MPSC panel recommends increasing Group-C vacancies to over 16,000
A high-level committee has also proposed a one-year age relaxation for recruitment examinations to improve transparency and security.
A high-level committee has recommended increasing the vacancies for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Group-C Combined Preliminary Examination 2026 to more than 16,000, according to reports by India Today and ThePrint. The committee, led by IAS officer V Radha, submitted its interim report to the Maharashtra government on Thursday.
The panel was formed on September 4, 2026, following protests by aspirants and allegations of malpractices in MPSC exams. While over 5,000 vacancies have been advertised, various government departments have requested the MPSC to fill more than 11,000 additional posts.
To support candidates, the committee proposed a one-time, one-year reduction in the upper age limit for all recruitment exams. This measure would cover advertisements released after January 1, 2026, for which selection processes have not started, and would be valid until December 31, 2027.
The committee suggested reopening the Group-C application process once to allow candidates who become eligible through the new vacancies and age relaxation to apply. It also recommended keeping the current syllabus and pattern for the Group-C preliminary exam.
To enhance security, the panel advised scrapping the current method of setting question papers in favour of a secure system for fresh papers. It also called for stricter protocols for the printing and transport of papers and answer sheets.
Recommended security measures at examination centres include the use of signal jammers, CCTV cameras, and the deployment of police personnel.