Pune: Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) on Monday postponed State Services Main Examination 2026, scheduled to begin on Oct 3, along with Maharashtra Civil Engineering Main Examination 2026 and Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination 2026.The revised dates will be announced separately.The decision comes amid mounting concerns among aspirants over the evaluation of State Services Main Examination 2025, examination-related controversies and demands for greater transparency in the recruitment process.In its notification, MPSC said, “Several student organisations and students have submitted objections to the commission regarding the evaluation of answer sheets of the Maharashtra State Services Main Examination 2025. Taking these objections into consideration, the commission has decided to conduct re-evaluation of the answer sheets of the State Services Main Examination 2025.”The commission added that the re-evaluation was likely to delay the examination process. It also said it had received representations from students, parents, student organisations and elected representatives seeking postponement of State Services Main Examination 2026.The decision comes after sustained protests by MPSC aspirants in Pune over various issues concerning competitive exams. Students have raised concerns over the evaluation of answer sheets, examination delays and the security of the exam process. A section of aspirants had also sought postponement of the Oct exam in the wake of concerns surrounding the alleged question paper leak in Drug Inspector exam.The issue of re-evaluation has, however, created uncertainty among candidates who have already cleared the 2025 State Services Main Examination and were awaiting interviews. The interviews of 438 candidates who qualified for the next stage had earlier been postponed amid demands for re-evaluation.Pune-based aspirant Radhika Jadhav, who cleared State Services Main Examination 2025, said the delay had put candidates who had already qualified in an uncertain position. “My future should not be pushed into uncertainty indefinitely because of the rule-defying demands of a few candidates who have raised unresolved objections. The interviews should be conducted at the earliest and the final result should be declared,” she said.Another aspirant, Ratan Janrao from Solapur, also questioned the move to conduct blanket rechecking. “Conducting a blanket rechecking by the MPSC is not permissible under Rule 6.4.3, and issuing a revised result would be unfair to the 438 candidates who have already qualified,” he said.At the same time, another section of aspirants has been demanding a wider review of the evaluation process, arguing that concerns raised by candidates should be addressed before the recruitment process moves ahead.The commission has also taken note of the state govt’s review of the examination system. A high-level committee constituted by govt has held discussions with candidates and other stakeholders across Maharashtra and studied examination practices followed elsewhere. The commission said recommendations on an ideal examination system are expected shortly.The postponement is the latest in a series of changes to MPSC examination calendar. Candidates preparing for the three examinations will now have to wait for the commission to announce fresh dates.MPSC said the decision to postpone the examinations was taken after considering the objections over the 2025 evaluation, the ongoing review of the examination system and representations received from students, parents, student organisations and public representatives.
