MPSC appoints Satish Waghole as acting chairperson amid paper leak inquiry

Satish Baban Waghole has been appointed as the acting chairperson of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), effective October 16, 2026. The appointment, made by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, comes during the leave of incumbent chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar, who is facing criticism over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities in MPSC examinations.

The change in leadership follows a 10-day protest by MPSC aspirants in Pune earlier this month, demanding Bhimanwar’s removal and a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities. The Maharashtra government has since formed an inquiry committee to probe these allegations, including the tenures of present and past MPSC chairpersons and members.

Inquiry into Alleged Irregularities and Official Tenures

The Maharashtra government has established an inquiry committee to investigate alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities within the MPSC. Senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe serves as the secretary of this committee. The panel’s mandate extends to probing the tenures of both current and former chairpersons and members of the state recruitment body.

The inquiry commission includes retired Justice Dilip Bhosale as its chairman, with retired Justice P. D. Naik, Tukaram Mundhe, Ganesh Patil, and Lakhami Gautam as members. This development follows the arrest of some MPSC officials after a paper leak for the Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Inspector post exam was revealed. Vivek Bhimanwar announced his decision to proceed on leave until the inquiry is completed.

Aspirants’ Demands and Protest Background

MPSC aspirants staged a 10-day protest in Pune earlier in October 2026, demanding the removal of Vivek Bhimanwar as the commission’s chairperson. Beyond the leadership change, the aspirants put forth several demands, including the withdrawal of cases against some representatives involved in the agitation.

Other key demands from the protesting aspirants included recruitment for 70,000 posts over three years, an increase in the number of seats for the Group C examination scheduled for January, and background checks on the MPSC chairperson and secretary before their appointments. The protests were a direct response to the widespread allegations of exam paper leaks and irregularities that have affected MPSC examinations.

Satish Waghole’s Appointment and Background

Satish Baban Waghole, who holds a Master of Laws degree, joined the MPSC as a member in September 2026. He was administered the oath of confidentiality by Vivek Bhimanwar on September 7, 2026. The state government’s General Administration Department issued a notification on October 16, 2026, officially giving Waghole additional charge as MPSC’s chairperson, effective the same date.

His appointment as acting chairperson by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma comes at a time when the MPSC is under scrutiny. Waghole’s role is to oversee the commission’s operations during Bhimanwar’s leave, as the inquiry into alleged irregularities proceeds.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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Further reading

• NEET UG exam design changes: Nilekani questions need for single paper amid leak concerns
• MPSC paper leak: Vivek Bhimanwar on leave, Tukaram Mundhe to probe committee
• NEET paper leak: comedian Harshit Mahawar’s ‘AIR 1’ show satirises exam system