The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has cancelled the recruitment process for Drug Inspector, Group-B posts under the Food and Drug Administration Department, citing concerns over the integrity of the screening examination.
The recruitment advertisement, No. 116/2025, was issued on July 29, 2025. The screening examination was conducted offline on March 22, 2026, at examination centres located in six divisional headquarters across Maharashtra. The result was declared on June 12, 2026, with 506 candidates qualifying for interviews.
488 Candidates Appeared for Interviews
Following the screening examination, interviews were conducted between July 1 and July 22, 2026. After the interviews concluded on July 22, MPSC published a provisional general merit list containing 488 candidates, including 485 candidates found eligible and three candidates declared ineligible for the Drug Inspector post.
However, complaints were subsequently received regarding alleged irregularities in the March 22 screening examination. According to the complaints, some candidates had allegedly received the question paper/questions before the examination, on March 20, 2026, and the material was reportedly circulated through social media and other electronic platforms.
Police Investigation Initiated
Considering the seriousness and sensitivity of the allegations, MPSC submitted a complaint to the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, on July 27, 2026, requesting an investigation into the complaints.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Mumbai Police Commissionerate, subsequently submitted a preliminary inquiry report to MPSC. According to the report, the investigation found, at the preliminary stage, that one candidate had received the questions and benefited from them.
Entire Recruitment Process Cancelled
In view of the concerns surrounding the confidentiality, integrity, transparency and fairness of the examination process, MPSC has decided to cancel the recruitment process conducted under the original advertisement for the Drug Inspector, Group-B posts.
The decision is aimed at protecting the credibility of the recruitment process and maintaining the confidence of candidates appearing for MPSC examinations.
Fresh Examination to Be Conducted
MPSC has announced that a fresh examination will be conducted for the Drug Inspector, Group-B posts under the Food and Drug Administration Department.
Candidates who had applied under the earlier recruitment will not be required to submit a fresh application. The Commission has also clarified that no examination fee will be charged for the re-examination. A separate official notification containing details of the fresh examination will be issued by MPSC.
The announcement was issued by MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar from Navi Mumbai on August 25, 2026.
