The educated unemployment situation in Maharashtra is not just bad, it is really really bad. The extent of it came to light when the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently invited applications for the post of five porters. To their surprise over 2,500 people applied for the grade D post. What is even more shocking was that the applicants included five candidates with MPhils, 253 postgraduates and 984 graduates among the applicants.

For a post which the qualification required was just Class IV pass, only 177 have had an education less than SSC. The MPSC, which initially was planning to hold interviews for the job, has now decided to hold a state level written exam because of the sheer number of applicants. The exam will be held in August.

"Why would a degree holder want to become a porter? Unemployment probably makes them think something is better than nothing," Counsellor Vivek Velankar said.

Maharashtra is not an isolated case when it comes to highly qualified candidates applying for jobs far below their qualification.

For a post which the qualification required was just Class IV pass, only 177 have had an education less than SSC. The MPSC, which initially was planning to hold interviews for the job, has now decided to hold a state level written exam because of the sheer number of applicants. The exam will be held in August.

"Why would a degree holder want to become a porter? Unemployment probably makes them think something is better than nothing," Counsellor Vivek Velankar said.

Maharashtra is not an isolated case when it comes to highly qualified candidates applying for jobs far below their qualification.