The government on Tuesday moved a step closer toward granting age relaxation to job aspirants as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved the proposal and forwarded it to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for final consent.

Senior NC leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq said the Chief Minister’s Secretariat has confirmed that the file has been cleared at the government level and formally transmitted for gubernatorial approval.
With the Chief Minister’s approval, the final decision now rests with Raj Bhawan, after which a formal government order is expected to be issued.
The move is being seen as a major relief for thousands of job aspirants and those, who appear in competitive examinations in Jammu and Kashmir who have been demanding age relaxation due to prolonged recruitment delays over the past several years.
Recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir has faced repeated disruptions since 2019 due to administrative restructuring, delays in setting up recruitment agencies, changes in service rules, and prolonged litigation. Many aspirants have crossed the upper age limit during these years without getting a fair opportunity to apply for posts.
Demands for age relaxation have intensified over the last two years with youth groups and political parties arguing that candidates should not be penalised for delays beyond their control.
After assuming office, the Omar Abdullah-led government had indicated that addressing youth unemployment and recruitment injustice would be a priority. The approval of age relaxation is the first major administrative step on that front.