MPSC aspirants in Pune are protesting against the paper leak and demanding the chairman’s resignation

MPSC aspirants and students during a protest march against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations in Pune on September 7, 2026. NCP MP (SP) Supriya Sule and MLA Rohit Pawar also joined the demonstration. | Photo credit: PTI

Thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants took to the streets of Pune on Monday, alleging irregularities and paper leaks in the recruitment exams and demanding more transparency in the commission’s functioning and the removal of its chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.

The ‘Vidyarthi Aakrosh Morcha’ started from the Omkareshwar Temple around 10 am and the protesters marched towards the Pune District Collectorate.

Their key demands include accountability for the alleged paper leaks, a forensic audit of background checks, an investigation into past recruitment exams linked to officials arrested in connection with the drug inspector investigation paper leak case and the removal of the MPSC chairman.

According to Nitin Andhale, student representative and one of the organizers of the protest, the students reached the District Collector’s office around 12:30 PM and then met the District Collector and other officials at 2:00 PM. The District Collector listened to all their demands and said that they would like to hear what reforms should be implemented. The government has set up a committee to hear demands and implement reforms. The next meeting is probably scheduled for September 12.

Mr. Andhale said the examination system must be held accountable for the irregularities that have afflicted aspirants who have been preparing for competitive examinations for years.

“There is a need to stop this corrupt system that is playing with the future of honest students who have been studying for years,” Mr Andhale said.

He demanded the resignation of the MPSC chairman and officials found responsible, a judicial inquiry into alleged high-level irregularities and an inquiry into investigations conducted during the tenure of officials linked to the paper leak cases.

“If the government does not accept these demands immediately, thousands of students will take to the streets to hold the system accountable,” he said.

Support of political parties

The protest also received a lot of support from Maha Vikas Aghadi political parties like NCP (SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and MLA Rohit Pawar were present at the protest.

Mr. Pawar demanded that the MPSC accept responsibility for the alleged paper leaks and said the chairman should either resign or be removed by the state government.

He also called for a forensic audit of the MPSC examinations and a wider investigation into the functioning of the commission, alleging that there is serious corruption in the recruitment process.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal extended his party’s support to the protesters and supported their demand for the chairman’s resignation. “The paper leaks have ruined the hard work and future of lakhs of students,” Mr. Sapkal said, adding that institutions like MPSC must maintain transparency, impartiality and credibility in recruitment. This was a day after Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of MPSC aspirants and extended his support to them.

Mr Gandhi said on Sunday that “whether it is the central government or the state government, every student is afflicted by the BJP regime”. “Now they have seized control of a constitutional body like MPSC and destroyed its credibility. Every demand of the students for their successful future is justified. The government must listen to their voice and act immediately – otherwise this echo of the students will only grow stronger until justice is served,” he said.

NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil also supported the protest, saying that allegations of paper leaks, malpractices and irregularities must be investigated and that the government should introduce a transparent and reliable system of investigation.

Akshay Jain, president of the Maharashtra Youth Congress media wing, said repeated allegations of paper leaks, irregularities in investigations and changes in recruitment rules had created insecurity among the aspirants.

“We don’t need assurances, we need answers and accountability,” he said.

Published – 07 Sep 2026 17:24 IST