Maharashtra CTET Exam Set to Clash with Rescheduled Local Body Elections, Students Raise Concerns

Pune, 30th January 2026: The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) scheduled for February 7 in Maharashtra is set to coincide with the rescheduled District Council and Panchayat Samiti elections, raising concerns among students across the state. The elections were postponed by two days following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday.

Originally, polling for the elections was slated for February 5, but the State Election Commission adjusted the schedule after the government announced a one-day holiday and three days of mourning in Pawar’s memory. The revised dates now overlap with CTET, creating logistical challenges for students who are expected to both vote and appear for the exam. Many exam centers and polling stations are located far apart, making it difficult for students to fulfill both responsibilities.

“I am registered for the CTET, and my exam center is in Mumbai. On the same day, I am eligible to vote in my Panchayat Samiti and District Council constituency. How am I expected to do both? Many students like me will be unable to vote,” said one affected student

Mahesh Gharbude, President of the Competitive Exam Students Association, urged the state government to reschedule the CTET to ensure students are not forced to choose between exercising their voting rights and appearing for their examinations.

The upcoming elections cover 12 district councils and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra. The date clash has sparked concern among students and educational bodies, prompting calls for urgent administrative intervention to avoid depriving citizens of either their right to vote or the opportunity to sit for the CTET.