J&K IAS Induction: DoPT Notifies 2019, 2020 Select Lists for 23 JKAS Officers After Nearly Four-Year Wait
The long-awaited induction of Jammu and Kashmir State Civil Service officers into the Indian Administrative Service has finally moved ahead, with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) formally notifying the Select Lists for the 2019 and 2020 vacancy years. The notification covers 23 JKAS officers who have been selected for induction into the IAS against promotion quota vacancies of the AGMUT cadre.
The development brings an end to a process that had remained pending for nearly four years. The Select Lists were prepared earlier this year and subsequently approved by the competent authority, and the formal notification now places the selections on record for filling the corresponding IAS promotion quota vacancies.
DoPT Notifies 2019 and 2020 Select Lists
According to the notification issued on August 28, 2026, the Select Lists relate to vacancies that arose between January 1 and December 31 of 2019 and 2020. The lists have been prepared under the provisions of the IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, which govern the induction of eligible State Civil Service officers into the IAS through the promotion route.
The Select Lists for the Jammu and Kashmir segment were prepared on April 24, 2026, under Regulation 5(5) of the applicable regulations. They were subsequently approved on August 3, 2026, under Regulation 7(2), paving the way for their formal notification by the DoPT.
The latest development is particularly important for officers who had been waiting for the completion of the selection process linked to the older vacancy years. Their induction is against the State Civil Service promotion quota of the AGMUT cadre.
2019 Select List Has 18 Officers
The Select List prepared against vacancies arising during the 2019 calendar year contains 18 officers from the Jammu and Kashmir State Civil Service. The officers selected under the 2019 list are:
- Babila Rakwal
- Anil Koul
- Shabnam Shah Kamili
- Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo
- Rachna Sharma
- Leela Padha
- Kusum Badyal
- Rajinder Singh Tara
- Vivek Sharma
- Tariq Hussain Ganai
- Munir-ul-Islam
- Mohammad Harun Malik
- Nisar Ahmad Wani
- Jatinder Singh
- Sajjad Hussain Ganai
- Amoo Malhotra
- Shamim Ahmad
- Nitu Gupta
These officers have been selected against the IAS promotion quota vacancies attributable to the 2019 vacancy year. Their inclusion in the notified Select List marks a significant step in the completion of the long-pending induction exercise.
Nisar Ahmad Wani’s Selection Is Provisional
There is a specific condition attached to the inclusion of Nisar Ahmad Wani in the 2019 Select List. The DoPT has kept his inclusion provisional, subject to the State Government providing an Integrity Certificate.
This means that although Wani’s name has been included in the notified list, the selection is not unconditional. The required Integrity Certificate from the Jammu and Kashmir Government will have to be furnished before the process concerning his induction can be completed in accordance with the applicable provisions.
Interestingly, Wani’s name also appears separately in the 2020 Select List at Serial No. 0A. His inclusion there too remains provisional and is subject to the same requirement relating to the Integrity Certificate.
Five Officers Selected Against 2020 Vacancies
The Select List for the 2020 vacancy year contains five regular entries. The officers selected against the vacancies arising during January 1 to December 31, 2020, are:
- Prediman Krishan Bhat
- Tariq Ahmad Zargar
- Bhawani Rakwal
- Smita Sethi
- Anuradha Gupta
Together, these five officers account for the regular entries in the 2020 Select List. The list also contains the additional provisional inclusion of Nisar Ahmad Wani at Serial No. 0A.
As a result, the overall selection exercise covers 23 officers across the two vacancy years – 18 officers against the 2019 list and five officers against the 2020 list.
Nearly Four-Year Wait Comes to an End
The notification assumes added significance because the process had been pending for a considerable period. The induction of State Civil Service officers into the IAS through the promotion quota involves multiple stages, including preparation of the Select List, consideration by the Union Public Service Commission and approval by the competent authorities before the final notification.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the Jammu and Kashmir administration had completed the necessary formalities and referred the relevant vacancies for the 2019 and 2020 years for further processing. The expectation at the time was that the selection exercise would be completed within a short period.
The formal DoPT notification has now confirmed the outcome of that process. For the officers concerned, the notification provides much-needed clarity on the status of their long-pending induction into the IAS.
Induction Into AGMUT Cadre
The selected JKAS officers are being inducted into the IAS against the promotion quota vacancies of the AGMUT cadre. AGMUT stands for Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories and constitutes a major IAS cadre covering several states and Union Territories.
The Jammu and Kashmir segment is part of this cadre structure. The induction of State Civil Service officers from J&K into the IAS therefore takes place within the AGMUT cadre framework rather than through a separate Jammu and Kashmir IAS cadre.
For eligible State Civil Service officers, the promotion quota is an established pathway into the IAS. Officers who meet the prescribed eligibility requirements and clear the statutory selection process can be inducted into the service against vacancies earmarked for this category.
What Happened During the Selection Process?
The latest notification shows that the formal process progressed through several stages during 2026. The Select Lists were prepared on April 24 under Regulation 5(5) of the IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, before receiving approval under Regulation 7(2) on August 3.
The lists were finally notified by the DoPT on August 28. This sequence is important because the formal notification represents the culmination of the selection and approval process for the relevant vacancy years.
The case of Nisar Ahmad Wani has a separate procedural condition because his inclusion remains subject to the grant of an Integrity Certificate by the State Government. Until that requirement is fulfilled, his position remains provisional despite his name appearing in both lists.
Why the Development Matters for J&K Administration
The induction of 23 officers is significant for the Jammu and Kashmir administration as it strengthens the representation of experienced State Civil Service officers in the IAS. These officers have already spent years working within the state administration and bring substantial experience of governance, field administration and implementation of government programmes.
The promotion route also ensures continuity between the State Civil Service and the All India Services. For officers who have spent a significant part of their careers in the JKAS, induction into the IAS represents an important progression in their administrative careers.
The latest notification also demonstrates the Centre’s movement to clear older promotion quota vacancies that had remained pending. With the 2019 and 2020 Select Lists now formally notified, the status of 23 officers has been clarified at the central level.
Complete List of Officers
For the 2019 vacancy year, the 18 officers selected are Babila Rakwal, Anil Koul, Shabnam Shah Kamili, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Rachna Sharma, Leela Padha, Kusum Badyal, Rajinder Singh Tara, Vivek Sharma, Tariq Hussain Ganai, Munir-ul-Islam, Mohammad Harun Malik, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Jatinder Singh, Sajjad Hussain Ganai, Amoo Malhotra, Shamim Ahmad and Nitu Gupta.
For the 2020 vacancy year, the five regular selections are Prediman Krishan Bhat, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Bhawani Rakwal, Smita Sethi and Anuradha Gupta. Nisar Ahmad Wani has additionally been placed at Serial No. 0A in the 2020 list, with his inclusion remaining provisional until the required Integrity Certificate is provided.
The notification thus marks an important milestone in the long-pending J&K IAS induction process. After nearly four years of delay, the formal notification of the 2019 and 2020 Select Lists has cleared the way for 23 JKAS officers to move forward through the IAS promotion quota route under the AGMUT cadre.
