MPSC Cancels Drug Inspector Recruitment After Probe Finds Prima Facie Evidence of Malpractice

Mumbai, 26th August 2026: The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has cancelled the entire recruitment process for the post of Drug Inspector, Group-B, in the Food and Drug Administration Department following complaints of malpractice in the screening examination and a preliminary police inquiry.

The MPSC had issued Advertisement for the recruitment on July 29, 2025. The screening examination was conducted offline on March 22, 2026, at examination centres located at the state’s six divisional headquarters. The result was declared on June 12, following which 506 candidates were found eligible for interviews.

Of these, interviews of 488 candidates were conducted between July 1 and July 22. After the interviews were completed on July 22, the commission published a provisional general merit list comprising 488 candidates, including 485 candidates found eligible for the post and three declared ineligible.

Meanwhile, the commission received complaints by email between July 22 and July 26 from some candidates and public representatives alleging malpractice in the March 22 screening examination.

According to the complaints, some candidates had allegedly received the question paper or questions on March 20, two days before the examination, and the material was subsequently circulated through social media and other electronic platforms.

Taking the seriousness and sensitivity of the complaints into consideration, the MPSC lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner on July 27, seeking an inquiry into the allegations.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Mumbai Police Commissioner’s Office, subsequently submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the MPSC. According to the report, there appeared to be prima facie evidence that one candidate had received the question set and benefited from it.

In view of the findings, the MPSC said it had decided to cancel the recruitment process to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, transparency and fairness of its examinations and maintain the confidence of candidates in the commission.

The commission will now conduct a fresh examination for the Drug Inspector, Group-B post. Candidates who had applied for the earlier examination will not have to apply again or pay any examination fee. A separate notification regarding the re-examination will be issued by the commission.