Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered investigations into several past recruitment examinations, including state Group B and Group C tests and examinations conducted by the Pune Municipal Corporation and MMRDA, after meeting student representatives in Mumbai on Thursday. The move follows the postponement of the Maharashtra Group-C Services Combined Preliminary Examination-2026 from October 25 to January 3, 2026.
Fadnavis said the government’s inquiry would include the ongoing investigation into an alleged drug inspector examination paper leak. He also said examinations in which complaints had been raised would be reviewed again, and interviews for posts connected to those examinations would be stayed until the inquiries are completed.
The chief minister said the process would begin within eight days and that action would be time-bound. He added that a preliminary report from the crime branch investigation would be made public. “We are interested in improving the system, not in hiding anything,” Fadnavis told the student representatives during the meeting at his official residence, Varsha.
The government will establish a dedicated grievance redressal cell within the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, headed by a retired judge. A separate committee chaired by Additional Chief Secretary V. Radha has also been formed to examine wider reforms in the recruitment system. According to Fadnavis, the committee will travel across Maharashtra and consult students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
A special investigation team will examine complaints raised by candidates. Fadnavis said the government would recommend that the MPSC provide answer sheets under the Right to Information Act. He also said examinations conducted during the tenures of officials identified as Lendve, Marathe and Nakhate would be investigated through the SIT, while recommendations of the Rajurkar Committee would be reviewed and appropriate measures implemented.
The assurances cover other recruitment processes as well. For police recruitment, Fadnavis said the government would introduce an electronic chip on both legs of candidates, or consider another system, and adopt a single marks pattern across districts. He also said complaints concerning Sarathi, BARTI and Mahajyoti would be examined and that guidelines would be framed for conducting interviews.
Fadnavis said the government was prepared to order an independent inquiry against the MPSC chairman and secretary if evidence of malpractice was submitted. He said safeguards were being introduced because the state was undertaking large-scale recruitment and wanted to ensure that examinations were conducted through a leak-proof and fully prepared system.
The postponement of the Group-C preliminary examination has intensified uncertainty for candidates preparing for state recruitment tests. The examination drew more than 11 lakh applications for 5,707 vacancies, including positions such as talathi, clerk-typist and tax assistant.
The MPSC has separately rejected reports alleging that its joint secretary and others were involved in the alleged leak of marks in the state excise sub-inspector examination. The clarification followed a departmental inquiry involving then crime branch inspector Rahul Shire, who has since been posted to the traffic department. The government’s investigations and the proposed grievance mechanism are now expected to determine the next steps for the affected examinations and candidates.
