A high-level committee has proposed expanding MPSC Group-C recruitment beyond 16,000 posts. The interim report also seeks age relief, reopened applications and stronger exam security.The committee has also recommended reopening the application process once for the Group-C examinationNew Delhi,Nov 5, 2026 16:55 ISTA high-level committee has recommended increasing vacancies for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission's (MPSC) Group-C Combined Preliminary Examination 2026 to more than 16,000, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The panel has also proposed a one-time relaxation of one year in the upper age limit for all recruitment examinations and measures to make the examination process more transparent, secure and reliable.The committee, headed by IAS officer V Radha, was formed on September 4, 2026, following allegations of irregularities and malpractices in MPSC examinations and protests by aspirants.
It has submitted its interim report to the Maharashtra government, according to an official statement cited by PTI on Thursday.REQUESTS SENT TO FILL OVER 11,000 ADDITIONAL POSTSAround 12 lakh candidates have applied for the Group-C examination, for which more than 5,000 vacancies have already been advertised. Various government departments have sent requests to the MPSC to fill more than 11,000 additional posts.
The committee has recommended adding these vacancies to the recruitment process, taking the total number of posts to more than 16,000.It has proposed a one-time relaxation of one year in the upper age limit as a special measure. The relaxation would apply to advertisements issued after January 1, 2026, where the selection process has not begun, and remain applicable until December 31, 2027.
The committee has also recommended reopening the application process once for the Group-C examination, allowing candidates who become eligible because of the additional vacancies and age relaxation to apply.It has suggested retaining the existing examination pattern and syllabus for the Group-C preliminary examination. It has also said the syllabus for the main examinations of newly added cadres should be announced at the earliest.As a precaution, the committee has recommended scrapping the existing process of setting question papers and preparing fresh papers through a secure system, PTI reported.The panel has also called for strict security arrangements for the printing, storage and transportation of question papers and answer sheets.
Its recommendations include deploying police personnel, installing CCTV cameras and using signal jammers at examination centres.Overall, the interim report proposes expanding the Group-C recruitment to more than 16,000 posts, granting a one-time age relaxation, reopening applications and strengthening security throughout the examination process.- Ends