Mumbai, — The Maharashtra government is preparing to authorize a substantially higher number of vacancies to be filled through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday, and indicated the administration would positively consider restoring the objective question format in several MPSC exams if recommended by an expert committee.
Plan to boost recruitments, especially Group C
Addressing reporters after a state cabinet meeting, Fadnavis said presentations on vacant posts were made by five departments and that the proposed number of openings would exceed past figures substantially. He said the increase will include a focus on Group C categories, which employ a large section of clerical and field staff across state departments and local bodies.
"I am confident that for the next examination, we will bring in such a large number of posts that all previous records will be broken," Fadnavis said.
The chief minister also said the government was exploring whether vacancies in local self-government institutions could be filled through a separate mechanism, signalling potential decentralised recruitment drives for zilla parishads, municipal corporations and gram panchayats.
Committee on MPSC reforms weighing examination pattern
A high-powered committee set up to review MPSC's functioning has been holding extended hearings with students and stakeholders, Fadnavis said. According to him, the panel has received strong support from candidates for a return to the objective format in exams such as State Services, Agriculture, Food Safety Officer (FSO) and Engineering services.
He described the committee's proceedings as comprehensive, noting it has listened to students and other interested parties in long sessions. "The hearings are going on very well. The committee is patiently and calmly listening to everyone who comes before it, sometimes for six to eight hours," he said.
Background: objective vs descriptive debate
The debate over objective (multiple-choice) versus descriptive papers at the MPSC has persisted for years. Fadnavis recalled that the Dalvi Committee — an earlier review body — had recommended a shift from objective to descriptive examinations some time ago, and following that recommendation the government and MPSC implemented the change.
He said the present review committee is examining whether to revert that decision, and that the government would consider the panel's recommendations before taking a view.
Implications for aspirants and administration
Any decision to increase vacancies significantly and to alter the exam pattern will carry immediate practical effects for tens of thousands of aspirants across the state — from Mumbai and Pune to smaller centres in Marathwada and Vidarbha. Objective exams are generally seen as quicker to evaluate and scalable for large candidate pools, while descriptive papers are argued to better test analytical and written skills.
- Key possible changes: Large-scale increase in MPSC vacancies, emphasis on Group C positions, separate recruitment for local bodies.
- Exam format under review: Committee may recommend return to objective papers for several services including State Services and engineering streams.
- Process: Government will consider committee recommendations before taking a formal decision.
What stakeholders have asked for
Fadnavis said the committee has received a strong demand from students and exam stakeholders to restore the objective pattern. He added the committee is conducting direct dialogues with competitive-exam candidates and other parties connected to MPSC processes.
He did not provide exact figures for the number of posts under consideration or a timetable for the committee's final recommendations. Nor did he detail the mechanics of a separate recruitment mechanism for local self-government vacancies.
Next steps and expectations
The high-powered committee will conclude its hearings and submit recommendations to the state government, which has so far signalled an open stance towards reversing the switch to descriptive papers if advised. A formal notification on the scale of vacancies or changes to the examination structure will follow after the government reviews the panel's report.
For aspirants in Maharashtra, the announcements indicate a possible easing of recruitment bottlenecks and a potential return to objective examinations — moves that would affect preparation strategies and timelines for thousands preparing for the MPSC.
Officials in the state secretariat and the MPSC were not quoted beyond the chief minister’s statements made after the cabinet meeting.
(Sameer Joshi is an AI Maharashtra correspondent.)
