highly recommended to have all documents scanned in the prescribed format (usually JPG for photo/signature and PDF for certificates) and within the specified file size limit before starting the application. Many candidates face last-minute panic due to unclear scans or oversized files. The portal typically remains open 24/7, but to avoid heavy server traffic, it is prudent to complete the application process during non-peak hours, such as late evenings or early mornings, several days before the final deadline.

25th March 2026 is the non-negotiable final deadline for the JKSSB SKIMS recruitment 2026. The online application submission link and the fee payment gateway will be deactivated on this date, precisely as per the server clock. The Board has explicitly stated that no requests for late submission will be entertained. This date holds multifaceted importance: it is the last date to submit your form, the last date to pay the application fee, and the definitive cut-off date for all eligibility criteria. Your qualification certificates must prove that you acquired the required degree/diploma on or before this date. Your domicile certificate and category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/RBA/ALC/IB/PwBD) must also be valid and issued on or before 25th March 2026.

A critical warning associated with this deadline concerns the finality of submission. Once you finally submit your application and pay the fee, NO CORRECTION or EDITING is allowed in any field. You cannot change your post preference, correct a misspelled name, or update qualification details later. Therefore, a thorough review of every entered detail and uploaded document is essential before the final click. Candidates are also advised to complete the process at least 2-3 days prior. Rushing on the last day increases the risk of technical errors, payment failures, or website crashes due to high traffic, which could result in an incomplete application. After successful submission, always download and take a printout of the application confirmation page for your records and future document verification rounds.

Age eligibility is a fundamental criterion for any government job, and for this JKSSB recruitment, it is calculated with reference to a fixed date: 1st January 2026. This means your age as on this specific date determines whether you fall within the prescribed limits for your category. The age limits vary significantly based on the candidate's social category, with substantial relaxations provided for reserved categories as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules. The basic upper age limit for Open Merit (OM) candidates is 40 years. This implies that an OM candidate must not have been born earlier than 1st January 1986 and not later than 1st January 2008. The 'not born after' clause ensures the candidate is at least 18 years old as of the reference date.

For candidates belonging to SC, ST (ST-1 & ST-2), RBA, ALC/IB, EWS, and OBC categories, the upper age limit is relaxed by 3 years, making it 43 years. Therefore, such candidates must not have been born before 1st January 1983. Physically Challenged Persons (PwBD) receive a relaxation of 2 years over the OM limit, setting their maximum age at 42 years (not born before 01.01.1984). The most significant relaxation is for Ex-Servicemen (ESM), who have an upper age limit of 48 years (not born before 01.01.1978). It is vital to note that these are the maximum limits. There is no mention of a lower age limit in the notification, but typically, candidates must be at least 18 years old as of the reference date, which is implied by the "not born after 01.01.2008" clause for all categories.

The educational and professional qualifications for the 239 JKSSB posts are highly specific and vary from role to role. These are detailed exhaustively in Annexure-A of the official notification. The qualifications range from a simple Matriculation (10th pass) for posts like Attendant General Cadre G-II to specialized Bachelor's and Master's degrees for technical and paramedical positions. A key rule that candidates must internalize is that all prescribed qualifications must have been acquired on or before the critical cut-off date of 25th March 2026. This includes final degree certificates, provisional certificates, diploma certificates, and marksheets. If you are awaiting results or your final semester exam is scheduled after this date, you are not eligible to apply for this recruitment cycle.

For many posts, experience is a mandatory criterion. For instance, the Assistant Cook G-II position requires a 1.5-year Diploma in Food Production plus 2 years of experience in a registered hotel, catering institution, or hospital. Similarly, some therapy posts require registration with professional bodies like the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) or the Occupational Therapist Association of India. Candidates must read the eligibility for their desired post word-for-word. A common mistake is overlooking the "experience" clause or the "registration" requirement. Having the degree alone is not sufficient if the post demands additional experience or professional licensing. Furthermore, the notification warns that any qualification other than the one prescribed will lead to summary rejection. If you hold an equivalent qualification, you must produce an Equivalence Certificate from the competent authority of Jammu & Kashmir at the time of document verification.

