Maharashtra gives one-time one-year age relaxation for government jobs; Group C posts may top 16,000

Pune: The Maharashtra government has given candidates applying for government jobs through competitive examinations a one-time relaxation of one year in the upper age limit. A high-level committee has also recommended that the number of posts in the MPSC Group C Services Combined Preliminary Examination 2026 be raised from just over 5,000 to more than 16,000. About 12 lakh candidates have applied for the examination.

The age relaxation comes through an order of the state's General Administration Department (GAD). It is a special arrangement, not a permanent change in the rules.

At present, the upper age limit for government jobs through competitive examinations is 38 years for open category candidates and 43 years for backward classes. After the relaxation, the limits will be 39 and 44 years.

The benefit will apply to recruitment advertisements issued after January 1, 2026, in which the selection process has not yet begun. It will also apply to advertisements issued up to December 31, 2027.

The relaxation is not limited to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). Other agencies that conduct government recruitment examinations will also have to follow it, including for posts whose service rules fix the age limit differently under a government order of April 25, 2016.

According to the GAD order, the earlier age limits under the service recruitment rules or the 2016 order will apply again from January 1, 2028.

The committee was constituted by a government notification (Shasanadesh) of September 4. After speaking to students and other stakeholders, it submitted an interim report on issues that needed urgent attention. Raising the posts to more than 16,000 is its recommendation. So far, advertisements have been issued for only just over 5,000 posts.

The committee has also asked the government to reopen applications for the Group C examination once more. This would let candidates who have become eligible because of the additional posts and the age relaxation apply.

On the format of the examination, the committee has said there should be no change in the pattern and syllabus of the Group C preliminary examination. It has also asked for the syllabus of the main examination for the newly added cadres to be announced as soon as possible.

To prevent paper leaks and cheating, the committee has suggested that the question paper preparation done so far be cancelled and fresh papers be prepared through a secure process. It has also called for strict security in the printing, storage and transport of question papers and OMR answer sheets.

For examination centres, the committee wants police deployment, CCTV cameras, signal jammers and trained staff.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who led the students' agitation on these demands, called the decision a victory for student unity. He said the increase of about 11,000 posts would help students across the state.