The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal has released the rule book for the Group-03 Sub Engineer, Draughtsman, Laboratory Technician and Other Equivalent Posts Combined Recruitment Test 2026 (Second), covering 1,700 vacancies across 48 departments and offices of the Madhya Pradesh Government under 132 post codes. Candidates holding a Diploma or Degree in the relevant engineering branch can apply online through MP Online from 29.08.2026 to 12.09.2026. The online examination begins on 07.10.2026.
⚡ QUICK FACTS
🎓 Eligibility
Diploma / Degree in Engineering
📌 Vacancies
1,700 Posts
💰 Salary
Rs. 22,100 – Rs. 1,03,600
📅 Last Date
12.09.2026
Recruitment Overview
| Post Name | Sub Engineer (Upyantri), Draughtsman (Manchitrakar), Laboratory Technician, Surveyor, Mineral Surveyor, Technical Assistant and other equivalent Group-03 posts (Post Codes 001 to 132) |
| Organization | Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB / M.P. Karmchari Chayan Mandal), Bhopal |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Group-03 Combined Recruitment Test 2026 (Second) – Rule Book updated 27.08.2026 (no separate advertisement number is stated in the notification) |
| Location | Madhya Pradesh |
| Total Vacancies | 1,700 (UR 628, EWS 146, SC 246, ST 254, OBC 426) |
| Qualification | Diploma or Degree in the relevant engineering branch; ITI certificate for Surveyor and ITI Draughtsman (Civil) posts – exact requirement varies by post code |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 years as on 01.01.2026 (up to 45 years for eligible categories – see the relaxation table below) Check your age eligibility → |
| Selection Process | Online Computer Based Test (200 marks) → Normalisation & percentile scoring → Merit / proficiency list → Document verification by the department → Appointment |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 22,100 to Rs. 1,03,600 per month (Pay Matrix Level 5 to Level 8, depending on the post) |
| How to Apply | Apply online only through MP Online; offline or postal applications are not accepted |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | esb.mp.gov.in / MP Online |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Updated rule book released | 27.08.2026 |
| Online application start date | 29.08.2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 12.09.2026 (up to 12:00 midnight) |
| Application correction window opens | 29.08.2026 |
| Last date for application correction | 17.09.2026 |
| Online examination date | 07.10.2026 (Wednesday) onwards |
| Age reckoned as on | 01.01.2026 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved and candidates from other states | Rs. 500/- per question paper |
| MP native SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwBD candidates | Rs. 250/- per question paper |
| Direct Recruitment – Backlog posts | Nil (no exam fee) |
| MP Online portal fee (form filled at a kiosk) | Rs. 60/- |
| MP Online portal fee (registered citizen user, self-filled) | Rs. 20/- |
| Correction fee (each time the form is corrected) | Rs. 20/- plus Rs. 40/- portal fee |
| Objection fee (per question, after the exam) | Rs. 150/- plus applicable charges |
Vacancy Details
Category-wise vacancies (all 132 post codes combined)
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 628 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 146 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 246 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 254 |
| Other Backward Class (OBC) | 426 |
| Total | 1,700 |
Department-wise vacancies (largest recruiting departments)
| Department / Office | Main Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Water Resources Department, MP, Bhopal | Sub Engineer (Civil / Electrical & Mechanical) | 486 |
| Office of Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department (PWD), Bhopal | Sub Engineer (Civil / Electrical) | 293 |
| Office of Chief Engineer, Rural Engineering Services (RES), MP, Bhopal | Sub Engineer | 290 |
| Office of Engineer-in-Chief, Public Health Engineering Department, Bhopal | Sub Engineer (Civil / Electrical & Mechanical) | 94 |
| Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Bhopal | Assistant Draughtsman & Sub Engineer | 64 |
| MP Urban Development Company Ltd., Bhopal | Sub Engineer (contract) | 49 |
| MP State Agriculture Marketing Board, Bhopal | Sub Engineer | 48 |
| Indore Development Authority, Indore | Sub Engineer (Civil / Electrical) | 44 |
| Bhopal Development Authority, Bhopal | Sub Engineer | 36 |
| Office of PCCF & Head of Forest Force, MP, Bhopal | Draughtsman | 35 |
| Tribal Affairs Department, MP, Bhopal | Sub Engineer (Civil) | 27 |
| Other 37 offices (government polytechnic and engineering colleges, development authorities, boards and directorates) | Laboratory Technician, Draughtsman, Technical Assistant, Surveyor and other posts | 234 |
| Total | 1,700 |
Note: The complete office-wise and post-code-wise breakup for all 132 post codes, including the reservation table for each post, is given in Chapter 2 (pages 15 to 97) of the official rule book linked below.
Pay scale by post group
| Post | Pay Scale (Pay Matrix Level) | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Engineer (Upyantri) – Civil / Electrical / Mechanical | Rs. 32,800 – 1,03,600 (Level 8) | Three-year Diploma or Degree in the relevant engineering branch |
| Mineral Surveyor (Khanij Sarvekshak) | Rs. 28,700 – 91,300 (Level 7) | Diploma in Mining or Civil Engineering |
| Draughtsman, Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant, Demonstrator, