'Hard area' tag for AGMUT postings in J&K, Ladakh

New Delhi, January 20

IAS and IPS officers, belonging to AGMUT cadre, and serving in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will henceforth be considered as ‘hard areas’ postings. According to an official communication, a decision has been taken by the Centre in this effect and the guidelines for the transfer and postings of IAS, IPS officers of the Joint Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre-2016 has been modified in this effect.

Jammu and Kashmir cadre was merged with AGMUT cadre in January 2021 as a consequence of the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — on August 5, 2019.

“Consequent upon the merger of J&K cadre into AGMUT cadre, the matter has been examined and with the approval of competent authority, it has been decided that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh may be categorised as Category B (Hard Areas) in the Joint AGMUT Cadre,” the Home Ministry communication said. —