Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that all future promotions to the post of Sub-Inspector (Group-C) in the State Excise Department will be made entirely—100 per cent—from the ranks of jawans. He added that any decision regarding the ongoing recruitment process through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination will be taken based on the opinion of the Law and Judiciary Department.

Pawar stated that the government is currently reviewing a proposal to amend the service entry rules to ensure jawans are prioritised for promotion to Sub-Inspector posts. In the future, recruitment to these posts will follow a 50:50 ratio—through nomination and promotion respectively. However, all promotional vacancies will be filled exclusively by personnel from the jawan cadre.

Under the present system, 25 per cent of Sub-Inspector posts are filled through direct promotion, 25 per cent via the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, and 50 per cent through nomination. Of the 25 per cent filled via the examination, 80 per cent of posts are allotted to jawans and 20 per cent to clerks. This results in only 5 per cent of the total Sub-Inspector positions being occupied by clerical staff. Additionally, eligibility for the role requires meeting physical fitness standards. Going forward, no clerical staff will be promoted to Sub-Inspector posts.