The MPSC Group-C recruitment 2026 process could see a significant expansion after a high-level committee recommended increasing the vacancies to more than 16,000. The panel has also proposed a one-time relaxation in the upper age limit, reopening the application window and introducing stronger measures to secure examinations.
The committee, headed by IAS officer V Radha, was constituted on September 4, 2026, following allegations of irregularities in MPSC examinations and protests by aspirants. It has submitted an interim report to the Maharashtra government.
Around 12 lakh candidates have applied for the Group-C Combined Preliminary Examination 2026, for which more than 5,000 vacancies have already been advertised.
According to the committee's recommendations, various government departments have sent requests to the MPSC to fill more than 11,000 additional posts. Adding these vacancies could take the total recruitment figure beyond 16,000.
One-Time Age Relaxation and Reopening of Applications
The committee has proposed a one-time relaxation of one year in the upper age limit for recruitment examinations as a special measure.
The proposed relaxation would apply to advertisements issued after January 1, 2026, where the selection process has not started. It would remain applicable until December 31, 2027.
The panel has also recommended reopening applications once for the Group-C examination. This would give candidates who become eligible because of the additional vacancies and age relaxation an opportunity to apply.
It has suggested retaining the existing examination pattern and syllabus for the Group-C preliminary examination. The syllabus for the main examinations of newly added cadres should also be announced at the earliest.
Fresh Question Papers and Stronger Examination Security
To prevent irregularities, the committee has recommended scrapping the existing question-paper preparation process and preparing fresh papers through a secure system.
It has also proposed tighter arrangements for printing, storing and transporting question papers and answer sheets.
Suggested measures include deploying police personnel, installing CCTV cameras and using signal jammers at examination centres.
The recommendations aim to improve transparency and reliability in the recruitment process. However, these proposals are part of the committee's interim report and are subject to the Maharashtra government's consideration.
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