Maharashtra considers expanding MPSC group C vacancies; objective-type paper pattern

After receiving more than 20,000 suggestions on MPSC recruitment exams, the Maharashtra government is considering increasing the number of posts available through the state Public Service Commission (MPSC) and will also revert to an objective examination pattern. However, the exam pattern revamp will be approved by the high-powered committee constituted for reforms in MPSC.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government is working to increase the number of posts available through the MPSC, particularly in group C. He added that presentations by five departments on vacant posts were made at the cabinet meeting.

"I am confident that for the next examination, we will bring in such a large number of posts that all previous records will be broken. We have taken a decision that, for the first time, we will bring several times more posts to the MPSC than ever before," Fadnavis said.

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MPSC Reforms: Committee suggestions

CM also said that the government was examining whether vacant posts in local self-government institutions could be filled through a separate mechanism. On MPSC reforms, a high-powered committee has been holding detailed hearings with students and other stakeholders.

The government had formed the exam reform committee to recommend measures to improve MPSC's functioning. Its chairperson, V Radha, said the panel had received more than 20,000 emails, with suggestions ranging from maintaining transparency in checking papers to a fixed calendar of exams and results.

The committee will also consider standard operating procedures (SOPs) for question-paper distribution and conduct of competitive exams, as well as establish norms for the normalisation of marks.

Objective-type questions

On the demand to restore the objective pattern in MPSC exams, CM said the Dalvi committee had earlier recommended shifting from the objective pattern to the descriptive one, following which the government and MPSC had decided to implement the change.

The panel would also consider the procedure to be followed in the event of an examination being cancelled, as well as measures to safeguard the interests of candidates who have already been selected. With inputs from PTI