Savitribai Phule Pune University has discarded a paper prepared for the Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (SET) after receiving a complaint raising doubts about the conduct and possible interests of a subject expert, just nine days before the examination scheduled for 25 October 2026.
The university said the decision would not affect the scheduled examination because paper-setting is an ongoing process involving several subject experts. It also said a special committee would examine the matter and consider action against those concerned.
The SET is conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University for candidates seeking eligibility for assistant professor posts in universities and colleges across Maharashtra and Goa. The report has raised concerns among students at a time when the security of competitive examination papers is under increased scrutiny.
According to the report, the complaint relates to a professor associated with the coordination of the Hindi subject for the SET. The concern centres on a book titled “Vastunishtha Hindi Pratiyogita Margdarshak”, published by Vikas Prakashan, Kanpur, in 2013. The book is described as being aimed at candidates preparing for SET, NET and other competitive examinations.
The complaint has sought an independent examination of whether the publication has any direct or indirect connection with question preparation, subject coordination, confidential examination processes or other responsibilities connected with the SET. It has also sought the removal of the concerned person from confidential or coordinating duties until the inquiry is completed.
The report attributed allegations of broader administrative irregularities to Right to Information activist Shrikant Mishra. Those allegations have not been established in the material supplied for the report. The immediate action reported by the university concerns the discarding of the paper prepared by the subject experts after the complaint was received.
The university’s SET department said complaints received from students are taken up promptly. “The complaint related to this examination has also been duly taken up and necessary action will be taken,” acting registrar and SET department member secretary Prafull Pawar was quoted as saying.
The university has not indicated that the examination date will change. It said paper-setting would continue through the established process and that the examination planned for 25 October would proceed as scheduled. The special committee’s inquiry and any further action by the university are the next stated steps.
