NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar (in white), govt representative PWD minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale (in green) and Vishwajeet Kadam of Congress (in black) address MPSC aspirants protesting at SM Joshi Bridge in Pune on Sunday night (Oct 11)
Pune: The 11-day MPSC aspirants’ agitation ended in the early hours of Monday with state govt agreeing to a 60-day inquiry into alleged examination irregularities, withdrawal of cases against protesters and doubling of vacancies to be filled through the 2027 Group C examination, among other concrete measures. However, the breakthrough mainly came after MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar announced online at 1.25am that he would go on leave until the inquiry was completed, following which protesters agreed to withdraw the stir.
The committee will function under a retired judge as chairperson,” public works minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale said. Bhimanwar’s resignation had been among the foremost demands of the students. The settlement addresses several demands concerning recruitment opportunities and accountability, but its real test will be the inquiry’s findings and implementation of govt’s commitments. With IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe appointed secretary of the inquiry panel, aspirants will now look for an independent investigation and clear action against anyone found responsible. “The inquiry commission is being constituted under the law. As demanded by the students, Mundhe will serve as its secretary.
It has 60 days to submit its report. The most immediate recruitment-related gain is govt’s commitment to double the number of Group C posts to be filled through the 2027 exam, and to the filling of 70,000 vacant posts over three years. It has also committed to increasing MPSC membership to 11 and conducting commission exams offline. Other assurances include changing the ratio for tehsildar recruitment from 60:40 to 50:50 and adopting a common syllabus for police recruitment. One group of protesters at Shastri Road wanted exams to return to the objective format, while protesters at Alka Chowk sought continuation of the descriptive format introduced in 2025. The agitation ended after 11 days, but the outcome has shifted the focus from the streets to the inquiry and implementation of the commitments.
The confrontation intensified as police raised concerns about traffic disruption due to the protest, asked students to move away from the bridge and registered cases against protest representatives. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Bhosale said, “Govt has agreed to withdraw cases registered against protesters during the agitation. Youth Congress functionary Shivraj More, who supported the agitation, said, “We have been sitting here peacefully for students’ demands. MPSC aspirant Vivekanand Patil said, “For aspirants like me, the immediate gains are a time-bound probe, a promise of more vacancies and relief from cases registered during the protest. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, who had visited the protest site in Pune, said, “The late-night acceptance of demands of MPSC aspirants by the regime in Maharashtra shows the unity of student power and youth power.
The five-member panel, chaired by retired judge Dilip Bhosale, will examine alleged irregularities in MPSC exams, including paper leaks. Its remit is expected to cover multiple exams, including those linked to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Group B services, police sub-inspector recruitment, agriculture and excise departments. Students will also be able to submit evidence to the panel. If implemented, these measures could expand opportunities for aspirants, who have spent years preparing for competitive exams amid uncertainty over vacancies and recruitment timelines. However, competing demands for objective and descriptive examination formats remain an important issue. Govt’s commitments on the broader exam system will need to be followed by specific decisions on these demands. Govt should speak to the students instead of using police pressure. Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam also backed protesters, saying, “I firmly support the stance of the students protesting through democratic means. Govt’s promise to withdraw cases became an important part of the final settlement. Whether these translate into a more transparent and dependable recruitment system will depend on what the inquiry establishes and how promptly the govt acts on its findings. However, it also shows the cruelty of the regime where the aspirants were made to sit on dharna for almost two weeks despite their own home talukas reeling under a terrible drought and their families having to face hardship. .. the BJP regime does not belong to the people… people power is stronger than the most brutal regime. Congress leader and LOP Rahul Gandhi, who is engaged in protests in Delhi currently against ECI irregularities, posted, “The chairperson of MPSC finally had to go — now there will be a full investigation into corruption. This is a big victory for the students, This is a big victory for the youth, This is a big victory for Satyagraha. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convener Sourav Das, who is also leading the Delhi protests, wrote, “Congratulations to MPSC students who bravely led a protest against MPSC chairperson. Another big victory for students and the young generation. Download the TOI App.
Several other political personalities also posted about the withdrawal of the MPSC protest on X on Monday.
Bhimanwar subsequently posted on ‘X’ at 1.25am that he had decided to go on leave until the inquiry was completed. The groups also sought the filling of 70,000 vacant posts, an increase in Group B and Group C vacancies and a common smart card for MPSC examinations. A delegation had discussed several of these demands with Fadnavis on Sept 30, but the assurances did not end the protests.
The outcome will therefore be judged not merely by the submission of a report, but by whether its findings lead to accountability and changes that prevent similar incidents. The final agreement followed a tense late-night meeting at SM Joshi Bridge, where Bhosale handed over a draft of govt’s decisions signed by the chief secretary to Pawar, and the latter read it out to the students.
He said, “Mundhe’s appointment as secretary was specifically sought by protesters. The inquiry will also need to establish whether alleged irregularities were isolated incidents or reflected wider weaknesses in exam management and oversight. ” Govt has said that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. For aspirants, the credibility of the inquiry will be as important as its deadline. The panel is expected to examine alleged paper leaks and other irregularities across examinations, identify responsibility and recommend action and reforms. His role will be crucial in coordinating the inquiry, ensuring that evidence is examined and helping the panel complete its work within the stipulated period. The draft did not initially specify that Bhimanwar would be sent on leave, prompting protesters to question whether their principal concern had been addressed. Pawar reiterated that the chairperson should not continue in office during the inquiry. After further consultations with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , Bhosale returned to the site. The announcement was followed by cheers and the protesters’ decision to withdraw the agitation. The agitation had started as three separate protests with different priorities but shared concerns about transparency and recruitment. At SM Joshi Bridge, the demand centred on action against Bhimanwar. At Shastri Road and Alka Chowk, the dispute was over the exam format.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who had been backing the aspirants since day one, addressed the media on Monday.