MPSC Civil Services Prelims 2024 Postponed: New Date Set for December After Exam Clash and Protests
MPSC Prelims 2024 Shifted After Exam Date Clash and Protests
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Civil Services Prelims this year, you probably noticed it’s been a moving target. The exam, first set for July 21, was pushed to August 25, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Now, the big update: it’s rescheduled to December 1, 2024.
Why all the shuffling? The main culprit is a date clash with the IBPS Clerk recruitment exam, a major national-level competition for banking jobs, which was also scheduled for August 25. This overlap left many aspirants in a bind—study for one exam and skip the other, or attempt both and risk not performing well in either. Aspiring civil servants and bank clerks, faced with this choice, weren’t happy. In fact, protests broke out across Pune, where students and candidates took to the streets to demand a fair chance at both opportunities.
This wasn’t just a bunch of students venting. The protests gained political traction, drawing attention from some of Maharashtra’s heavyweights, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He stepped in, met with MPSC officials, and after a series of discussions, the commission finally agreed to move the exam to a later date.
What’s Next for MPSC Candidates?
The new date for the MPSC Civil Services Prelims is now December 1, 2024. That gives candidates a few extra months to prepare, but it also shakes up the rest of the schedule. According to officials, the results are expected in March 2025. The Main exam is on the agenda for April 2025, so the timeline is tighter than usual for those advancing past the prelims.
But the protests haven’t just been about the exam date. The student movement also put the spotlight on recruitment in other government departments. Protesters demanded that the hiring of 258 agricultural department posts should go through the MPSC process, arguing it ensures transparency and equal opportunity. Their cause found a high-profile supporter in NCP leader Sharad Pawar, adding more political fuel to the debate.
This year’s shifting exam calendar highlights the growing problem of overlapping recruitment schedules—something that’s become more common as state and national agencies churn out announcements. With more young people pinning their career hopes on competitive exams in Maharashtra, any clash or confusion can set off a wave of anxiety, forcing authorities to take a closer look at how planning happens.
For now, hopeful civil servants in Maharashtra have a clear date to aim for. And with political heavyweights watching, there’s a good chance student voices will keep echoing in recruitment decisions down the road.