The MPESB Group 3 Recruitment 2026 has been announced by the Madhya Pradesh Employee Selection Board (MPESB) for the Combined Junior Service Eligibility Exam-2026 (द्वितीय) covering Sub Engineer, Cartographer, Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant and other equivalent posts across multiple Madhya Pradesh Government departments.
The recruitment is expected to cover around 1,590+ vacancies, with posts distributed across more than 130 post codes and departments such as Public Works, Water Resources, Rural Engineering Services and other technical offices.
Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the online mode from 29 August to 12 September 2026, while the correction facility will remain available until 17 September 2026.
The examination is scheduled to begin from 7 October 2026 and will be conducted as a 3-hour Computer Based Test (CBT) in multiple shifts. Since eligibility, educational qualification, pay level and vacancy details can vary considerably from one post code to another, candidates should carefully check the official MPESB Rule Booklet before selecting a post.
In this complete guide, you can check MPESB Group 3 Recruitment 2026 vacancy details, post codes, eligibility, educational qualification, age limit, application fee, exam pattern, syllabus, important dates, selection process, salary, application procedure and important instructions.
MPESB Group-3 Sub Engineer, Cartographer & Lab Technician Recruitment 2026 – Overview
Combined Junior Service Eligibility Exam (द्वितीय) — Sub Engineer, Cartographer, Lab Technician & Equivalent Posts | Multiple MP Government Departments
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organization Name | Madhya Pradesh Employee Selection Board (MPESB / मध्य प्रदेश कर्मचारी चयन मंडल), Bhopal |
| Recruitment Name | Group-3 Sub Engineer, Cartographer, Laboratory Technician & Other Equivalent Posts Combined Junior Service Eligibility Exam-2026 (द्वितीय) |
| Service Group | Group-03, Third Class (तृतीय श्रेणी) |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 1,590+ posts (Indicative — spread across 130+ separate department-wise post codes; exact consolidated total not stated as a single figure in the notification — refer official PDF for the precise post-code-wise count) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) — Online |
| Job Location | Various offices under Madhya Pradesh Government departments (PWD, Water Resources, Rural Engineering Services, and others) |
| Official Website | esb.mp.gov.in |
Understand This Recruitment First — It’s a Combined, Multi-Department Exam
This is NOT a single-department vacancy drive. MPESB has bundled vacancy requisitions received from dozens of Madhya Pradesh Government departments — Public Works Department (PWD), Water Resources Department, Rural Engineering Services, and many others — into one combined written examination under Group-03 (Sub Engineer, Cartographer, Laboratory Technician and equivalent posts). Each department’s vacancy batch is issued its own Post Code, with its own pay level, qualification requirement, and category-wise breakup. Candidates must check the post code relevant to their trade/qualification and department preference in the official Rule Booklet (परीक्षा संचालन एवं भर्ती नियमपुस्तिका) before applying, since eligibility and pay level differ significantly from one post code to another.
Important Dates 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 29 August 2026
- Online Application Last Date: 12 September 2026
- Application Correction Window Last Date: 17 September 2026
- Examination Start Date: 07 October 2026, Wednesday (onward, across multiple shifts/days)
Exam Day Shift Timings
| Shift | Reporting Time | Instructions | Exam Time |
| First (प्रथम) | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | 8:50 – 9:00 AM | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (3 hrs) |
| Second (द्वितीय) | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | 2:20 – 2:30 PM | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM (3 hrs) |
Note: Candidates arriving after the reporting window will not be permitted entry under any circumstances.
Age Limit (As on 01 January 2026)
| Category | Age Limit |
| General / Open Competition Candidates | 18 – 40 Years |
| MP Domicile SC/ST/OBC, Govt./Corporation/Board Employees, Home Guards, Women (Reserved/Unreserved) | 18 – 45 Years (includes 5-year relaxation in max. age) |
- No age relaxation is provided for EWS candidates as per General Administration Department order dated 02 February 2022.
- PwBD/Ex-Servicemen age relaxation will be as per prevailing General Administration Department orders/guidelines issued from time to time.
- In no case will the maximum age exceed 45 years for any category, after including all applicable relaxations (except contract employees and certain categories under Rule 14).
- Live registration at a Madhya Pradesh State Employment Office is mandatory for all posts.
