Pune: Aspirants of the police sub-inspector exam conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) held a protest around 1am on Thursday in the Shastri Road area to protest the delay in publication of the recruitment advertisement and the resulting problem of age limit preventing many from attempting the test.The protesters have demanded the state govt provide immediate relief and grant a one-year relaxation in the age limit. Their argument stands that delay in the recruitment process has unfairly pushed many eligible candidates out of the race.Students sat on a stretch of Shastri Road — the area is a hub for aspirants of competitive exams — and raised slogans till the police came and dispersed them. Police cited the model code of conduct and the absence of prior permission for the agitation as the reason.MPSC officials said the demands would be studied for feasibility and a decision would be announced later.The protesters said the Maharashtra group B non-gazetted services combined preliminary examination 2025 advertisement was issued on July 29, 2025, nearly seven months late. The age limit is being calculated as of Nov 1, 2025, rendering many long-term aspirants overage.An aspirant said, “The age limit should be extended by at least one year and the cut-off date for age calculation should be Jan 1, 2025. If the advertisement was released on time, many more would have remained eligible.”A protesting student said, “We do not want special treatment, just justice for the delay which is not our fault.” Another said, “Many of us have dedicated our youth to MPSC preparations. Losing this opportunity because of administrative laxity is devastating.”A senior MPSC official said, “We will look into the demands of the students, study their requirements and take a decision accordingly.”The agitation drew political reactions. NCP (SP)’s Rohit Pawar criticised the govt for its handling of the issue. He posted on X: “The govt kept students in the dark for the last eight to 10 days regarding the age extension decision. As a result, students were forced to protest. I spoke to police officials and requested that no cases be registered that could affect the students’ future.”Prahar Janshakti Party president Bacchu Kadu warned the govt of intensified protests. He said, “Students have peacefully sought justice. If the govt does not take an immediate decision, I will join the students in their agitation until justice is served.”The Vishrambaug police on Friday registered a case on the charge of unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy and abetment of offence against 10 people for the late-night protest. “They staged an agitation without prior permission, despite there being an election code of conduct in place,” an officer from the Vishrambaug police told TOI.
