Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants in Pune have postponed their planned agitation from 27 September to 2 October 2026 — Gandhi Jayanti — following a request by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, who cited the strain on security personnel during the 12-day Ganeshotsav festivities. The announcement was made on Friday, 25 September by student representatives alongside Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar.

Why the Date Was Shifted

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar held high-level deliberations with student leaders, urging them to defer the demonstration to avoid adding to the burden on law enforcement personnel already deployed on extended festival duty. Student representatives agreed, citing civic consideration for the overstretched police force. Pune Police have confirmed they are ready to grant formal authorisation for the protest on the revised date.

Where and How the Satyagraha Will Be Held

The peaceful satyagraha is scheduled to begin on Friday, 2 October, on S M Joshi Road, opposite the Press Club in Pune. MLA Rohit Pawar and student leaders declared — before Lord Ganesha's departure — that once the agitation commences on Gandhi Jayanti, it will not be withdrawn until their primary demands are met. The meeting drew multi-party political representatives and leaders of several student organisations, signalling broad-based support for the aspirants.

Key Demands of the Aspirants

The student delegation outlined five conditions to resolve the impasse. First, the immediate resignation or removal of the current MPSC chairman over allegations of systemic corruption. Second, appointment of an administrator with an unblemished track record, in consultation with student bodies. Third, conduct of all state competitive examinations exclusively in offline mode to prevent paper leaks and malpractices. Fourth, implementation of a standardised nominal exam fee model, similar to the ₹100 examination card policy in Rajasthan. Fifth, immediate initiation of the selection process for approximately 70,000 vacant government positions across the state.

Rohit Pawar's Warning to the Government

Rohit Pawar said the power to avert the satyagraha rests entirely with the state government. 'If the government genuinely wishes to resolve this crisis, we are open to constructive dialogue,' he said, adding that a designated list of student representatives has already been submitted to facilitate talks. He made clear that if the government accepts the demands and removes the chairman, students will voluntarily call off the agitation — otherwise, it will continue relentlessly.

Paper Leak Allegations and Arrests

Pawar also pointed to the MPSC Drug Inspector examination, alleging a paper-leaking racket operating across the state. 'We ourselves provided more than a hundred names, but the commission tried to suppress the matter,' he said. He noted that four more accused were arrested on the same day, further exposing what he described as a corrupt system. Pawar further urged the Chief Minister to disband the commission and overhaul it immediately, cautioning against blind political loyalty in the face of institutional corruption. This comes amid wider scrutiny of examination integrity across multiple state recruitment bodies in Maharashtra.