Post Categories, Qualification & Pay Level
Eligibility, qualification and pay differ by trade/post code. The broad post categories and their typical pay levels are:
| Post Category | Typical Educational Qualification | Pay Level (7th CPC) |
| Sub Engineer (उपयंत्री) — Civil | Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognized institute (some post codes accept Higher Secondary + Diploma/Degree, min. 50%) | Level 8 (₹32,800 – ₹1,03,600) |
| Sub Engineer (उपयंत्री) — Electrical/Mechanical | Diploma in Electrical Engineering (minimum First Class) from a recognized university/board | Level 6 (₹25,300 – ₹80,500) |
| Cartographer / Draftsman (मानचित्रकार) | Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Cartography certificate, or recognized Diploma/Degree in Architecture with Cartography | Level 6 (₹25,300 – ₹80,500) |
| Assistant Architect Cartographer (GIS) | Degree in Architecture / Diploma in Architecture or Cartography from a recognized institute | Level 6 (₹25,300 – ₹80,500) |
| Laboratory Technician (प्रयोगशाला तकनीशियन) — various engineering trades | Diploma in the relevant Engineering trade (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Computer Science/Electronics & others) from a recognized institute | Level 5–6 (varies by post code) |
| Technical Assistant (तकनीकी सहायक) | Diploma in the relevant Engineering/Technical trade from a recognized institute | Level 5–6 (varies by post code) |
| Mechanical Assistant (Sub Engineer) | Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognized institute | Varies by post code |
Important: The exact qualification, pay level, and category-wise vacancy breakup for EACH post code is listed individually in the official Rule Booklet — candidates must verify their specific post code’s requirements (educational qualification, executive/non-executive nature, department) before applying, since these vary considerably even within the same broad post category.
Largest Vacancy Post Codes — Department-Wise Highlights
| Post Code | Department | Post | Vacancies |
| 124 | Water Resources Department (जल संसाधन विभाग) | Sub Engineer (Civil) | 379 |
| 120 | Rural Engineering Services (ग्रामीण यांत्रिकी सेवा) | Sub Engineer (Civil) | 290 |
| 020 | Public Works Department (लोक निर्माण विभाग) | Sub Engineer (Civil) | 225 |
| 131 | — (see official notification) | Sub Engineer (Electrical/Mechanical) | 70 |
| 037 | — (see official notification) | Sub Engineer (Civil) — Contract | 49 |
| 091 | — (see official notification) | Sub Engineer (Civil) | 48 |
| 088 | — (see official notification) | Assistant Architect Cartographer (GIS) | 38 |
| 132 | — (see official notification) | Cartographer | 35 |
Note: These are the largest single post codes identified in the notification. The remaining 100+ post codes carry smaller vacancy counts (mostly 1–30 posts each) spread across Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant and Cartographer positions in various engineering colleges, polytechnics and departmental offices across Madhya Pradesh.
Analytical Note: Sub Engineer (Civil) posts under just these top three post codes (124, 120, 020) alone account for close to 900 vacancies — more than half of the entire recruitment’s estimated total. Candidates with a Civil Engineering diploma have visibly better odds in this cycle than those in narrower trades like Cartography or single-post Laboratory Technician codes, where many post codes carry only 1–2 vacancies each.
Application Fee
| General/Unreserved Candidates (per exam) | ₹500/- |
| MP Domicile SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD Candidates (per exam) | ₹250/- |
| Direct Recruitment — Backlog Posts | No Fee |
| Portal Fee — via Kiosk/MP Online Centre | ₹60/- additional |
| Portal Fee — via Registered Citizen Login | ₹20/- additional |
Exam Pattern — Single Paper, 200 Marks
| Part | Subject | Marks |
| Part A (सामान्य ज्ञान) | General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics, General Reasoning, General Science & General Computer Knowledge | 100 |
| Part B (संबंधित विषय) | Trade/Subject-Specific Technical Questions (based on the post applied for — Civil/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Cartography, etc.) | 100 |
| Total | 200 Marks | |
- Mode: Computer Based (Online) Test
- Duration: 3 hours per shift
- Qualifying Marks: 50% for Unreserved (General) candidates; 40% (i.e. 10% relaxation) for SC/ST/OBC and PwBD candidates; 10% relaxation on qualifying marks also extended to EWS candidates as per state government circular dated 22 September 2022
- The eligible/qualifying candidates list only makes a candidate eligible — it does NOT guarantee appointment, which depends on actual demand raised by departments and fulfilment of all prescribed eligibility conditions
Important Exam Day Instructions
- Aadhaar registration is compulsory for all candidates
- Original photo ID proof is mandatory — candidates may carry one of: Voter ID, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence, or Passport (e-Aadhaar is valid only if verified by UIDAI)
- Multi-level biometric verification is mandatory at entry and during the exam — Aadhaar must be unlocked at the time of verification
- Candidates must carry a black ball-point pen and their downloaded admit card to the exam hall
- Strictly prohibited items: mobile phones, calculators, log tables, digital watches, sunglasses, and any unauthorized material — carrying these is a serious violation
