The Commissionerate of Integrated Child Development Service Scheme (ICDS), Maharashtra State, Navi Mumbai, under the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, has released a circular dated 05 August 2026 notifying revised eligibility criteria for the Departmental Promotion Examination for the post of Mukhyasevika (Supervisor or Head Worker) under the promotion quota. A total of 272 promotion-quota posts have been notified, along with additional vacancies that may arise before the examination result is declared. This exam is open only to currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra and is not a public recruitment. Eligible Sevikas must have completed 10 years of continuous regular service as on 01 January 2025, hold a degree from a statutory university, and be aged not more than 50 years as on 01 January 2025. The age limit was revised upward from 45 to 50 years by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court order dated 08 May 2026, confirmed by Government Decision dated 03 July 2026. Applications are submitted online through the TCS-ION portal and the last date is 21 August 2026.
Important Note: Three things every eligible Sevika must act on before 21 August 2026. First, this notification is addressed to serving Anganwadi Sevikas only – no one outside the ICDS Maharashtra department can apply regardless of qualification. If you are a serving Sevika who was previously ineligible because the age cap was 45 years, check your age now against the revised 50-year limit (you must have been born after 01 January 1975) – if you now qualify, this notification was specifically issued to bring you in. Second, the application opening date is not clearly legible in the notification due to handwritten corrections in the original document – if the portal is not yet open, contact your Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), who has been specifically instructed to inform all eligible Sevikas under their jurisdiction before applications are submitted. The CDPO is also responsible for obtaining your signed acknowledgment of the revised eligibility. Third, the Mukhyasevika appointment carries post-appointment qualification requirements that directly affect your increments – after selection, you must clear a computer proficiency certificate exam and a Marathi language exam within two years, and a Hindi language exam within three years. Annual increments and further promotion are withheld until these are completed. Know this before you apply.
ICDS Maharashtra Mukhyasevika Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Commissionerate of Integrated Child Development Service Scheme (ICDS), Maharashtra State, Navi Mumbai |
| Department | Women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra |
| Circular Date | 05 August 2026 |
| Post | Mukhyasevika (Supervisor or Head Worker) |
| Recruitment Type | Departmental Promotion Exam – for serving Anganwadi Sevikas only. Not open to the public |
| Total Vacancies | 272 (promotion quota) plus additional posts falling vacant before the exam result is declared |
| Who Can Apply | Currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra meeting all three eligibility conditions |
| Service Requirement | 10 years of continuous unbroken regular service as on 01 January 2025 |
| Educational Qualification | Degree from a statutory university |
| Age Limit | Not more than 50 years as on 01 January 2025 (born after 01 January 1975) |
| Age Limit Revised By | Nagpur Bench, Bombay High Court order dated 08 May 2026, confirmed by Government Decision dated 03 July 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online through TCS-ION portal |
| Application Fee | Not specified in the circular |
| Last Date | 21 August 2026 |
| Selection Process | Departmental promotion examination |
| Post-Appointment Requirement | Computer proficiency certificate within 2 years; Marathi language exam within 2 years; Hindi language exam within 3 years |
| Official Website | icds.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Circular Date | 05 August 2026 |
| Application Start Date | Not clearly legible in the notification; contact your CDPO to confirm |
| Last Date for Online Application | 21 August 2026 |
| Examination Date | To be announced |
Vacancy Details
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Mukhyasevika (Promotion Quota) | 272 |
| Additional posts falling vacant before the exam result is declared | As arise (exact number not specified in the circular) |
Division-wise or category-wise vacancy breakup is not specified in the provided circular. Vacancies are across ICDS units in Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati and Nagpur divisions of Maharashtra.
Why This Notification Was Issued – Legal Context
The original eligibility rule (Recruitment Rule 7(1) under the notification dated 04 June 2021) prescribed a maximum age of 45 years for this departmental promotion exam. The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, in its order dated 08 May 2026, set aside this 45-year cap. Following the High Court order, the Government of India issued a decision on 03 July 2026 and the Commissionerate issued further instructions on 10 October 2025, revising the age cap to 50 years as on 01 January 2025. The circular dated 05 August 2026 gives effect to these decisions and brings in all Sevikas between 45 and 50 years of age who were previously excluded.
Eligibility Criteria
All three conditions below must be met simultaneously. A Sevika who fails any one condition is not eligible.
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Employment Status | Must be a currently serving Anganwadi Sevika of ICDS Maharashtra |
| Service | Must have completed 10 years of continuous, unbroken, regular service as an Anganwadi Sevika as on 01 January 2025 |
| Education | Must hold a degree from a statutory university |
| Age | Must not have exceeded 50 years as on 01 January 2025, i.e., must have been born after 01 January 1975 |
Outside candidates cannot apply. This is exclusively a departmental promotion recruitment for serving ICDS Maharashtra Anganwadi Sevikas.
Post-Appointment Qualification Requirements
After appointment as Mukhyasevika, the selected candidate must:
| Qualification | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Computer Proficiency Certificate Exam | Must be passed within 2 years of joining |
| Marathi Language Exam | Must be passed within 2 years of joining |
| Hindi Language Exam | Must be passed within 3 years of joining |
Annual increment and further promotion are withheld until these post-appointment qualifications are completed. These are mandatory conditions of service, not optional.
Application Fee
Not specified in the circular. Eligible Sevikas should contact their CDPO or the TCS-ION portal for details.
Selection Process
Selection is through a Departmental Promotion Examination for eligible Anganwadi Sevikas within the promotion quota. The detailed exam pattern, syllabus and further selection stages are not specified in this circular. CDPOs are directed to refer to the Commissionerate’s earlier general instruction letter (Reference Letter No. 7) for procedural details.
