Before anything else, a number worth clarifying directly: this recruitment’s vacancy count has moved during the cycle itself, and different sources currently report different totals — some cite 1,040, others 1,700, and some (including the figure this article was requested against) cite roughly 1,590+.
Here’s what’s actually traceable: MPESB’s Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board released the original Group-3 Combined Recruitment notification on 18 August 2026 for 1,040 posts, with applications running 18 August to 1 September. That notification was then revised
— a second, expanded version increased the count to 1,700 posts, with a fresh application window running 29 August to 12 September 2026 and the exam pushed to 7 October. Given this revision history, don’t treat any single number as final without checking the current official rulebook PDF on esb.mp.gov.in — the total has genuinely changed once already this cycle, and a further correction isn’t out of the question.
As of today, the revised application window is open and closes in about a week — 12 September 2026. The exam itself is scheduled to begin 7 October 2026, running across multiple shifts.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal |
| Advertisement | Group-3 Combined Recruitment Test 2026 (revised/second notification) |
| Posts | Sub Engineer (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical), Draughtsman, Laboratory Technician, Surveyor, Mineral Servant, Technical Assistant, Computer Operator, Assistant Town Planner (GIS), and other equivalent posts |
| Total Vacancies | Reported as 1,700 in the revised notification; some sources cite ~1,590+ — verify against the official rulebook |
| Job Location | Various departments across Madhya Pradesh (42+ departments/offices) |
| Application Window | 29.08.2026 – 12.09.2026 |
| Exam Date | From 07.10.2026, multiple shifts |
| Age Limit | 18–40/45 years (category-wise), as on 01.01.2026 |
| Official Website | esb.mp.gov.in |
Why the Vacancy Number Kept Changing — And What to Do About It
This is worth explaining rather than just flagging, because it changes how you should approach the application itself. MPESB opened its first Group-3 Combined Recruitment window on 18 August with 1,040 posts across roughly 13 paper codes/disciplines. Before that window even closed, a revised notification expanded the same recruitment cycle to 1,700 posts and reset the application timeline, pushing the deadline to 12 September and the exam to 7 October. Some coverage tracking this recruitment continues to cite figures around 1,590, which may reflect either a partial revision, a specific department-wise subtotal, or simply outdated reporting that hasn’t caught up with the latest revision.
The practical lesson here: don’t rely on the headline number in any single article, including this one, as gospel. Open the current rulebook PDF on esb.mp.gov.in directly, check the post-wise, department-wise breakdown for your specific discipline (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, or whichever paper code applies to you), and confirm the number against that primary source before you finalize which post codes to select in your application.
Eligibility
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Diploma/Degree in the relevant Engineering branch (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electronics & Telecommunication, etc.), or ITI in related trades — specific qualification varies by post code |
| Minimum Class | At least First Class from a recognized university/board, for most posts (verify against your specific post code) |
| Age | 18–40 years generally, as on 1 January 2026, with category-wise variation up to 45 years for some reserved/PwBD categories |
| Domicile | Madhya Pradesh domicile required for reduced fee category; verify residency conditions per post |
Given how many post codes and disciplines fall under this single combined notification — 13 separate paper codes by one account — don’t assume your qualification automatically maps to a specific post the way it might in a single-post recruitment. Check the exact qualification listed against your target post code in the rulebook, since requirements vary meaningfully between, say, a Sub Engineer (Civil) post and a Computer Operator post within the same combined drive.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (General) | ₹500 per question paper |
| MP-domicile SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Divyangjan | ₹250 per question paper |
| Direct Recruitment Backlog candidates | No fee |
| Portal fee (via Kiosk) | ₹60 |
| Portal fee (via Registered Citizen User login) | ₹20 |
Note the phrase “per question paper” — if you’re applying for posts spanning more than one paper code or discipline, the fee structure applies per paper, not as a flat one-time charge regardless of how many post preferences you list within a single paper.
Selection Process: Exam Pattern
Selection runs through a single online objective-type examination, 200 marks total, split into two sections:
| Section | Coverage | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics, General Reasoning, General Science, General Computer Knowledge | 100 |
| B | Subject/trade-specific questions based on your engineering/technical discipline | 100 |
Marking: +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer. There are 13 different paper codes based on discipline — you sit the paper matching your qualification and the post you’ve applied for, not a generic combined paper.
Why Your Raw Score Isn’t Your Final Score: NEP Normalization
Because this exam runs across multiple shifts to accommodate the large applicant pool, MPESB uses the Normalized Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling technique to compute final results rather than ranking candidates on raw marks directly. This matters practically the same way it does for any large multi-shift CBT: your raw score against the answer key is a rough estimate, not your actual standing. Two candidates with identical raw scores in different shifts could end up with different normalized percentiles depending on how their respective shift’s overall difficulty compared to others. Don’t calculate your rank purely from your raw marks once the answer key is out — wait for the normalized result.
Minimum qualifying marks: 50% for Unreserved candidates, 40% for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Divyangjan (a built-in 10% relaxation).
