Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, held extensive talks with a delegation of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirant representatives in Mumbai, accepting their core demands and offering concrete, time-bound commitments. Following the positive outcome, student leaders announced the temporary suspension of their planned 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti) protest agitation.

Key Demands Addressed

Responding to persistent grievances over the conduct of current and former MPSC Chairpersons and members, Chief Minister Fadnavis explained that removal from such a constitutional post requires a process under Article 317 of the Constitution, involving a Supreme Court recommendation to the President. He announced that a judicial inquiry will be conducted within three months, with further statutory action to follow based on its findings.

In a significant administrative step, the state government approved the immediate transfer of MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar, citing the need to ensure transparency in commission operations. Fadnavis also gave a firm assurance that MPSC competitive examinations will strictly remain in offline format, with no policy change to be made without prior consultation with student stakeholders.

Vacancy Push and Recruitment Overhaul

Chief Minister Fadnavis acknowledged longstanding systemic failures — recruitment rules had not been overhauled since 1960, and approximately 30,000–40,000 promotions had remained pending. The state has now completed new cadre rules for 60 per cent of departments, marking a significant clearing of bureaucratic backlog.

In response to immediate aspirant demands, the government announced a record increase in vacancies to be added to the upcoming Group 'C' examination scheduled for 3 January. A centralised system will also be launched, enabling candidates to appear for multiple competitive exams using a single, low-cost card. Additionally, a digital document repository will be created so candidates need not upload repetitive documentation for every application.

Three-Year Recruitment Roadmap Promised

To provide aspirants with greater certainty over their preparation, the state committed to releasing a comprehensive three-year recruitment roadmap. Hiring processes for posts arising from upcoming retirements will now begin a full year in advance. A complete execution plan for all these measures is to be rolled out within one month, according to the government statement.

Students' Response

Student representatives described themselves as satisfied with the government's constructive response and actionable commitments. They formally announced the temporary suspension of the agitation that had been planned for Gandhi Jayanti. Aspirants welcomed what they termed decisive steps toward restoring transparency, timeliness, and fairness in Maharashtra's state civil service recruitment process.

This comes amid a broader pattern of MPSC-related discontent in Maharashtra, where exam delays, alleged irregularities, and stalled recruitment cycles have fuelled repeated student protests in recent years. How swiftly the government delivers on its one-month execution deadline will determine whether the truce holds.