Tukaram Mundhe appointed Secretary of panel to overhaul MPSC; aspirants end agitation

On October 11, 2026, Maharashtra Government appointed senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe as Secretary to a committee tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruitment process. This came after 10 days of agitation by aspirants, who had been protesting at S.M. Joshi Bridge in Pune.

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission Chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar, also announced he would take leave until the inquiry was concluded. Maharashtra Minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale had met the protesting aspirants and informed them that most of their demands, including the formation of the inquiry panel with officers like Mr. Mundhe, had been accepted.

However, aspirants insisted that Bhimanwar's removal was their primary demand. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar proposed that the government keep Bhimanwar away from the chairman's post until the inquiry was completed, suggesting the process of resignation could take time.

The government's assurance led to the resignation of agitation. Vivekanad Patil, a representative of the MPSC aspirants, said the agitation had been called off for now. The committee, which includes ex-judge Dilip Bhosale as chairman and other retired officers, will probe alleged irregularities in the MPSC's recruitment process.

The aspirants' other demands, such as withdrawal of cases against some representatives, increased group C examination seats, and background checks on the MPSC chairman and secretary, will also be addressed.

Pune Police had registered a case against 15 agitation representatives for alleged illegal protest activities. MLA Rohit Pawar urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prioritize aspirants' concerns over his friendship with MPSC chairman Bhimanwar.