MPSC Aspirants Shift Pune Protest to October 2 After Police Clearance, CM Talks Likely

Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants have postponed their planned sit-in protest in Pune from Sunday, September 27, 2026, to October 2, after the police denied permission for the earlier date and granted it for the revised one.

The protest will now be held as a peaceful “satyagraha” outside Patrakar Bhavan, near S M Joshi Bridge in Pune, the organisers announced on September 26. They said the new date and venue have been approved by the police.

The aspirants had originally planned to begin their sit-in at 10 a.m. on Sunday along the S M Joshi Bridge–Abasaheb Garware College stretch, pressing a set of demands relating to the functioning of the MPSC. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar had backed the agitation and accompanied student representatives during discussions with the Pune police over permission.

Pune police declined permission for the September 27 protest, citing concerns over traffic and public order. The police also issued notices to student representatives and to administrators of Telegram groups used by MPSC aspirants, warning them against organising or encouraging an agitation without permission.

Following the refusal, the organisers said the agitation would be deferred to October 2, which is observed as Gandhi Jayanti, and conducted as a peaceful satyagraha.

The postponement has also opened a window for talks between the aspirants and the state government. According to the organisers, a meeting with the Chief Minister is expected to be held before October 2, though a date for it has not yet been finalised. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from the state government.

The aspirants have been raising several issues concerning MPSC examinations and recruitment. Their demands include greater transparency in the examination process, timely recruitment and declaration of results, and changes in the way the commission functions. They have also sought the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.

The MPSC conducts recruitment examinations for various posts in the Maharashtra government, and its examination calendar and evaluation processes are closely followed by a large number of candidates across the state.

The proposed October 2 protest follows an earlier agitation by aspirants in Pune on September 7. In parallel, a state-appointed examination reforms committee headed by additional chief secretary V Radha has been consulting aspirants on changes to Maharashtra’s recruitment examination system. The panel has received more than 20,000 emails containing suggestions on issues including examination schedules, transparency in evaluation, paper leaks and communication with candidates.

It remains to be seen whether the proposed meeting with the Chief Minister materialises before October 2, and whether it addresses the aspirants’ demands ahead of the planned satyagraha. Organisers have said the protest will go ahead on the revised date unless their concerns are resolved.