The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has postponed the State Services Main Examination 2026, which was scheduled to begin on October 3, 2026. The commission also deferred the Maharashtra Civil Engineering Main Examination 2026 and Maharashtra Group-B (Non Gazetted) Main examination 2026. According to the commission, it received representations from candidates, parents, student organisations and elected representatives seeking postponement of the State Services Main Examination 2026.The examination was scheduled to commence from October 3. Following the representations, the commission decided to defer the examination and said it would communicate the revised schedule separately.
Civil Engineering and Group-B exams also deferred
The postponement is not limited to the State Services Main examination. The commission has also deferred the Maharashtra Civil Engineering Main Examination 2026 and the Maharashtra Group-B (Non-Gazetted) Main Examination 2026.Candidates will have to wait for a fresh timetable from the commission. MPSC has not indicated a new date for any of the three examinations in its latest announcement.The postponement is expected to affect candidates who had been preparing according to the earlier examination calendar and had made arrangements for the October examination schedule.
MPSC to re-evaluate State Services Main 2025 answer sheets
In another major decision, MPSC has announced the re-evaluation of answer sheets from the State Services Main Examination 2025.The commission said several students and student organisations had raised objections regarding the evaluation of the examination. After considering the representations, MPSC decided to re-evaluate the answer scripts.The commission has also cautioned that the re-evaluation could extend the timeline of the examination process.This means that candidates awaiting the outcome of the 2025 State Services Main examination may have to wait longer as the commission undertakes the fresh evaluation.
Examination system under review
The latest decisions come against the backdrop of protests by MPSC aspirants over the alleged question paper leak in the Drug Inspector examination and wider concerns regarding the commission’s examination procedures.MPSC said a high-level committee headed by senior bureaucrat V Radha is reviewing the existing examination system. The committee has held discussions with candidates and other stakeholders and examined examination practices followed elsewhere.According to the commission, the committee is expected to submit its recommendations for an “ideal examination system” shortly.The recommendations could have a bearing on the way future MPSC examinations are conducted, including issues related to examination administration and evaluation.
Political pressure mounts over examination reforms
The postponement has also triggered political reactions in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said his party had sought postponement of the examinations until the committee examining examination reforms submits its report.Thackeray said the request had also been made to Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and that it was agreed to. He also said he hoped the Governor would seek the resignation of the MPSC chairman.For aspirants, however, the immediate issue remains the uncertainty over the examination calendar. With three major examinations deferred and the 2025 answer sheets set for re-evaluation, candidates will now have to wait for further communication from the commission on revised dates and the next steps in the recruitment process.Candidates can click on the link provided here to download the official notice to postpone the MPSC State Services exam 2026.