Vijay Hashia
iamvhashia@gmail.com
Among the most aspirational careers for young Indians today, the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) continues to command an exceptional prestige. For many decades, and even now, career choices have been largely confined to two traditional and socially respected professions- medicine and engineering. Becoming a doctor or an engineer is widely regarded as the most secure route to success. In contrast, Civil Service Examination conducted by UPSC, was often perceived as an opportunity available only to haves who had access to resources, coaching institutions, and exposure to national level competitive environments. As a result, many talented students from modest backgrounds found this path difficult to pursue.
Interestingly, a large proportion of successful candidates in the Civil Services Examination come from technical backgrounds. Various data indicate that more than 70 percent of candidates entering the civil services have studied engineering, medicine or other scientific disciplines. The dominance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) backgrounds in the IAS can be attributed to several factors. These include strong analytical training, familiarity with competitive examinations, and a growing desire among technically trained professionals to contribute directly to governance, public policy and societal development.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the aspiration to join civil services has grown steadily over the past decade, reflecting a shift in educational priorities and social outlook among the youth. For thousands of young people, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) now represents more than authority and prestige. It is increasingly viewed to contribute meaningfully to governance and bring constructive change to a region that has endured decades of conflict, uncertainty, and socio-political turbulence.
A decisive turning point came in 2010 when Shah Faesal topped the Civil Services Examination, became the first candidate from rural Kashmir to secure the highest rank in the country. His achievement carried enormous symbolic significance, proving that the students from the region could compete at the highest national level. More importantly, it ignited a wave of motivation among students across both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region. Young aspirants who had previously limited their ambitions to medicine, engineering, or the state administrative service began to envision themselves as future civil servants within the national administrative framework.
Over the past decade, Jammu and Kashmir has produced a steady stream of successful candidates in the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC. The numbers reveal a consistent pattern: fourteen candidates qualified in 2017, fifteen in 2018, sixteen in 2019 (including Leh ‘two candidates’ and Kargil ‘one candidate,’ before the administrative reorganization), nine each in 2020 and 2021, sixteen in 2022, fifteen in 2023, fourteen in 2024, and seventeen in 2025. The result of 2025 matches the highest number of successful candidates from the region in recent years. Overall, the data suggests an average of around fourteen successful candidates annually.
This trend is particularly significant given the political and administrative changes experienced by the region during the same period, including the reorganization following the Revocation of Article 370 in 2019. Despite these transformations, the pursuit of competitive examinations has remained remarkably resilient. The only noticeable dip occurred during 2020 and 2021 when the number of successful candidates shows decline, nine each year. This temporary decline can largely be attributed to the disruptions caused by the global outbreak of COVID-19. Educational institutions, coaching centers, and study schedules across the country were affected, and aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir faced additional challenges such as connectivity limitations and logistical constraints. Nevertheless, the quick recovery in subsequent years demonstrates the determination and adaptability of aspirants from the region.
Another important dimension of this trend is the widening geographical spread of successful candidates due to the mobility from rural to urban centers. Traditionally, many aspirants who qualified the Civil Service Examination moved to major cities, where educational institutions, libraries and coaching facilities were readily available. While urban centers continue to play an important role in preparation, an increasing number of successful candidates now originate from smaller towns and remote districts across Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting a gradual democratization of educational access and opportunity in the region.
For instance, in the Kashmir Valley, aspirants from districts Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, and Ganderbal have consistently cleared the examination. Notable examples include Towseef Ahmad Ganaie from Pulwama who qualified in 2025, and Waseem Ahmad Bhat from Anantnag, who secured a high rank in 2022. Similarly, Ritika Bhan from Shopian and Irfan Ahmad Lone, a visually impaired from Manzpora village of Bandipora, the first to qualify the prestigious civil services exam this year, making way to enter the country’s echelons of power.
The similar trend is equally visible in the Jammu region, where aspirants from districts such as Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, Ramban are increasingly represented. Candidates such as Dr. Iram Choudhary, Vishal Deep Chandan, and Harjot Singh, (2024) from Rajouri, Aditya Sangotra (2019) from Udhampur, Babar Ali Chagatta from Reasi (2018), Anjeet Singh from Doda (2022) highlight this emerging trend. In recent results, Suvan Sharma and Saiugadha Gupta from the Jammu region also qualified.
Many of these districts are geographically remote and lacked advanced educational infrastructure. Nevertheless, aspirants from these remote areas travel to cities like Srinagar and Jammu for coaching and mentorship while also benefiting from digital learning platforms. The growing availability of online lectures, digital libraries, and virtual mentorship has significantly reduced barriers that once prevented students from remote regions from preparing effectively.
Equally important is the role of role models. When candidates from small towns qualify for the civil services, their achievements inspire younger students in their communities. Schools and colleges celebrate these successes, families begin encouraging similar ambitions, and peer networks devoted to competitive examination preparation gradually emerge. Over time, this process creates a ripple effect in which civil service preparation becomes embedded in the educational culture of the region.
For many families across Jammu and Kashmir, the civil services continue to represent one of the most respected and meaningful career paths. The profession combines prestige with the opportunity to serve society and shape public policy. The steady stream of successful candidates reflects not only academic achievement but also a broader social commitment to education as a pathway to empowerment and development.
In a broader sociological sense, this trend reveals a significant transformation in youth aspirations. Rather than being defined solely by the region’s past conflicts or limited career options, many young now seek constructive engagement with institutions of governance. By aspiring to join the civil services, they express a desire to participate actively in the administrative and developmental processes of the nation, contributing both to personal progress and to the collective advancement of society.
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