The JKSSB has advertised a total of 239 vacancies across 19 different posts under the Health & Medical Education Department of SKIMS Soura. These vacancies are distributed vertically among various social categories as per the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act and Rules. The category-wise breakdown is as follows: Open Merit (101), Scheduled Caste (21), Scheduled Tribe-1 (24), Scheduled Tribe-2 (24), Other Backward Classes (17), ALC/IB (10), RBA (22), and Economically Weaker Sections (20). It is important to understand that the vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) are horizontal reservations. This means they are not separate vacancies but are adjusted within the vertical category (OM, SC, ST, etc.) vacancies. For example, a PwBD candidate who is also from the SC category will be adjusted against the SC vacancy earmarked for PwBD.

The post-wise distribution shows where the bulk of opportunities lie. The highest number of vacancies are for Nursing Aid G-III (59 posts), followed by Technician G-II (Lab Group) with 32 posts, and Attendant General Cadre G-II with 25 posts. Specialized posts like Chest Physiotherapist, Junior Occupational Therapist, and Perfusionist Technician have only 1 vacancy each. This distribution is crucial for candidates to assess their competition and make informed choices. When applying, you select a specific "Item Number" corresponding to the post. You can apply for only one post (one Item Number) in this recruitment. If you are found to have submitted multiple applications for different posts, all your applications may be cancelled, and you may be debarred.

The salary for the advertised posts under JKSSB is structured according to different pay levels as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations applicable in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The pay levels determine the basic pay range, and in addition to this, selected candidates will receive applicable allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other perks as per UT government rules. The pay levels for these posts vary based on the post's grade and responsibilities. Staff Nurse G-II is placed at the highest pay level among these vacancies (Level-6D), reflecting the specialized nature and requirement of the nursing profession. Most technical and paramedical posts like Technician, Pharmacist, and Therapist are in Pay Level-4, while clerical and support staff posts are in Level-2 or SL-1.

Understanding the pay scale is essential for candidates to gauge the career prospects and financial benefits of the job. For example, a candidate selected as a Staff Nurse G-II will start with a basic pay within the range of ₹35,800 to ₹1,13,200 (Level-6D). After adding the current DA (which is a percentage of basic pay) and HRA (which depends on the city of posting), the gross monthly salary becomes quite attractive. Similarly, a Junior Store Clerk in Level-2 will have a basic pay range of ₹19,900 to ₹63,200. It is important to note that these are the pay bands; the starting salary will be at the minimum of the band. The notification provides only the pay level; detailed break-up of allowances is not provided but will be as per the standard government norms for UT employees. This government job offers not just a stable salary but also job security, pension benefits (under the New Pension Scheme), medical facilities, and opportunities for promotion.

The JKSSB notification includes several strict warnings that candidates must adhere to without exception. The most critical is the rule against multiple applications. Submitting more than one application for the same or different posts (Item Numbers) will lead to the cancellation of all your applications and may result in debarment from future JKSSB exams. Another non-negotiable rule is the Domicile requirement. You must be a domicile of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and possess a valid Domicile Certificate in the prescribed format on or before 25th March 2026. This certificate is mandatory for all candidates, irrespective of category.

During the examination, the use or even possession of banned electronic items like mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, or any programmable equipment is strictly prohibited. If you are found with such a device—even if it is switched off—inside the examination hall, you will face disciplinary action, including a permanent ban from future JKSSB examinations. Furthermore, failing to appear for the mandatory Document Verification (DV) when called will result in automatic rejection of your candidature. The Board also warns that any candidate found using fake, forged, or fabricated certificates will be debarred and liable for criminal prosecution. Your application is provisional until all your documents are verified during DV. Therefore, honesty and meticulous preparation of genuine documents are paramount.

