Panel formed to overhaul Maharashtra PSC, Chairperson sent on leave

The Maharashtra government on Sunday formed a committee to overhaul the Maharashtra Public Service Commission(MPSC), naming FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe as secretary, amid an ongoing agitation by aspirants in Pune. The decision was conveyed by state minister Shivendraraje Bhosale, who met the aspirants at SM Joshi Bridge, where the protest has been underway for the past ten days, over various demands, including reforms in the MPSC. Other than Muhdhe, the committee will have ex-judge Dilip Bhosale as its chairman, IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, ex-IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik.
Bhosale also told the protesters that their other demands would be addressed. These included the withdrawal of cases against some representatives of the agitation, recruitment to 70,000 posts over three years, an increase in the number of seats in the Group C examination scheduled for January, and background checks on the chairman and secretary of the MPSC before their appointment.NCP (SP) MLA Rohit, who has been protesting alongside the MPSC aspirants, welcomed Mundhe’s inclusion in the committee. “We hope that the committee will have the freedom to work properly,” he said.The panel will be given 60 days to submit its report. Protesters agreed to withdraw agitation at 1.25am amid loud cheers.

बहुतांश मागण्या मान्य झाल्यानंतर एमपीएससी आंदोलन स्थगित करण्यात आले. त्यानंतर विद्यार्थ्यांनी केलेला जल्लोष. #MPSC #Pune (Video: Narendra Sathe) https://t.co/h7dihhiztN

— Samrat Phadnis (@PSamratSakal) October 11, 2026

Meanwhile, MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar has been sent on compulsory leave till an inquiry committee constituted by govt submits its report. Around Monday midnight, Bhimanwar posted on X, “State govt has announced a judicial inquiry intothe MPSC paper leak case. I have always given priority to ethics throughout my life. Therefore, I have decided to proceed on leave and not continue in office until the inquiry is completed. The autonomy and credibility of the MPSC, as well as the interests of students, have always been my priorities and will continue to remain so. Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!”

एमपीएससी पेपरफूट प्रकरणात राज्य सरकारने न्यायालयीन चौकशीची घोषणा केली आहे. मी माझ्या संपूर्ण आयुष्यात नैतिकतेला कायम प्राधान्य दिले. त्यामुळे ही चौकशी पूर्ण होईस्तोवर पदावर कार्यरत न राहता या कालावधीत रजेवर जाण्याचा निर्णय मी घेतला आहे. एमपीएससीची स्वायत्तता, विश्वसनीयता आणि विद्यार्थीहिताला कायम माझे प्राधान्य होते आणि यापुढेही असेल. जयहिंद ! जय महाराष्ट्र !????

— Vivek Bhimanwar, IAS (@bhimanwar) October 11, 2026

The State Govt has also committed to filling 70,000 vacant posts over the next three years. The number of posts to be filled through the 2027 Group C examination will be doubled, according to the draft. Cases registered against protesters during the agitation will also be withdrawn, it stated.