J&K Government to Review Urdu’s Role in Naib Tehsildar Recruitment
Wiki Article
The Jammu and Kashmir Government is set to hold a crucial meeting tomorrow, October 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. in the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, to decide on the continuation of Urdu as a mandatory criterion in the Naib Tehsildar (N.T.) recruitment examination. The issue, which has stirred debate across the Union Territory, will be deliberated upon at the highest level following demands raised by employee associations and cultural committees.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy began after the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) recently issued a notification for the recruitment of Naib Tehsildars, retaining Urdu as a qualifying paper. While Urdu has historically held official status in Jammu and Kashmir and has been considered essential for revenue officials such as Patwaris and Naib Tehsildars, its continuation has been contested by sections of aspirants who argue that the compulsory language paper creates barriers for many job seekers, particularly non-native Urdu speakers.
On the other hand, the All Jammu & Kashmir Patwar Association and the J&K Urdu Coordination Committee have strongly opposed any dilution of Urdu in the exam structure. They argue that knowledge of Urdu is indispensable for revenue administration, as official records, land documents, and revenue registers across Jammu and Kashmir are still largely maintained in the Urdu script.
The Official Meeting
According to the notice issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the meeting will be attended by several high-ranking officials. These include:
Financial Commissioner (Revenue)
Additional Chief Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister
Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, GAD
Secretary, Revenue Department
Chairman, J&K Services Selection Board (SSB)
Special Secretary (N)/(H), Chief Minister’s Secretariat
Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Hon’ble Chief Minister
The notice also clarifies that officers stationed outside the Union Territory have been given permission to join via video conferencing, with the meeting link to be circulated separately. This underlines the seriousness with which the government is approaching the matter.
Stakes for Job Aspirants
The Naib Tehsildar recruitment exam is one of the most sought-after competitive examinations in Jammu and Kashmir, attracting thousands of applicants from diverse educational and regional backgrounds. Many aspirants from non-Urdu backgrounds have been pressing for reform, suggesting that the Urdu paper either be made optional or replaced with another assessment system to ensure equal opportunities.
At the same time, a significant number of aspirants and officials argue that abandoning Urdu would erode a crucial administrative tradition. For decades, Naib Tehsildars have been required to maintain and interpret revenue records, land documents, and official correspondence in Urdu. Removing this requirement, they claim, could weaken the effectiveness of revenue administration.
Cultural and Administrative Significance of Urdu
Urdu’s role in Jammu and Kashmir VoM News - Breaking Silence With Journalism is not just limited to examinations. As the region’s official language for decades, it has been deeply embedded in the cultural and administrative machinery. Land revenue Chenab Valley news records, government orders, and judicial proceedings often reference Urdu documents. The All Jammu & Kashmir Patwar Association insists that knowledge of Urdu ensures continuity in governance, legal accuracy, and cultural preservation.
Meanwhile, the J&K Urdu Coordination Committee views the matter as a cultural issue as much as an administrative one. They stress that protecting Urdu in the recruitment process safeguards the linguistic identity of the Union Territory and prevents the sidelining of a language integral to its heritage.
What Lies Ahead
Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to be a decisive one. If the government decides to retain Urdu in the Naib Tehsildar exam, it may continue to be a mandatory qualifying paper, reinforcing the traditional structure. However, if reforms are introduced, the government might consider making Urdu optional or more info modifying the evaluation pattern to balance inclusivity with administrative needs.
The outcome of the meeting will have far-reaching implications—not only for the upcoming recruitment cycle but also for the broader policy on language use in government examinations and administrative services in Jammu and Kashmir.
Conclusion
The decision on whether to continue Urdu as a qualifying criterion in the Naib Tehsildar recruitment exam is more than a policy choice—it reflects the intersection of heritage, governance, and employment opportunity. As stakeholders from cultural, administrative, and aspirant groups await the government’s decision, all eyes will be on the Civil Secretariat tomorrow afternoon.
The debate over Urdu’s role highlights the complexities of balancing tradition with modern administrative demands in a linguistically diverse society like Jammu and Kashmir. Whether the language retains its place in the exam structure or not, the upcoming decision will mark a defining moment in the region’s recruitment and linguistic policy landscape.
