MPSC student protest ends: Tukaram Mundhe to lead inquiry committee, commission chairman Vivek Bhimanwar sent on leave

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) student protests concluded on 11 October, with the commission chairman Vivek Bhimanwar reassigned to leave. MPSC aspirants ended their 10-day agitation in Pune due to assurances of an inquiry into alleged paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. The new inquiry committee, led by IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, includes former judge Dilip Bhosale, Laxmi Gautam, Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik.

Mundhe's appointment is seen as a positive step, as his reputation for honesty and past actions against illegal sand mining and misuse of public money give aspirants hope for a thorough inquiry into their complaints. However, some protesters still demanded the removal of Bhimanwar, while others welcomed the assurance that he would remain on leave during the inquiry process.

The state government has announced a judicial inquiry into the MPSC paper leak case, promising reforms including recruitment to 70,000 posts over three years. Mundhe's background, from a farming family to becoming an IAS officer, serves as an example of hard work and perseverance for struggling aspirants.