Full Breakdown
MPSC Aspirants’ Protests in Pune: Demands, Government Response, and Ongoing Tensions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Since October 2 2026, thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam candidates have staged a sit-in in Pune, occupying the S.M. Joshi Bridge, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road near Ahilya Abhyasika, and Tilak/Alka Chowk. All groups demand the resignation of chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, the filling of 70,000 vacant posts, and centre-based exam venues. One faction wants a return to the MCQ format; another backs the newly introduced descriptive-answer format.
Background & Context
The protest follows alleged irregularities in the drug-inspector recruitment exam. The commission advertised 154 posts on July 29 2025, held screening on March 22 2026, and declared results on June 12 2026. Candidates reported a paper leak on March 20 2026; an inquiry confirmed at least one breach, leading MPSC to cancel the process on August 26 2026 and announce a re-examination.
Simultaneously, the descriptive-answer format for the State Services Main Examination 2025 drew criticism for being hard to evaluate and disadvantaging poorer, rural students.
Timeline
- Sept 30 2026 – Aspirants met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis; protest paused briefly.
- Oct 2 2026 – Protest resumed at three sites.
- Oct 6 2026 – Fadnavis recommended to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma the formation of a committee, headed by a retired High Court judge, to probe current and former MPSC chairpersons under Article 317.
- Oct 8 2026 – Eighth day of protest, with hunger strikes and continued sit-ins.
Data & Statistics
- 44,500 candidates appeared for the drug-inspector exam; 506 were shortlisted, 488 interviewed (July 1-22 2026).
- Aspirants report monthly living costs of Rs 10,000-20,000 while preparing in Pune.
- Core demand: recruitment for 70,000 vacant civil-service posts.
Official Statements & Responses
Chief Minister Fadnavis announced a three-member committee to investigate incumbent and former MPSC chairpersons, with findings due within three months, and ordered the transfer of MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar.
The Bombay High Court, led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, affirmed the right to protest but warned against road blockades that could jeopardise careers.
On-the-Ground Reports
Aspirant Sonali Vaishnav (Buldhana) lives in a shared room, spends Rs 15,000 monthly, and says paper leaks—not inadequate preparation—have derailed her career. Youth Congress president Shivraj More, also on hunger strike, warned the movement will continue until all demands are met.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The state government notes that the MPSC chairman can be removed only by the President of India, creating a procedural gap between aspirants’ demand for immediate resignation and the legal avenue for dismissal. While three of four primary demands (recruitment drive, fee structure, offline exams) have been accepted, no decision has been made on the chairman’s removal.
What’s Next
The retired judge’s committee is expected to submit its report within three months of the October 6 2026 recommendation. The Bombay High Court has asked the state to detail its steps within three weeks. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, plan visits to the sites in early October. The inquiry’s outcome will decide whether the chairman’s removal proceeds under Article 317 or alternative reforms are pursued.