Pune’s 30 scheduled job fairs under the Employment Mahakumbh Maharashtra 2026 initiative have been postponed after the model code of conduct for teacher and graduate constituency elections came into force, delaying access to thousands of planned employment opportunities for young job seekers.
The fairs were scheduled to take place on 29 September across 30 educational institutions in Pune district. They were being organised by the District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre as part of a state-wide programme that planned more than 500 job fairs and placement drives on the same day.
Suresh Varade, assistant commissioner in the Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said the Pune events had been deferred because the election code of conduct was in force. He said the department would announce a revised date separately after it was finalised.
The postponement affects students, unemployed young people, industrial organisations, human-resource representatives, entrepreneurs and establishments that had been expected to participate in the district-level drives. The department asked colleges, students and job seekers to take note of the change and await further communication.
The planned fairs were intended to bring employers and candidates together at educational institutions across the district. Participating establishments were expected to recruit candidates for vacancies based on educational qualifications, technical and other skills, and the nature of the available work. The department had described the programme as a channel for providing employment opportunities closer to candidates’ districts and local areas.
The state initiative also covers self-employment, skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities. Its stated objective is to create a common platform connecting the government, industries and establishments, and young people seeking work. Employers were expected to use the fairs to meet their manpower requirements, while candidates could apply for positions suited to their qualifications and skills.
The postponement illustrates how the timing of election-related administrative restrictions can affect public employment and institutional events even when they involve colleges, employers and job seekers rather than direct campaign activity. In Pune, the immediate operational question is when the 30 district-level fairs will be rescheduled and whether participating employers and candidates will receive updated details through the department and the concerned institutions.
The department has not announced a new date. It said information about the revised schedule would be communicated independently once the date is finalised.