Role of CDPO (Child Development Project Officers)
CDPOs across Maharashtra have been specifically instructed to:
- Bring the revised eligibility criteria (especially the new 50-year age limit) to the notice of all serving Sevikas under their jurisdiction before applications are submitted
- Obtain a signed acknowledgment from each Sevika confirming they have been informed of the revised criteria
- Preserve these signed acknowledgments at the office level
Eligible Sevikas who have not received information from their CDPO should proactively approach their CDPO’s office.
How to Apply for ICDS Maharashtra Mukhyasevika 2026
- Visit the official ICDS Maharashtra website – Click Here – for any general information on the departmental exam.
- Contact your Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) to confirm the application start date, as it is not clearly legible in the official notification.
- Visit the TCS-ION online application portal – Click Here – and navigate to the ICDS Maharashtra Mukhyasevika 2026 application form.
- Fill in all required details accurately.
- Upload supporting documents as required.
- Submit the application before 21 August 2026.
Applications are accepted online only through TCS-ION. No physical application is accepted.
Important Instructions
- This is a departmental promotion exam. Only currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra are eligible. Outside candidates cannot apply.
- The age limit has been revised from 45 to 50 years by High Court order and Government Decision. Sevikas who were earlier ineligible due to the 45-year cap should check if they now qualify under the 50-year limit.
- The service count of 10 years is reckoned as on 01 January 2025, not as on the application date.
- The application start date is not clearly legible in the notification due to handwritten corrections. Contact your CDPO or check the TCS-ION portal directly.
- After appointment, computer proficiency, Marathi and Hindi language exams are mandatory within prescribed timeframes. Annual increments and further promotion are withheld until these are cleared.
- CDPOs are responsible for informing eligible Sevikas and must obtain signed acknowledgments. If not informed, contact your CDPO proactively.
- All further updates are published on icds.gov.in and through the ICDS divisional offices.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (TCS-ION Portal) | Click Here |
| Official Circular PDF | Click Here |
| ICDS Maharashtra Official Website | Click Here |
ICDS Maharashtra Mukhyasevika Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. What is ICDS Maharashtra Mukhyasevika Recruitment 2026?
✅ It is a circular dated 05 August 2026 from the Commissionerate of ICDS, Maharashtra State, Navi Mumbai under the Women and Child Development Department, notifying revised eligibility criteria for the Departmental Promotion Examination for the post of Mukhyasevika (Supervisor) under the promotion quota. 272 promotion-quota posts plus additional vacancies are available. This is open only to currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra.
Q2. Can anyone outside ICDS Maharashtra apply?
✅ No. This is a departmental promotion exam exclusively for currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra. Candidates outside the department cannot apply under any circumstances.
Q3. What are the three conditions that must all be met to be eligible?
✅ All three must be true simultaneously: 10 years of continuous unbroken regular service as an Anganwadi Sevika as on 01 January 2025; holding a degree from a statutory university; and age not more than 50 years as on 01 January 2025 (i.e., born after 01 January 1975). A Sevika failing even one of these three conditions is not eligible.
Q4. Why was the age limit changed from 45 to 50 years?
✅ The earlier cap of 45 years under Recruitment Rule 7(1) of the notification dated 04 June 2021 was set aside by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in its order dated 08 May 2026. Following this, the Government issued a decision on 03 July 2026 revising the age cap to 50 years as on 01 January 2025.
Q5. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 21 August 2026. The application start date is not clearly legible in the official circular due to handwritten corrections. Contact your CDPO to confirm when the TCS-ION portal went live for applications.
Q6. What must I do after being appointed as Mukhyasevika?
✅ After appointment, you must pass a computer proficiency certificate exam and a Marathi language exam within 2 years of joining, and a Hindi language exam within 3 years of joining. Annual increments and further promotion are withheld until all three are cleared. These are mandatory service conditions, not optional.
Q7. What is the role of my CDPO in this process?
✅ CDPOs have been officially directed to inform all serving Sevikas under their jurisdiction about the revised eligibility, obtain signed acknowledgments from each Sevika, and preserve these at the office. If your CDPO has not informed you, approach the CDPO office directly.
Q8. How many posts are available?
✅ 272 under the promotion quota, plus additional posts that fall vacant before the examination result is declared. The exact number of additional posts is not specified in the circular. Division-wise breakup is not given; vacancies are across all six ICDS divisions in Maharashtra.
Q9. What is the selection process?
✅ A Departmental Promotion Examination. The detailed exam pattern, syllabus and stage-wise selection process are not specified in this circular; CDPOs are directed to follow the Commissionerate’s earlier general instruction letter (Reference Letter No. 7) for procedural details.
Q10. Where do I apply?
✅ Online only, through the TCS-ION portal engaged by the ICDS Commissionerate. There is no physical application. Contact your CDPO for the direct application link or visit icds.gov.in for updates.
Disclaimer
The information above relates to the circular dated 05 August 2026 issued by the Commissionerate of Integrated Child Development Service Scheme, Maharashtra State, Navi Mumbai, under the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, for the Departmental Promotion Examination for the post of Mukhyasevika (Supervisor), as hosted on the official TCS-ION government portal. This is a departmental recruitment restricted to currently serving Anganwadi Sevikas of ICDS Maharashtra and is not open to the public. The age limit revision from 45 to 50 years was ordered by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on 08 May 2026 and confirmed by Government Decision dated 03 July 2026. The application opening date is not clearly legible in the circular due to handwritten corrections; eligible Sevikas must contact their CDPO for the exact date. Post-appointment computer, Marathi and Hindi language exams are mandatory service conditions. The official circular PDF on the TCS-ION portal and icds.gov.in are the sole authoritative sources. All links above lead only to the official ICDS Maharashtra website and the TCS-ION government portal.
