Maharashtra defers Nashik, Konkan kotwal recruitment exam to January 17, 2027

The Revenue and Forest Department of the Maharashtra government has issued a revised schedule for the recruitment of revenue servants (kotwals). The drive is for more than 2,912 posts in the state. The written examination for the Nashik and Konkan divisions, scheduled for November 15, has been postponed and will now be held on January 17, 2027.

As of August 31, 2026, more than 2,912 kotwal posts are vacant in different districts of the state. The government had sanctioned the recruitment as a "special item" to fill them. Under the earlier plan, appointment letters were to be given to selected candidates by November 28, 2026.

However, the model code of conduct came into force after elections to the Legislative Council's graduates' and teachers' constituencies were announced. Recruitment in four divisions, Nagpur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Pune, had already been halted for this reason. Only Nashik and Konkan divisions were going ahead, with the examination due on November 15.

There are two reasons for the postponement. First, on November 5, 2026, the General Administration Department decided to relax the upper age limit for recruitment to Group A to Group D government posts. It was not clear whether the relaxation applies to the kotwal post, so the Revenue Department has sought the General Administration Department's opinion. Holding the examination before that opinion arrives is not appropriate.

Second, the examinations for all divisions have to be held at the same time, and not one division's earlier and another's later. For this reason, Sanjay Bankar, joint secretary in the Revenue Department, issued a letter on November 12 informing all district collectors that the November 15 examination for Nashik and Konkan is being postponed.

The new schedule is as follows:

Listing of vacant posts taluka-wise: November 23 to November 30, 2026.

Preparing the roster: December 1 to December 15, 2026.

Constitution of the recruitment committee: December 15, 2026.

Period for publication of the advertisement: December 16 to December 31, 2026.

Scrutiny of applications: January 1 to January 7, 2027.

Making admit cards available: January 8 to January 15, 2027.

Written examination: January 17, 2027.

Announcement of answer key and results: January 18, 2027.

Verification of documents: January 18 to January 25, 2027.

Distribution of final appointment letters: January 26, 2027.

Thus the advertisement will come first, followed by scrutiny of applications and then the issue of hall tickets, with the examination on January 17. The answer key and results will follow the next day, January 18. Documents will be verified between January 18 and 25, and appointment letters will finally be distributed on January 26, Republic Day.

The government has directed the district collectors concerned to inform all candidates of the postponement immediately, so that no one travels to an examination centre on November 15 and has to return. The letter also says candidates will be informed once the General Administration Department's opinion on the age relaxation is received.