Maharashtra Cabinet Amends Recruitment Policy: Reserved Category Candidates Using Relaxations Barred from Open Seats

In a landmark decision aimed at streamlining government recruitment, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a new policy stipulating that reserved category candidates who avail themselves of age, qualification, or experience relaxations will no longer be eligible to claim seats in the Open (General) category

Mumbai | May 15, 2026: The Maharashtra State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has cleared a pivotal policy regarding the appointment of reserved category candidates in competitive exams and government recruitment. Under the new regulations, any candidate from a reserved category who utilizes concessions such as age limit extensions, specific educational relaxations, or additional exam attempts will be restricted to their respective reserved quota. These candidates will be ineligible to transition into the “Open Category” pool, even if their merit scores are high.

This move comes as the total reservation in Maharashtra has reached approximately 72%, significantly shrinking the available pool for General category aspirants. The state government noted that the lack of a clear policy on “migrating” candidates had led to increased competition and legal ambiguity. The new policy aligns Maharashtra with the recruitment standards followed by the Central Government and the State of Gujarat.

The Cabinet clarified the “Equal Opportunity” criteria, stating that candidates who participate in the selection process without taking any eligibility relaxations (applying under General standards for age and qualification) will still be allowed to claim seats in the Open category based on merit. However, the moment a candidate invokes a relaxation provided by the state specifically for their category, they are legally categorized within that reserved segment for the remainder of the recruitment cycle.

This decision follows directives from the Supreme Court, High Court, and the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), which had urged the state to formalize recruitment norms. The government believes this will bring much-needed transparency and consistency to the reservation system, ensuring that the limited open-category seats remain accessible to those competing without eligibility concessions.

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