Computer-based exams by MPSC postponed to August 2027, says CM Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

The Maharashtra government has postponed the implementation of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system for Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations until August 2027, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday. Until then, MPSC examinations will continue to be conducted through the existing offline, pen-and-paper format.

The decision comes in response to demands raised by several student organisations and competitive examination aspirants, who had sought more time to prepare for the transition to the digital examination system.

Decision taken during high-level review meeting

The announcement was made following a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at Mantralaya in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, the Chief Secretary and senior officials from the General Administration Department.

According to the government, the additional time will allow candidates to familiarise themselves with the online examination process while enabling the MPSC to strengthen the required digital infrastructure and administrative systems before introducing the new format.

The government said the phased approach is intended to ensure a smoother transition and minimise disruption for aspirants.

Fadnavis stresses need for transparent and timely examinations

During the meeting, Fadnavis said reforms in the examination system should be implemented carefully to maintain transparency and public confidence.

"A secure, transparent selection process has always been my firm insistence. In line with that, the examination system must be transparent, conducted on time, and results must be declared promptly," he said.

"However, while undertaking these reforms, moving from one system to another must be smooth. Every system needs sufficient time for readiness," he added.

The Chief Minister also directed the MPSC to take further institutional decisions in line with these guidelines and appreciated the Commission for its recent initiatives aimed at improving the recruitment process.

Students had raised concerns over CBT rollout

The MPSC had announced in late June 2026 that it planned to introduce computer-based preliminary examinations, beginning with the Group C Services Joint Preliminary Examination. The Commission said the move was intended to reduce the risk of paper leaks, improve transparency and introduce a normalisation process to facilitate multiple examination sessions.

However, the proposal triggered protests from student organisations and competitive examination aspirants, particularly in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Student groups argued that many candidates, especially those from rural and economically weaker backgrounds, were accustomed to the offline OMR-based examination system and needed more time to adapt to computer-based testing. They also expressed concerns over the availability of standardised digital examination centres, particularly in rural areas, as well as the possibility of technical glitches, server failures and issues related to the proposed normalisation process.

Government grants additional preparation time

Postponing the rollout until August 2027 provides the MPSC with more than a year to develop a robust digital examination infrastructure across Maharashtra and address concerns raised by aspirants, government sources told IANS.

The additional preparation period is also expected to help candidates become familiar with the new examination format through adequate training and practice before the transition takes place.

(With inputs from IANS)