The Maharashtra government has begun steps to fill 65,866 vacant posts across departments, including 46,464 positions through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), after protests by candidates over examination paper leaks and delays in recruitment. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed departments to submit recruitment requisitions at the earliest, according to information reported by Loksatta – Mumbai.
The vacancies were reviewed at a cabinet meeting held last week, where the General Administration Department presented an assessment of posts currently lying vacant across the state government. Of the total 65,866 vacancies, 46,464 are expected to be filled through MPSC examinations. A further 16,896 police constable posts are expected to be filled through the police recruitment board, while 2,506 teaching vacancies are to be filled through the Pavitra portal.
The move follows protests by MPSC candidates in different parts of Maharashtra over paper-leak incidents linked to examinations conducted by the commission during the past two years. Candidates have also raised concerns about recruitment processes that have remained delayed for various reasons.
Fadnavis met representatives of MPSC candidates from across Maharashtra last week and discussed their demands. Following the reported paper-leak incidents and the resulting anger among candidates, the chief minister announced that the cases would be investigated by a special investigation team, or SIT.
The government’s review also found a significant gap between the number of vacancies identified and the recruitment requests submitted by departments to the commission. Although 46,464 posts are expected to be filled through MPSC, departments had submitted requisitions for only about 6,000 to 7,000 posts, according to information presented to the cabinet.
Departments with substantial vacancies include water supply, medical education, agriculture, revenue, finance, law and judiciary, home, public works, higher and technical education, and cooperation. The Home Department has submitted a requisition to MPSC for 65 per cent of its vacant posts, the report said.
The vacancy figures are significant for departments responsible for essential public administration and services. The list includes water supply, public works, healthcare-related education, revenue administration and policing, areas where staffing levels influence the government’s ability to process cases, maintain services and carry out departmental work.
The chief minister’s direction requires the concerned departments to submit their recruitment requisitions so that the identified vacancies can enter the relevant recruitment channels. The government’s next steps include receiving the pending requisitions and advancing recruitment through MPSC, the police recruitment board and the Pavitra portal.
