Jammu, Jun 10 (KNS) In a first-of-its-kind initiative to foster democratic participation and policy leadership among youth, the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) and the J&K Centre for Peace, Research & Sustainable Development (JKCPRS) have signed an MoU with the Samaira Policy Institute, Dehradun, to launch the Sheikh-ul-Alam MLA Fellowship.
The fellowship, named after the revered Kashmiri saint and spiritual leader Sheikh-ul-Alam (Nund Rishi), is the first structured legislative fellowship programme in Jammu & Kashmir aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and public service.
The inaugural cohort, scheduled to commence in July 2026, will comprise approximately 22 fellows selected through a competitive process. Each fellow will be attached to a Member of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly for a period of 13 months. Additionally, two selected fellows will be placed with the Office of the Chief Minister to gain exposure to executive governance.
Prior to their legislative placement, fellows will undergo an intensive one-month residential training programme at the Samaira Policy Institute (SPI) campus in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, to equip them with practical skills in governance and public affairs.
Speaking on the occasion, Samaira Policy Institute President Vishal Paul said Jammu & Kashmir has a vast pool of talented youth who often lack structured opportunities to engage with governance.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"The Sheikh-ul-Alam MLA Fellowship seeks to address this gap by enabling young people to work directly with elected representatives and understand democratic institutions from within," he asserted.
Under the MoU, the Samaira Policy Institute will provide technical expertise, curriculum design and training support, while JKSA and JKCPRS will facilitate outreach, stakeholder engagement and on-ground implementation across Jammu & Kashmir.
National Convenor of JKSA and Founder of JKCPRS, Nasir Khuehami, described the fellowship as a transformative step for youth leadership development in the region, adding that it has the potential to emerge as a model initiative for nurturing future policy professionals in Jammu & Kashmir.
Applications for the inaugural cohort are expected to open on June 12, 2026, with the first batch beginning their journey in the last week of July 2026. The programme will place fellows with MLAs across party lines to ensure exposure to diverse political perspectives and governance challenges. (KNS).