Mumbai, Maharashtra — The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) on Monday postponed the State Services Main Examination 2026, originally scheduled for 3 October 2026, saying the decision follows a spate of objections from candidates and stakeholders over alleged irregularities and evaluation concerns.
Exams deferred and re-evaluation ordered
Along with the State Services Main Examination, the commission also put off the Maharashtra Civil Engineering Main Examination 2026 and the Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination. The MPSC has additionally decided to re-evaluate the answer sheets of the State Services Main Examination 2025, the commission said in a statement.
The commission did not announce fresh dates immediately, saying the revised schedule for all three exams will be notified separately.
Why the commission acted
The MPSC said it received multiple requests from students, parents, student organisations and elected representatives seeking postponement of the 2026 State Services Main Examination. Those representations cited concerns over the evaluation of the 2025 Main Examination and alleged question paper leaks in other tests conducted by the commission, including the drug inspector examination.
- Objections related to evaluation of the State Services Main Examination 2025.
- Protests and representations from aspirants and student groups over alleged question paper leaks.
- Calls from parents and elected representatives for deferring the 2026 main papers.
Student organisations and aspirants have been staging protests in several centres across the state, pressing the commission to address what they describe as systemic irregularities. A photograph circulated with reporting showed MPSC aspirants marching in Pune earlier this month.
High-level review panel to examine system
The commission said it has constituted a high-level panel headed by senior bureaucrat V Radha to review the existing examination system. According to the MPSC, the committee has held detailed discussions with candidates and other stakeholders and has been studying best practices from other jurisdictions. The panel is expected to submit its recommendations on an ideal examination system shortly.
The decision to commission a review and to re-evaluate earlier answer sheets aims to address both immediate complaints and longer-term concerns about credibility and fairness in the MPSC's testing process.
Immediate impact on aspirants and processes
The postponement interrupts preparation plans for aspirants who had cleared preliminary rounds and were scheduled to sit for main papers next month. It also delays recruitment timelines for several state services and posts that depend on the MPSC's selection cycles.
| Examination | Original Schedule | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| State Services Main Examination 2026 | 3 October 2026 | Postponed; revised date to be notified |
| Maharashtra Civil Engineering Main Examination 2026 | — | Postponed; revised date to be notified |
| Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination | — | Postponed; revised date to be notified |
| State Services Main Examination 2025 | Conducted in 2025 | Answer sheets to be re-evaluated |
What aspirants and stakeholders want
Representations lodged with the MPSC sought greater transparency in question-paper setting, stronger safeguards against leaks and an assurance of fair evaluation methods. Student groups have demanded an independent inquiry into past irregularities and a clear public timetable for remedial measures.
The commission said the review panel has already been engaging with candidates and other stakeholders as part of its exercise. It did not specify a deadline for the panel's recommendations, but said those would be followed by changes to the examination timeline as required.
Next steps and practical information
Candidates are advised to await the commission's separate notification for revised dates. The MPSC statement said that fresh dates for the postponed examinations will be announced once the panel submits recommendations and the commission completes the re-evaluation process for the 2025 answer sheets.
The postponement marks a rare move by the state exam body, reflecting heightened scrutiny of recruitment assessments amid sustained public pressure. How quickly the review panel completes its work and whether its recommendations change the way the MPSC conducts competitive examinations will determine the pace of the next selection cycle.
Reporting from Mumbai.
