MES Recruitment Crisis: Candidates End Pune Protest, Await Defence Ministry Decision

Pune, 24th April 2026: An indefinite protest in Pune over the prolonged delay in the final merit list of the Military Engineer Services (MES) recruitment was called off following police intervention, marking a tense face-off between candidates and local authorities.

The protest began on April 22 outside the Southern Command headquarters, with candidates from across the country demanding the immediate release of results for the posts of Barrack Supervisor (B/S) and Draughtsman under Advertisement No. Advt/DR/SS(2)/2021/CEPZ.
Recruitment Completed, Results Still Pending
Official records show that the recruitment process began in 2021, with all major stages completed within the same year.

According to documents from Headquarters Chief Engineer, Southern Command:
The advertisement was issued on March 22, 2021.
The written examination was conducted on August 29, 2021.
Document verification was held between October 20 and November 23, 2021.
Despite the completion of all stages, the final merit list remains undeclared even after five years, leaving thousands of candidates in uncertainty.

Defence Ministry Ban Stalled Process

The delay has been attributed to a recruitment embargo imposed by the Ministry of Defence.

According to official communication, “The merit list was not formulated as a ban on recruitment was enforced by the Government of India, Department of Defence, dated July 15, 2022.”

Officials clarified that MES functions only as an executing agency and cannot proceed without clearance from higher authorities.

Thousands of Candidates Affected

RTI data highlights the scale of the issue:
A total of 10,521 applications were received.
As many as 7,025 candidates completed registration.

The vacancies included 114 posts for Draughtsman and 462 posts for Barrack Supervisor.
Candidates from multiple states who completed the entire process years ago continue to be affected.

Repeated Protests and Assurances

The issue has been raised multiple times. A previous protest was held on January 19, 2026, in Pune, where candidates met officials and demanded the release of results. Authorities had then cited the ongoing embargo.
The matter was also escalated to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who met candidates on September 12, 2024, and assured them that the issue was under consideration. However, no final resolution has been reached so far.

Police Action Leads to Protest Closure

Ahead of the protest, Pune Police had issued a notice cautioning against disruption of public order. During the protest, police action intensified. According to candidates, protest coordinator Sokes Wankhede, a local applicant, was warned of legal action if the demonstration continued.

Authorities also reportedly targeted individual organisers to enforce compliance, and permission for the protest was subsequently revoked.
A fresh order issued by Pune Police led to the closure of the demonstration, following which the protest was called off.

Candidates Voice Frustration

Candidates expressed disappointment over both the delay and the manner in which the protest ended.

Deepak, a candidate from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, said, “Everything was completed in 2021 — exam, verification, all formalities. But even after five years, the result has not been declared. Our careers are stuck.”

Protest coordinator Sokes Wankhede said, “We were peacefully protesting for our rights. Instead of resolving the issue, pressure was put on us to stop. Candidates are mentally and financially affected.”

Key Demands Remain Unresolved

Despite the protest being called off, candidates continue to demand the immediate declaration of the final merit list, transparency in the recruitment process, and accountability for the prolonged delay.

Responding to the issue, Ankush Chavan, PRO, Defence Pune, said, “The recruitment process for Draughtsman and Supervisor posts in the Military Engineer Services was initiated by the Ministry of Defence, with HQ CESC entrusted to conduct the examination, which was duly held on August 29, 2021. However, prior to the declaration of results, the Ministry imposed an embargo on the recruitment process vide its order dated July 15, 2022. At present, all related documents remain sealed in compliance with the directive, and the matter has been formally taken up with the Ministry of Defence for further guidance. Necessary action will be taken strictly in accordance with the directions received. We request all concerned candidates to remain patient, as the process is subject to policy-level decisions at the Ministry.”

The issue remains unresolved, with candidates awaiting further action from authorities after years of uncertainty.