Jammu, Apr 6 : The long-pending induction of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has entered its final stage, with a key selection meeting expected later this month, officials said.
Sources said the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has nominated one of its members to head the selection committee for the exercise. The panel will also include senior officials of the Union Territory administration, including the Chief Secretary, an Additional Chief Secretary, and the Administrative Secretary of the General Administration Department.
Around 23 vacancies for the years 2019 and 2020 have been referred for consideration, and the meeting is likely to be held in Jammu by the end of April.
The induction process had been delayed for several years due to legal complications and disputes over seniority. However, officials indicated that the remaining issues are unlikely to derail the process. Options such as proceeding with inductions subject to court outcomes or keeping certain slots reserved are being considered.
The last such exercise was conducted in August 2022, when 16 officers were inducted into the IAS. Before that, the process had remained stalled for over a decade.
Officials said the officers under consideration largely belong to the 1999 batch and are expected to be allotted the AGMUT cadre, under which officers serve across multiple Union Territories and states.
The government is also examining measures to streamline the induction process and make it a regular annual exercise to address stagnation among JKAS officers and ensure timely career progression, they added. (Agency)
