The strife-torn Kashmir Valley has produced a record performance in the civil services this year, with eight of its candidates cracking the top exam. To top it, 27-year-old Ruveda Salam (in pic) has become the first Muslim woman from the Valley to clear the exam.

In all, 11 candidates from the state have cracked the exam this year out of which three are women.

Ruveda Salam from Kashmir region, Sehrish Asgar and Anchita Pandoh both from Jammu region.

Dr Ruveda, who hails from far flung Farkin village in the border district of Kupwara, had cleared the Kashmir Administrative Service in 2009, but wanted to do better. After a year of hard work, she emerged successful without joining any coaching centre.

“I focused on Facebook to gain more knowledge. I did not use the social networking site for chatting or other irrelevant things. There are certain pages on Facebook that are knowledge banks and they helped me a lot,” Ruveda told dna.

Daughter of a former deputy director general of Doordarshan, Ruveda wants Kashmiri girls to seize the moment and join the civil services to make their parents and the Valley proud. “Turmoil in Kashmir has a depressing effect but you have to rise above all these. Grab the opportunity and give civil service a try,” she said.

Twenty six-year-old Sehrish Asgar had cracked the civil services last year but she was allotted IPS. This time she has secured the 23rd rank. A medico by profession, she had topped the KAS in 2010.

Another IAS aspirant from the Valley who has emerged successful this year is Showkat AhmadParray. The 28-year-old veterinarian from Wuzar village cracked the civil services for the second time. He was not satisfied with the service allotment last time. This year, he has secured the 41st in the all India merit list.

Experts say more and more youngsters are taking the civil services route after Shah Faesal of Kashmir created history by topping the All India merit list in 2010. Besides, the initiative taken by serving bureaucrats and police officers to coach local youth has made the civil services become the new craze in Kashmir.