Maharashtra forms panel to reform MPSC amid recruitment protests

The Maharashtra government on Sunday announced the formation of a high-level committee tasked with reforming the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), addressing mounting pressure from civil service candidates protesting at SM Joshi Bridge in Pune. The committee will be chaired by retired judge Dilip Bhosale, with FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe serving as secretary, alongside IPS officer Laxmi Gautam, former IAS officer Ganesh Patil, and retired judge P D Naik.

State minister Shivendraraje Bhosale conveyed the decision directly to protesters who have maintained their demonstration for over ten days. The formation of the committee represents a significant government response to the aspirants' demands for structural changes within the MPSC recruitment mechanism.

Beyond the committee's establishment, Bhosale assured protesters that additional demands would receive consideration. These include the withdrawal of cases against protest representatives, recruitment to approximately 70,000 positions over a three-year period, expansion of available seats in the Group C examination scheduled for January, and the conduct of background checks on the MPSC's current chairman and secretary.

The Pune protest has emerged as a focal point for civil service aspirants nationwide seeking reform of state-level recruitment processes. The government's swift action in constituting the reform committee suggests an attempt to de-escalate tensions while addressing structural grievances within the commission's operations.