Reservation Structure
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Tribe | 20% |
| Scheduled Caste | 16% |
| OBC | 27% (subject to ongoing court order) |
| EWS | 10% |
| Women (horizontal) | 35% (except Forest Department posts) |
| Divyangjan (horizontal) | 6% |
| Ex-Servicemen, Class III (horizontal) | 10% |
Contractual employees with a minimum of 5 years’ continuous service are additionally eligible for 50% reservation within equivalent regular posts — a detail worth knowing if you’re currently working on a contractual basis in a matching role within MP government service.
Two Requirements Candidates Often Miss
Employment Office Registration: A live, current registration with the Employment Office of Madhya Pradesh State is mandatory for all candidates applying to this recruitment. This is easy to overlook if you assume MPESB’s own online application system is the only registration that matters — it isn’t. Check your Employment Office registration status before you get deep into the MPESB application itself.
Special tribal community candidates: If you belong to the Baiga, Sahariya/Saharya, or Bhariya tribal communities and are applying for non-executive posts, the process is different — you send a hard-copy application directly to the concerned department, not through the standard MPESB online portal. If this applies to you, don’t attempt the standard online route and expect it to work; follow the separate hard-copy process specified in the rulebook.
Document Verification and Biometric Checks
Shortlisted candidates go through original document verification by the concerned department before appointment, plus multi-level biometric verification (Aadhaar-based) at exam entry and during the exam itself. Aadhaar must be unlocked for this verification — a locked or inactive Aadhaar could cause entry issues on exam day, so check this ahead of time rather than discovering a problem at the centre. Only original photo ID (Voter ID, PAN, Aadhaar, Driving Licence, or Passport) is accepted at the exam hall; e-Aadhaar is valid only if it’s verifiable through UIDAI.
Salary During Probation
Selected candidates don’t start on full minimum pay immediately. Probation-period salary runs at 70% of the minimum pay scale in the first year, 80% in the second year, and 90% in the third year — full pay kicks in only after probation concludes. Factor this into your first three years’ financial planning if you’re selected, rather than assuming full scale pay from day one.
Waiting List and Its Validity
A waiting list covering 15% of total selected candidates is maintained. It stays valid for one year from the result declaration, or until a new exam’s result is declared — whichever comes first. If you land on the waiting list rather than the primary selection, your window for a possible call isn’t indefinite; track both your own waiting list status and whether a subsequent Group-3 cycle’s result has been announced, since either could close out your chance.
Objection Process for the Answer Key
Once the provisional answer key is published, candidates get 3 days to raise objections online, at a fee of ₹150 per question. For queries, MPESB lists a toll-free number (18002337899) and an email (complaint.esb@mp.gov.in).
Items Prohibited in the Exam Hall
Mobile phones, calculators, log tables, digital watches, Bluetooth devices, sunglasses, correction fluid/whitener, and all electronic devices are strictly barred from the exam hall — standard restrictions for MPESB’s CBT-style exams, worth double-checking before you leave for your centre so nothing prohibited ends up in your bag by accident.
How to Apply
- Visit esb.mponline.gov.in or esb.mp.gov.in.
- Read the official rulebook PDF carefully before starting your application.
- Fill in personal, educational, and category details.
- Upload your scanned photograph, signature, and handwritten declaration in the specified JPG format.
- Upload date of birth proof (8th/10th/12th marksheet), category certificate, and disability certificate, as applicable.
- Select your preference order across the post codes you’re eligible for.
- Pay the application fee online or through an MP Online Kiosk.
- Submit and note your application form number.
- Download and save your confirmation receipt.
No offline applications are accepted, except for the specific tribal-community exception noted above.
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 |
FAQs
Q1. Why do different sources report different vacancy totals for this recruitment — 1,040, 1,590, or 1,700?
MPESB revised this recruitment cycle upward from an original 1,040 posts to 1,700 in a second notification, with a reset application timeline. Some coverage still reflects the earlier figure or partial subtotals. Check the current official rulebook PDF on esb.mp.gov.in for the confirmed, up-to-date count before finalizing your post preferences.
Q2. My raw score after the exam looks strong against the answer key. Am I likely selected?
Not necessarily on raw score alone. Because the exam runs across multiple shifts, MPESB applies Normalized Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling to compute final results — your normalized percentile, not your raw marks, determines your actual standing.
Q3. I’m a contractual MP government employee in a matching role. Does that help my application?
Potentially, yes. Contractual employees with a minimum of 5 years’ continuous service are eligible for 50% reservation within equivalent regular posts under this recruitment.
Q4. Do I need to register anywhere besides the MPESB portal?
Yes. Live registration with the Employment Office of Madhya Pradesh State is mandatory for all applicants, separate from your MPESB application itself.
Q5. I belong to the Baiga, Sahariya, or Bhariya tribal community. Can I apply through the standard online portal?
For non-executive posts, no — the rulebook specifies a separate hard-copy application sent directly to the concerned department for these specific communities, rather than the standard MPESB online route.
Disclaimer: Dates, eligibility, fee, and selection process details above are drawn from MPESB’s official Group-3 Combined Recruitment Test 2026 notification and its subsequent revision. The total vacancy count shows a genuine discrepancy across available sources (1,040 original, reportedly revised to 1,700, with some sources citing ~1,590) and should be verified against the current official rulebook PDF before applying. No figures are otherwise estimated. The exam date (from 7 October 2026) and further vacancy confirmation remain subject to official updates as of 6 September 2026 — check the official source: esb.mp.gov.in.
