By Ikkz Ikbal

For years, landing a government job in Kashmir was the ultimate goal. It was a sign of stability, respect, and lifelong security. One secure position could sustain an entire family. But times have changed now.

Today, the picture is starkly different. Over 370,000 young people are registered as unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Government job openings are few and far between, while competition is more intense than ever. The odds, frankly, are not in anyone’s favor.

Yet the dream persists. Across the Valley, thousands of young people continue to pin their hopes on government exams, clinging to a version of success that no longer exists. Many spend years preparing for tests that may never lead to a job. Some clear the exams but are left waiting indefinitely for appointments that may or may not come.

Meanwhile, the private sector—still growing, still unstable—offers little solace. Unlike their parents, young Kashmiris today are expected to achieve financial independence without job security, pensions, or generational wealth. They’re being asked to build lives in a market that doesn’t support them.

The toll is visible. I’ve seen it in my classrooms and........

© Kashmir Observer