Pune: MPSC’s decision to postpone the Maharashtra Group-C Services Combined Preliminary Examination-2026 by three months has triggered concern among aspirants, with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleging that “something is amiss” at a news conference held in the city on Thursday.He warned that aspirants would intensify their agitation next week if govt failed to act on their demands, upping the pressure on the state over conduct and transparency of MPSC examinations.The exam, scheduled offline on Oct 25, will now be held on Jan 3, 2027. While MPSC cited festivals, other exams, the State Services Main Examination, winter session and district reports as the reason behind the delay, Rohit said students suspect another reason.The postponement was announced on the same day (Sept 9) as Dharashiv resident Prathamesh Deshmukh (28), an MPSC aspirant, was found hanging in his rented flat in Pune’s Shaniwar Peth, amid reports of financial distress and debt.Rohit emphasised that around 45 lakh students aspire to govt jobs through MPSC and alleged that paper leaks and irregularities were hurting their careers and future, citing the case of Deshmukh’s death. He highlighted that MPSC has become the aspiration of thousands seeking govt jobs in Maharashtra, particularly those from ordinary families who see the commission’s exams as a major route to a state govt career.“The exam has been postponed by three months. Such a decision must have been taken because something is wrong,” Rohit said during the press-conference. He demanded that the same exam be conducted offline in Oct or Nov instead of Jan.The Karjat Jamkhed MLA questioned chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar’s functioning and cited earlier allegations and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) action at the commission’s office in 2024, claiming that three people from the office were found involved in irregularities. Rohit said a 10-page representation opposing Bhimanwar’s appointment had been submitted earlier.He further alleged irregularities linked to HSRPs, interception-related work, work orders, transfers and promotions. These allegations could not be independently verified.Questioning the commission’s approach, Rohit said Bhimanwar had opposed online transfers of officers and employees but was insisting on conducting MPSC examinations online. “Why this insistence on online examinations?” he asked, saying students had concerns over the transparency and reliability of the process.The NCP (SP) politician also alleged that candidates were paying large sums to secure govt posts, citing a sum of Rs40 lakh for a talathi post. He questioned how ordinary citizens could expect justice if recruitment itself was compromised.Rohit demanded that a strong and credible officer, citing former bureaucrat Tukaram Mundhe as an example, be appointed to head the commission.
