MPSC Student Protest in Pune Students Demand Commission Chief’s Resignation

Pune, October 6, 2026: The hunger strike by students protesting against the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) entered its third day near the SM Joshi Bridge in Pune, with protesters demanding the resignation of the MPSC chairman and raising concerns over alleged irregularities, examination transparency, recruitment processes and administrative functioning.

The protesting students have alleged corruption in the recruitment and vacancy process, irregularities in examinations, lack of transparency and controversies surrounding alleged paper leaks. They say such issues have adversely affected thousands of aspirants preparing for competitive examinations in Maharashtra.

The protesters have also alleged that several of these incidents occurred during the tenure of MPSC chairman Mr. Bhimanvar and have demanded that he be held accountable for the functioning of the Commission during his tenure.

Opposition leaders join the protest

The agitation has attracted support from several opposition leaders and prominent figures from Maharashtra.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar have extended their support to the protesting students.

Rohit Pawar has been particularly active at the protest site and has remained alongside the students since the early stages of the agitation.

CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke backs students

On October 4, CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke visited the protest site and addressed the students.

Dipke said that if the government failed to address the students’ demands, peaceful forms of pressure would be intensified, including efforts to block the Pune administration and increase pressure on the government to act on the protesters’ concerns.

Protest gains national attention

The MPSC agitation has also begun attracting attention beyond Maharashtra. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has posted about the protest on social media on two occasions, drawing national attention to the students’ demands.

According to the protesters, Rahul Gandhi may also visit Pune to extend his support to the ongoing agitation.

‘MPSC is dead’: Protesters stage symbolic cremation after 72 hours

The protest took a dramatic turn on October 6, as the hunger strike completed 72 hours.

MLA Rohit Pawar, along with student protesters and other leaders, staged a symbolic cremation ceremony of the MPSC as a form of protest against what they described as the Commission’s failure to address students’ concerns.

Explaining the symbolism behind the act, Pawar said that the protest was based on the argument that, as per a Supreme Court order, a deceased person is to be cremated after 72 hours. He said the protesters were using the act symbolically to convey that the students’ faith and hope in the existing MPSC system had also “died”.

The dramatic visuals from the protest subsequently drew significant public attention.

Rohit Pawar warns administration over health reports

Concerns over the health of students observing the hunger strike also became a major issue at the protest site.

While addressing the gathering, Rohit Pawar called for government doctors to examine the protesting students. He alleged that a doctor, Dr. Shashikant Kadam, who examined some of the students on hunger strike, recorded blood sugar levels below 80.

Pawar alleged that these readings differed by around 10–20 points from figures recorded by government medical teams.

Questioning the discrepancy, Pawar warned the administration that if any student on hunger strike suffered serious health complications, the government and administration would be held accountable.

The allegations regarding the medical readings and the responsibility of the administration remain contested and would require verification from the respective medical authorities.

Students continue their agitation

With the protest entering its fourth day, the students continue to demand action on examination transparency, recruitment procedures, alleged paper-leak controversies, administrative reforms and accountability within the MPSC.

The growing political involvement and national attention have increased pressure on the Maharashtra government to respond to the protesters’ demands and bring the agitation to a resolution.