Beyond the primary rules, candidates should pay close attention to several other guidelines that ensure a smooth process. For instance, the notification specifies that there are no prescribed physical standards (like height, weight, chest) for these posts. This is relevant for candidates who might have been concerned about physical eligibility. The syllabus for the written examination will be published separately on the JKSSB website. Candidates must not rely on old patterns and should wait for the official syllabus relevant to this specific advertisement.

For in-service candidates (those already working in government departments), a specific procedure must be followed. They must submit the printout of their filled online application through proper channel (their Head of Department) to the Secretary, JKSSB, by or before the date of Document Verification. The application form has a specific certificate at the end that must be filled, signed, and stamped by the competent authority. Failure to follow this channel may lead to rejection of the in-service candidate's application. Lastly, the Board clarifies that it reserves the right to change the number of vacancies or cancel the recruitment process at any stage without assigning any reason. Candidates have no right to claim a post merely based on the advertisement.

Candidates who qualify the written examination will be called for Document Verification (DV). This is the final and most critical stage where your eligibility is physically verified. Failure to appear for DV or to produce any of the required original documents will lead to automatic rejection of your candidature. No Travel Allowance or Dearness Allowance (TA/DA) is provided for attending the DV. To ensure a smooth and successful verification process, you must bring the following original documents along with one set of self-attested photocopies, arranged in the order listed below. It is highly recommended to carry all documents in a clear folder or envelope for easy presentation to the verification officers.

To provide a clear and immediate overview for candidates deciding which post to apply for, the following table consolidates all 19 advertised posts with their essential qualification, corresponding pay level, and the total number of vacancies. This snapshot allows for quick comparison and helps you identify the posts matching your profile. Remember, you can apply for only one of these posts. Choose based on your exact qualification, interest, and the number of available opportunities. Pay close attention to additional requirements like experience or mandatory registration mentioned in the detailed eligibility criteria of Annexure-A, which are not fully elaborated in this summary table.

The JKSSB operates under a set of well-defined policies to ensure fairness, transparency, and finality in its recruitment processes. Understanding these policies is crucial for applicants, as they govern every aspect from application submission to final appointment. These rules are non-negotiable and are strictly enforced. Below are the key policies that every candidate must acknowledge before applying.

The decision of the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on all matters related to this recruitment shall be final and binding on all candidates. This includes, but is not limited to, decisions regarding the eligibility or ineligibility of candidates, the acceptance or rejection of applications, the mode and pattern of selection, the allotment of examination centres, the imposition of penalties for malpractice, and the preparation of the final merit list. The Board does not entertain any correspondence or appeals challenging its decisions on these matters. This "finality clause" is a standard administrative provision that underscores the Board's authority to conduct the recruitment as it deems fit within the framework of the rules.

The number of vacancies advertised (239) is based on the requirements received from the Indenting Department (Health & Medical Education Department, SKIMS Soura) at the time of issuing the notification. The Board explicitly reserves the right to increase, decrease, or even cancel any or all vacancies at any stage before the completion of the selection process, without assigning any reason and without any liability. This could happen due to administrative reasons, changes in requirement, or outcomes of court cases. Consequently, candidates cannot claim a right to appointment merely because the posts were advertised and they have applied or qualified. The recruitment is provisional and subject to change.

JKSSB maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of malpractice or indiscipline. The use of unfair means, possession of prohibited electronic devices (like mobile phones, smart watches), misbehaviour with examination staff, or impersonation will lead to immediate cancellation of candidature. Furthermore, such candidates will be debarred from appearing in future JKSSB examinations for a period as determined by the Board, which may extend to a permanent ban. The Board also employs technological surveillance and manual vigilance to ensure the integrity of the examination. Candidates are advised to strictly adhere to all instructions provided on the admit card and announced at the exam centre to avoid any inadvertent violation of these strict rules.