Mumbai: The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has announced the advertisement for the 2025 State Service Examination, which will now be held in a descriptive format. There had been opposition from students regarding this format. A question was raised in the state legislature about the MPSC’s overall functioning. In response, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the exam will remain descriptive, and no opposition will be entertained. This has come as a relief to students, removing any obstacles regarding the exam’s format.
MLA Vikram Kale raised concerns in the legislature about the lack of human resources in MPSC, which causes delays in posting candidates even after the competitive exam process is completed. He also accused certain practices occurring in the posting process. In response, Chief Minister Fadnavis addressed the issue in the assembly and clarified that the MPSC will conduct the examination in a descriptive format. He also assured that a large recruitment drive will be carried out by the MPSC in the future.
The MPSC recruitment process, which is modeled after the UPSC, is used for filling various administrative positions in the state, such as sub-divisional officers and tehsildars. However, there has been consistent dissatisfaction among students due to delays in the MPSC process and a lack of coordination among officials, leading to protests and frustration.
After the exam, there are also complaints about delayed results and appointments by MPSC. In this context, MLA Shivajirao Garje raised questions in the legislature, to which Chief Minister Fadnavis responded. He confirmed that large-scale recruitment would take place through MPSC and that, similar to UPSC, the commission would adhere to a fixed timetable, offering a significant relief to students.
Fadnavis also expressed the intention to introduce a calendar (timetable) for MPSC, similar to UPSC’s approach. Regarding the state service exam, he stated that it would be held in a descriptive format starting this year. Although there has been some opposition to this change, he emphasized that this opposition would not be accepted.
Regarding vacancies in the MPSC, Fadnavis informed that one of the vacant positions has been filled, and advertisements will soon be issued for the remaining two positions. Two days ago, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had written to the Chief Minister regarding filling these vacancies.
Fadnavis also addressed concerns about exams for technical posts in engineering and agricultural fields not being conducted in Marathi. Due to the unavailability of engineering textbooks in Marathi, these exams have been conducted in English. However, he assured that engineering exams under the MPSC will now be conducted in Marathi, and Marathi versions of textbooks for engineering courses will also be available. He added that other technical competitive exams will also be conducted in Marathi.
In the state, important positions such as sub-divisional officers, tehsildars, police inspectors, and professors are appointed through the MPSC. The commission is approved to have a chairman and five members. Of these five positions, the chairman and two members’ positions are filled, but three member positions remain vacant. The vacancies have negatively impacted the commission’s work, causing delays in exams, interviews, and results.
As a result, students, parents, teachers, and various organizations have raised concerns about the vacancies and have requested urgent action. Taking note of these concerns, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wrote a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting the immediate filling of the three vacant member positions in the MPSC.
