MPSC postpones three exams from October 3 amid re-evaluation, system review

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) announced today, September 29, 2026, the postponement of three significant examinations originally scheduled to commence from October 3, 2026. The affected examinations are the State Services Main Examination 2026, Maharashtra Civil Engineering Services Main Examination 2026, and Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination 2026.

This decision stems from multiple factors, including objections concerning the evaluation of the State Services Main Examination 2025, an ongoing review of the state’s examination system by a high-level committee, and widespread requests for postponement from various stakeholders. The State Services Main Examination 2026 was initially slated to run from October 3 to November 1, 2026.

Reasons for Postponement and Re-Evaluation

The MPSC’s notification cited objections from several student organizations and individual candidates regarding the evaluation of answer sheets for the Maharashtra State Services Main Examination 2025. To address these concerns, the commission has decided to re-evaluate the answer sheets for the 2025 examination. This re-evaluation is expected to cause delays in the overall examination process.

Aspirant Radhika Jadhav, who cleared the State Services Main Examination 2025, expressed concern over the delay, stating, “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.” Conversely, Ratan Janrao from Solapur questioned the legality of a blanket rechecking, citing Rule 6.4.3 and arguing that a revised result would be unfair to the 438 candidates who had already qualified for the next stage of the 2025 State Services Main Examination.

Review of Examination System and Public Demands

Another key factor influencing the postponement is the ongoing review of existing examination systems in Maharashtra by a high-level committee. This committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary V Radha, has engaged in extensive discussions with candidates and other stakeholders, while also studying best practices in examination conduct. Recommendations from this committee on an ideal examination system are anticipated shortly.

The committee has received over 20,000 emails and representations from aspirants and other stakeholders, indicating a strong demand for changes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis noted that substantial feedback favors a return to an objective, multiple-choice format for examinations, moving away from the current descriptive format. The MPSC also received numerous representations from candidates, parents, student organizations, and public representatives, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, who had demanded the postponement to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.

Broader Concerns and Future Steps

The postponement occurs amidst a backdrop of alleged irregularities in competitive examinations across the state, including a recent controversy surrounding a paper leak in the Drug Inspector examination. These incidents have fueled demands for greater transparency and reforms within the MPSC. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke has specifically called for reforms in the MPSC and the resignation of its chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar.

The MPSC has not yet specified whether existing question papers for the postponed examinations will be cancelled or if fresh ones will be prepared. The revised dates for the State Services Main Examination 2026, Maharashtra Civil Engineering Services Main Examination 2026, and Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination 2026 will be announced separately through official MPSC notifications. Candidates are advised to rely solely on these official announcements for updates and to continue their preparation.

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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