The 12-day protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants in Pune ended at around 1.30 am on October 13 after the state government agreed to a series of measures, including a high-level inquiry into alleged examination irregularities and a commitment to fill 70,000 vacant posts over the next three years. Tukaram Mundhe, appointed secretary to the inquiry panel, has clarified that he continues to serve as Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner on a full-time basis.
The clarification followed speculation that Mundhe had been transferred from the FDA after being given an additional responsibility on the five-member commission investigating allegations of paper leaks and other irregularities in MPSC examinations. He said the FDA would continue its work against adulterated food and substandard medicines, indicating that his appointment to the inquiry panel does not replace his existing departmental role.
The inquiry commission has been asked to complete its investigation within two months. Its terms may include an examination of the MPSC’s functioning and the roles of present and former chairpersons, as well as employees at different levels. MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar will remain on compulsory leave until the inquiry is completed, according to the information shared after negotiations with the protesters.
The settlement also includes changes to the state’s recruitment process. The government has agreed to increase the number of Group C vacancies announced for recruitment in 2027. It has also accepted a proposal to increase the MPSC’s membership to 11 and assured candidates that all upcoming MPSC examinations will be conducted offline, addressing concerns over the examination process.
Recruitment rules for tehsildar posts are also set to change, with the selection ratio being revised from 60:40 to 50:50. For police recruitment, the state has committed to introducing a single revised syllabus across Maharashtra. These measures are intended to address concerns raised by aspirants during the agitation and to standardise parts of the recruitment process.
The government has further assured the protesters that cases registered against them during the agitation will be withdrawn. The official communication accepting the demands reportedly carries the signature of the state Chief Secretary.
The commitments place the inquiry and recruitment timetable at the centre of the next phase. The five-member panel’s two-month deadline, the planned Group C recruitment announcement for 2027 and the implementation of the revised examination and selection procedures will determine how the settlement is translated into administrative action.
