Mumbai, Sep 5: In a major step to improve transparency, security and public confidence in recruitment examinations, the Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the state’s recruitment examination system.

The decision follows a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on August 12, during which the state leadership called for a complete review of recruitment examination procedures. The General Administration Department (GAD) issued the Government Resolution (GR) constituting the committee on September 4. The move comes amid controversies surrounding question paper leaks in several competitive examinations conducted for government recruitment.

The newly formed committee is chaired by V. Radha, Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department. The seven-member panel comprises key administrative, security, technology, and academic leaders Sadanand Date — Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra State — Member, Virendra Singh — Secretary, Department of Information Technology & Artificial Intelligence — Member, Dr N Ramaswami — Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Department — Member Secretary, Pravin Gedam — Divisional Commissioner, Nashik Division — Member, Air Marshal Ajit Shankarrao Bhosale (Retd.), AVSM, VSM — Former Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) — Member and Prof Shyamprasad Karagadde — Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay — Member.

The committee has been tasked with conducting an end-to-end evaluation of how state recruitment examinations are conducted across various government departments, authorities, and testing agencies.

The committee will review existing mechanisms and proposing preventive, supervisory, and accountability measures to curb paper leaks, impersonation, collusion, and the use of unauthorised electronic devices, recommend robust measures for question paper creation, moderation, printing, digital distribution, transport custody, evaluation, and result declaration and suggest action plan to integrate advanced Information Technology, digital systems, authentication protocols, access controls, audit trails, and surveillance technology into the examination lifecycle.

In addition, the committee will define minimum standards for examination centres, including physical infrastructure, surveillance, security readiness, and staff management, visit every revenue division across Maharashtra to directly engage with candidates, students, educational institutions, and stakeholders and recommend institutional mechanisms for seamless coordination among District Collectors, Police Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, educational authorities, and testing agencies, alongside establishing effective grievance redressal systems.

According to the GR, the committee will also study successfully implemented examination models in other Indian states and foreign jurisdictions. The committee will submit its comprehensive final report and recommendations to the state government after completing direct and online consultations with stakeholders.

Mumbai: Setting an example of Hindu-Muslim unity in Mumbai, the Govinda Pathaks have offered the first salute at the entrance gate of the Astana of Maham Hazrat Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahim. The trustee of the dargah, Sohail Khandwani, said that this is the specialty of India that here everyone respects each other’s religion and the Maham Dargah is the cradle of Hindu-Muslim unity and unity. Everyone attends here without any discrimination, religion or nationality. This is the reason why the Govinda Pathaks offer salute here every year in the traditional way. This tradition has been established for centuries because India is a country of Sufi saints. In the backdrop of Gokul Ashtami Dahi Handi, the police have issued an alert at the Mumbai police station. The police used drones to monitor the Govinda Pathaks. The height of the dahi handi was also fixed. In addition, children were banned from participating in high dahi handi. The festival of Dahi Handi was celebrated with enthusiasm in Mumbai city and its suburbs. In view of this, the traffic police had also blocked the highways so that action could be taken against the violation of traffic rules. Under this, the traffic police has also taken action against the violation of traffic rules. Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti had claimed that strict security arrangements were made for Dahi Handi in Mumbai city. Accordingly, DCP Raj Tilak Roshan said that the police are fully prepared for Dahi Handi and the situation is also being monitored. Apart from this, surveillance is also being carried out using drones. DCP Raj Tilak Roshan has also appealed for compliance with the law on Dahi Handi. According to the information received from various government and BMC hospitals about the injured Govindas till noon, more than 25 Govinda Pathaks have been injured while the Dahi Handi festival is still going on. In such a situation, BMC hospitals are constantly on alert mode, along with the police, there is also an alert. No untoward incident of any kind took place during Dahi Handi in Mumbai, however, there have been incidents of Govinda Pathaks getting injured and many have been discharged after treatment. Govinda Pathaks gave the first salute from the Astana of Mumbai’s Maham Hazrat Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahayami and presented proof of Hindu-Muslim unity and solidarity. This Govinda Mandal raises the slogan of Baba Makhdoom and Maa Sahib ki Jai every year by giving the salute at the Astana of Makhdoom in the same style. This is a slap in the face of the haters. It promotes solidarity and unity. The police had made strict security arrangements at Dahi Handi, due to which no untoward incident of any kind took place in Mumbai.

New Delhi, Sep 5: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday lashed out at the Congress, accusing it of being “anti-Scheduled Caste” and “anti-women” after a Dalit woman MLA of the party was allegedly assaulted by Congress’ own workers in Kerala.

Posting a video of the purported incident on his official X account, Bhandari took a jibe at the grand old party, saying: “Congress smashing the patriarchy in Kerala.”

The BJP leader was referring to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Smash the Patriarchy’ remark at his ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Pune.

“Their own Dalit woman MLA, Remya Haridas, attacked by own Congress workers,” Pradeep Bhandari said.

Accusing the grand old party, the BJP leader also added: “Congress is ‘Anti-SC’, ‘Anti Women’!”

Earlier on Saturday, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi had also targeted Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Smash the Patriarchy’ remark, while referring to the low number of women Ministers in states ruled by the Congress and the removal of a woman Minister (Konda Surekha) from the Telangana Cabinet.

“By shouting ‘Smash Patriarchy, Smash Patriarchy’, they (Congress) are removing women Ministers one by one. On the other hand, highest number of women Ministers in India’s history are serving in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government,” Trivedi said during a press conference.

During the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Pune on August 22, Rahul Gandhi had called women as the greatest strength of the nation.

“You are this country’s foundation, its future. Patriarchy crushes you, frightens you, controls you. We must work together to dismantle this patriarchy. Smash the patriarchy. My message to you, a simple message: be loud, be proud and fight for your space in society,” the Lok Sabha LoP said.

He asserted that women do not belong to anyone but themselves and urged young women to “break the cage”.

Rahul Gandhi added that while many view the economy or the military as India’s main strength, he believes the nation’s biggest asset lies in the ideas and dreams of its 70 crore women.

He emphasised that women naturally possess higher sensitivity, gentleness, and empathy.

Moreover, the Congress MP had criticised traditional frameworks like Manusmriti for confining women to rigid roles (such as solely being identified as a daughter, wife, or mother), saying: “Women do not belong to any man; you belong only to yourselves.”