The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), in collaboration with the J&K Centre for Peace, Research & Sustainable Development (JKCPRS) and the Samaira Policy Institute (SPI), has extended the last date for submission of applications for the inaugural Sheikh-ul-Alam MLA Fellowship from 21 June 2026 to 24 June 2026.
The decision was taken Jointly by JKCPRS and Samaira after receiving an overwhelming response from aspiring applicants across the country, particularly from Jammu & Kashmir. Over the past several hours, We have received hundreds of emails, text messages, phone calls, and representations from applicants requesting an extension after encountering technical difficulties while submitting their applications.
National Convenor of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association and Founder of JKCPRS, Nasir Khuehami said that, One of the primary reasons for extending the deadline was the severe technical issues experienced on the Fellowship portal due to an unusually high volume of traffic and repeated server overload. While many applicants successfully completed the registration process and the application fee was deducted from their bank accounts, they were unable to complete the final submission because the website repeatedly displayed errors at the last stage of the application process.
He said that, “We understand the anxiety and inconvenience this has caused applicants who invested considerable time and effort in completing their applications. We want to assure all candidates that no deserving applicant will be disadvantaged because of technical issues that were entirely beyond their control.”
He asserted that applicants whose registration fee has already been deducted but who were unable to submit their applications due to technical issues need not worry. Such applicants will be provided with either of the following options; they may opt for a full refund of the registration fee, or they will be allowed to complete and submit their applications using the same transaction ID or payment reference once the application portal is fully restored, without making any additional payment.
“Our technical team has been working round the clock to resolve these issues and strengthen the server infrastructure.
We expect the Fellowship website and application portal to be fully functional by Monday late evening. We sincerely appreciate the patience, understanding, and continued support shown by applicants during this period,” he added.
Keeping these unforeseen circumstances in view, and after carefully considering numerous requests received from students, graduates, and young professionals, a special extension until 24 June 2026 has been granted for applicants from Jammu & Kashmir. The extension has been provided to ensure that no eligible and deserving youth from the Union Territory is denied the opportunity to participate in this historic initiative because of technical disruptions.
The Fellowship has generated an encouraging response from young people aspiring to contribute to public policy, governance, and democratic institutions. The enthusiasm shown by applicants reflects the growing interest among the youth of Jammu & Kashmir in legislative processes, public service, and evidence-based policymaking.
The Sheikh-ul-Alam MLA Fellowship, the first structured legislative fellowship programme in Jammu & Kashmir, seeks to nurture a new generation of ethical, informed, and socially committed public leaders by providing young professionals with direct exposure to the functioning of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, constituency development, public policymaking, and democratic governance. All eligible candidates are advised to utilise the extended application window and complete their applications well before the revised deadline of 24 June 2026 to avoid last-minute congestion; he added.(KINS)
