Top Students in J&K Battle Shrinking Opportunities |
By Mohsin Masoodi
Even in 2026, students and professionals in Jammu and Kashmir confront the same challenge: merit alone does not matter.
The reservation system dominates education, employment, and promotions, and the general category (GC) or unreserved population, which makes up nearly 70% of the region, competes for a shrinking share of seats and jobs.
Understanding the structure of reservations clarifies why merit-driven candidates face such formidable obstacles.
J&K divides reservations into vertical and horizontal categories. Vertical reservations assign quotas to specific groups: Scheduled Castes (8%), Scheduled Tribes 1 (10%), Scheduled Tribes 2 (10%), Other Backward Classes (8%), International Border/Area of Locust Control (4%), Residents of Backward Areas (10%), Economically Weaker Sections (10%), and........