11 from Jammu and Kashmir make it to civil services

Eleven candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have made it this year to the final list of candidates in the prestigious civil services examination.

The were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Friday.

Sehrish Asgar, who made it to the Indian Police Service (IPS) last year, improved her rank and finished 23rd in the overall merit list, ensuring her selection for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) this year.

Another candidate, Showkat Parray, finished 41st this year. He had made it to the Indian Postal Services when he passed the civil services exams three years back.

Among others selected from the the state are Khurshid Ali Qadri, Abid Sadiq, Naveed Tramboo, Amanullah Tak, Adnan Nayeem Asmi, Ruveda Salam Bajard, Vikas Kundal, Anchita Pandoh and Ifftekhar Ahmad Choudhary.

Of the selected 11 candidates from the state this year, eight belong to the valley and three to the Jammu region.

Having overcome their "shyness" to sit for the prestigious exams, young men and women from Jammu and Kashmir have been bringing laurels to the state by passing the test regularly for the last five years.

Given the state's 10.25 million people, the ratio of selected candidates this year is higher than that of Bihar, from where candidates have been making it to the civil services selected list in relatively large numbers.

A local doctor, Shah Faesal, had topped the civil services examination in 2009. Faesal belongs to the north Kashmir Kupwara district.

He has been allotted his home state cadre, and at present serves in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.