- No candidate will be allowed to leave the exam room before the exam concludes
- Documents are NOT verified by MPESB at the application stage — verification is done later by the concerned recruiting department, so eligibility at the CBT stage is entirely provisional
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official MPESB website — esb.mp.gov.in
- Locate the link for “समूह-03 उपयंत्री, मानचित्रकार, प्रयोगशाला तकनीशियन एवं अन्य समकक्ष पद” Combined Recruitment Exam-2026
- Register/login (via MP Online Kiosk or Registered Citizen login) and fill in personal, educational and category details carefully
- Select your preferred Post Code(s) — candidates may indicate preference/priority among eligible post codes as per the Rule Booklet
- Upload photograph and required documents as per prescribed specifications
- Pay the applicable examination fee plus the MP Online portal fee (₹60 via Kiosk or ₹20 via Registered Citizen login)
- Submit the form and retain a printout/confirmation for future reference
- Use the Correction Window (till 17 September 2026) to fix any errors — verify all details carefully before the correction window closes
Special Provisions
- Candidates belonging to Madhya Pradesh’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (Baiga, Sahariya/Saharia, and Bharia) applying for non-executive posts must submit their application in hard copy directly to the concerned department (using Format-2 in the Rule Booklet) — NOT through MPESB — along with all necessary documents, by the application closing date; applications sent to MPESB by these candidates for non-executive posts will be treated as invalid.
- For executive posts, Baiga/Sahariya/Bharia candidates do NOT get exam exemption and must apply online as Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates like other ST applicants.
- Reservation benefits are applicable strictly as per Madhya Pradesh Government’s prevailing reservation policy for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen.
Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid
- Applying against a post code without checking its specific educational qualification, pay level, and department in the Rule Booklet — qualifications vary significantly between post codes even within the same broad trade
- Assuming that clearing the qualifying marks guarantees a job — final appointment depends entirely on actual department demand against each post code and fulfilment of all eligibility conditions
- Not completing live registration at a Madhya Pradesh State Employment Office — this is mandatory for all posts
- Carrying prohibited items (mobile phone, calculator, smartwatch) into the exam hall, which can lead to disqualification
- Missing the Correction Window (17 September 2026) — no further changes are possible once it closes
- Baiga/Sahariya/Bharia candidates applying online for non-executive posts instead of sending a hard-copy application directly to the concerned department
important links |
|
| Apply Online | click here (Active 29 Aug – 12 Sep 2026) |
| Download Official Rule Booklet PDF | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| firstjob24 | click here |
| join whatsapp channel | click here |
| subscribe on youtube | click here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is MPESB Group-3 Sub Engineer Recruitment 2026?
It is a combined online recruitment examination conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Employee Selection Board for Sub Engineer, Cartographer, Laboratory Technician and equivalent Group-03 (Third Class) posts, aggregating vacancy requisitions from multiple MP Government departments under separate post codes.
Q2. How many total vacancies are there?
The notification lists vacancies separately under 130+ individual post codes rather than one consolidated figure; based on the available post-code data the indicative total is approximately 1,590+ posts. Candidates should refer to the official Rule Booklet PDF for the exact department-wise and post-code-wise numbers.
Q3. Is there a single qualification for all posts?
No. Qualification requirements differ by post code — most require a relevant Engineering Diploma (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Science etc.), though some accept a Degree or Higher Secondary plus Diploma. Always check the specific post code’s requirement.
Q4. What is the exam pattern?
A single paper of 200 marks — Part A: General Knowledge/Hindi/English/Maths/Reasoning/Science/Computer Knowledge (100 marks), Part B: Subject/Trade-specific questions (100 marks). Duration is 3 hours per shift.
Q5. What are the qualifying marks?
50% for Unreserved candidates; 40% (10% relaxation) for SC/ST/OBC, PwBD, and EWS candidates.
Q6. Does qualifying the exam guarantee a job?
No. Only candidates on the eligible/qualifying list are considered, and even then, appointment depends on the concerned department raising actual demand for the post and the candidate fulfilling all prescribed eligibility conditions at the time of appointment.
Q7. Is MP domicile required?
The application fee concession and higher upper age limit (up to 45 years) apply specifically to Madhya Pradesh domicile SC/ST/OBC candidates and other specified categories — candidates should verify domicile-related conditions applicable to their post code in the Rule Booklet.