The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) on the evening of Tuesday, 25 August 2026, cancelled the entire recruitment process for the post of Drug Inspector (Group-B) under the state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department, citing a preliminary investigation that confirmed malpractice during the screening examination held on 22 March 2026. A fresh re-examination has been announced, with no additional fees for registered candidates.

How the Recruitment Process Unfolded

MPSC had published advertisement number 116/2025 on 29 July 2025 for the Drug Inspector post. An offline screening test was conducted on 22 March 2026 across six divisional headquarters in Maharashtra. Results declared on 12 June 2026 showed 506 candidates qualifying for the interview round, of whom 488 were interviewed between 1 July and 22 July 2026.

On 22 July 2026, MPSC published a provisional general merit list of all 488 candidates — comprising 485 eligible and three ineligible candidates — on its official website. Within days, the Commission received multiple email complaints from candidates and elected representatives alleging widespread irregularities in the March examination.

Allegations of Paper Leak and Police Complaint

The complaints alleged that question papers — or specific questions — were leaked to certain candidates before the exam and circulated via WhatsApp and other electronic channels. Notably, allegations surfaced that questions were sold for ₹12 lakh through a coaching academy in Nandurbar, and that children of senior officials had selectively cleared the examination.

On 27 July 2026, MPSC filed a formal complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) subsequently conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted its report to the Commission. According to that report, initial findings confirmed that at least one candidate had accessed the question paper in advance and derived an unfair advantage from it.

MPSC had initially denied the leak, noting that one of the original complainants later withdrew the allegation and that the circulated PDF differed from the actual question paper. Despite the retraction, the CID's preliminary findings pointed to at least one confirmed breach.

Political Pressure and Demands for CBI Probe

The controversy drew sharp political responses. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) [NCP (SP)] MLA Rohit Pawar and other opposition leaders alleged systemic irregularities and demanded accountability. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, along with candidate groups and opposition parties, called for a formal police FIR, forensic analysis of candidate devices, and a CBI probe. The exam reportedly had over 40,000 candidates who sat the original test.

What MPSC Has Decided

Citing the need to uphold the 'confidentiality, integrity, transparency, and fairness' of its examinations, the Commission cancelled the recruitment process in its entirety. MPSC stated that candidates who had previously applied will not be required to reapply, and no additional examination fee will be levied for the re-test. Dates and a detailed schedule for the re-examination will be announced through a separate official notification.

This cancellation marks one of the more significant examination integrity interventions by MPSC in recent years, and pressure from opposition parties and candidate organisations is likely to continue until a comprehensive police investigation is concluded.