Maharashtra Forms Committee to Probe MPSC Paper Leaks
The Maharashtra government established a judicial inquiry into MPSC irregularities and placed Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar on leave, ending an 11-day student protest in Pune.
The Government of Maharashtra established a five-member committee to investigate alleged paper leaks and administrative irregularities within the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), ending an 11-day agitation by aspirants at the SM Joshi Bridge in Pune. The probe follows complaints that question papers for a March 22 Drug Inspector examination were leaked on social media two days prior, leading to the cancellation of that recruitment process.
Led by retired Bombay High Court judge Dilip Bhosale and secretary Tukaram Mundhe, the panel is tasked with studying structural flaws and recommending reforms within 60 days. As a result of midnight negotiations involving Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar agreed to go on leave pending the inquiry's completion.
To resolve the unrest, the state government agreed to several student demands, including the recruitment of 70,000 posts over three years, the filling of 1,600 Public Works Department vacancies within 15 days, and the implementation of an annual examination calendar. The government also committed to increasing seats for the January Group C examination, conducting background checks for MPSC leadership, and withdrawing legal cases filed against protest representatives.
