MPSC panel recommends increasing Group C posts to over 16,000
A high-level committee has also suggested a one-year age relaxation for all recruitment examinations to address aspirant concerns.
A high-level committee has recommended increasing the number of vacancies for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Group C Combined Preliminary Examination 2026 to more than 16,000, according to reports by Hindustan Times and The Times of India.
The seven-member panel, led by additional chief secretary V Radha, submitted its interim report to the state government on Thursday. The committee was formed on September 4, 2026, to improve the transparency and security of the state's recruitment process.
The committee suggested that the total number of advertised posts be raised from the current 5,000 to over 16,000 by including 11,000 additional posts requested by various departments through a corrigendum. To accommodate those who become eligible due to these new vacancies and age changes, the panel recommended reopening the application window for the Group C 2026 exam once.
The panel also proposed a one-time special measure providing a one-year extension to the maximum age limit for all recruitment exams. This relaxation would apply to advertisements published between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027, provided the selection process has not yet started.
To strengthen security, the committee recommended scrapping previous question paper-setting exercises and creating new papers through a secure process. It also called for strict measures for handling OMR sheets and question papers, including CCTV surveillance, signal jammers, and police security at centres.
While some groups welcomed the move, others criticised the age relaxation criteria, noting it might not benefit candidates who already exceeded age limits under previous advertisements.