Task force push for stability, security and transparency in Maharashtra competitive exams

Pune: In a major move to make Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and other state competitive examinations more transparent, secure, stable, and candidate-centric, the high-level recruitment examination taskforce constituted by the state government held extensive consultations with students, teachers, parents, and key stakeholders, officials said on Sunday.

The deliberation covered vital issues, including exam timetables, question paper quality, leak prevention, vacancy announcements, answer keys, exam centre logistics, grievance redressal, and candidate 'opting-out' policies.

The Task Force operates under the chairmanship of V. Radha, Additional Chief Secretary (Services) of General Administration Department.

The high-level committee comprises Director General of Police Sadanand Date; IT and AI Secretary of Electronics Virendra Singh; Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Secretary N Ramaswami; Nashik Divisional Commissioner Pravin Gedam; Air Marshal Ajit Shankarrao Bhosale (Retired), former member of the UPSC; and Shyamprasad Kargudde from IIT Bombay.

The state government formed the Taskforce amid MPSC exam paper leaks and ongoing protests by aspirants demanding the transparency and the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.

MPSC candidates urged the taskforce to publish and strictly adhere to an annual examination calendar, emphasising the need for long-term procedural stability without frequent policy changes.

Pre-declaring minimum vacancies for various cadres was also strongly recommended.

Task Force Chairperson V. Radha announced that competitive examinations will not be conducted online for the coming year. Instead, they will be held using the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet pattern, for which standardised operating guidelines are currently being framed.

To achieve a zero-leak environment, the committee plans to leverage advanced technology across question creation, printing, transport, and distribution.

The Taskforce is evaluating an encrypted 'e-question bank' system where even the item writers remain unaware of which exam their questions will feature in.

Students demanded rigorous quality checks to eliminate errors in question papers and answer keys, alongside standardised evaluation metrics and reviewer audits for answer script verification.

Stakeholders called for a unified online portal for candidate queries and objections, as well as a single-window system for one-time registration and fee payment across all state exams.

Emphasis was placed on ensuring basic amenities at test centers, including clean restrooms, drinking water, and appropriate seating arrangements.

Participants advocated for a clear policy on post-selection candidate 'opting-out' to avoid seat wastage when a candidate qualifies for multiple posts, along with timely verification of disability and sports quota certificates.

The Taskforce is studying operational models of public service commissions across the country—specifically analysing systems in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)—to adapt proven best practices for Maharashtra.

Highlighting the growing operational load on the MPSC, officials stressed the urgent need to bolster the Commission's administrative workforce, technical capabilities, and organisational structure.

"Our objective is to build a faster, more transparent, and accountable officer selection process for the state," Director General of Police Sadanand Date said.

Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Additional District Collector Satish Raut, and Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam were among the senior officials present during the consultation.

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