Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Backs Maharashtra Students Amid MPSC Trust Crisis
Thousands of students in Maharashtra are protesting about exams, jobs and living conditions.
Rahul Gandhi said they no longer trust the system.
He mentioned alleged leaked papers, delayed hiring and expensive education.
He also raised concerns about unsafe hostels, poor food and problems with government benefit payments.
Gandhi blamed BJP-led governments and asked them to act quickly.
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission is facing an investigation into an alleged Drug Inspector exam paper leak.
Police have arrested several people in that case.
The Maharashtra government has created a committee to improve how recruitment exams are conducted.
Tribal students and job seekers also protested over hostels, safety and examination problems.
Rahul Gandhi said thousands of Maharashtra students are protesting because their trust in the wider system has been shattered.
He linked their grievances to alleged paper leaks, stalled recruitment, high education costs, poor hostels and direct-benefit-transfer fraud.
Gandhi accused BJP-led governments of failing students and alleged that the Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s credibility had been damaged.
The Maharashtra government formed a high-level committee to review recruitment exams, including paper security, technology, malpractice prevention and grievances.
Mumbai Police arrested six people, and later detained Rutuja Patil, during an investigation into an alleged leak in the MPSC Drug Inspector examination.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra students, tribal students, job aspirants, the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Police.
- What
- Students protested over examination leaks, recruitment delays, hostel conditions and safety; Gandhi demanded action, while the state announced an examination-system review.
- When
- Gandhi made his comments on Sunday; the Drug Inspector screening exam was held on March 22, complaints were reported from July 22 to July 26, and six arrests were made on August 26.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including examination centres at six divisional headquarters; the police investigation involved Mumbai Police.
- Why
- Students cited alleged paper leaks, stalled recruitment, costly education, poor hostel conditions, safety concerns and examination credibility problems.
Student Grievances and Political Criticism
Government Examination Reform Response
Reason for the protests
Student Grievances and Political Criticism
Rahul Gandhi said the demonstrations reflect a wider collapse of trust, not just dissatisfaction with one examination or recruitment process, and blamed BJP-led governments for failing students.
Government Examination Reform Response
The Maharashtra government responded by reviewing the recruitment examination system and accepting key demands from protesting tribal students and job aspirants.
Maharashtra Public Service Commission
Student Grievances and Political Criticism
Gandhi alleged that the government had seized control of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission and destroyed its credibility.
Government Examination Reform Response
The reported government response focuses on improving examination procedures, security, agency coordination and grievance handling; the articles do not give a direct government reply to Gandhi’s allegation.
Drug Inspector examination
Student Grievances and Political Criticism
Candidates and public representatives alleged that questions or the examination paper reached some candidates before the March 22 test, undermining confidence in the process.
Government Examination Reform Response
Mumbai Police are investigating the alleged breach under the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Malpractices) Act, 2024, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, with several arrests reported.
- Political figure
- Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Protesters
- Thousands of students, including tribal students and job aspirants
- Main grievances
- Alleged paper leaks, stalled recruitment, education costs, hostel conditions, student safety and direct-benefit-transfer problems
- Exam under investigation
- The Maharashtra Public Service Commission Drug Inspector (Group-B) recruitment examination
- Exam details
- The offline screening examination was held on March 22 at six divisional headquarters; results were declared on June 12
- Police action
- Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch arrested six people on August 26 and later detained Rutuja Patil
- Government response
- Maharashtra established a high-level committee to make recruitment examinations more transparent, secure, reliable and candidate-friendly
