MPSC cancels Drug Inspector recruitment over paper leak; re-exam date soon

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has cancelled the recruitment process for the post of Drug Inspector, group B, in the food and drug administration department following a preliminary inquiry into complaints of malpractice in the screening examination held on March 22.

The announcement comes after the commission received complaints between July 22 and July 26 from some candidates and public representatives alleging malpractice in the exam. Some candidates had allegedly obtained the question paper or questions before the examination, i.e., on March 20. The complaint alleges that the material was circulated through social media or electronic platforms.

Acting on the complaints, the commission lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police on July 27, seeking an inquiry into the allegations. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Mumbai Police Commissioner’s Office, subsequently submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the MPSC.

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According to the report, the inquiry found, prima facie, that one candidate had received the question set and benefited from it. The commission did not state in its release that the entire question paper had been leaked or that multiple candidates had benefited.

MPSC said the recruitment process was cancelled to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, transparency and impartiality of examinations conducted by the commission and to maintain candidates’ confidence in the recruitment system.

Re-exam dates

The commission will conduct the examination for the Drug Inspector, Group-B posts again. Those who had applied for the recruitment will not have to submit fresh applications for the re-examination and no fee will be charged. The commission will announce the re-exam date soon.

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The recruitment notification was released on July 29, 2025, and the screening examination was conducted offline on March 22, 2026, at examination centres in six divisional headquarters across Maharashtra. The result was declared on June 12, and 506 candidates were shortlisted for interviews. Of these, 488 appeared for interviews held between July 1 and July 22. Soon after interviews, the Commission published a provisional general merit list of 488 candidates. The list comprised 485 selected for the drug inspector post and three candidates who were declared ineligible.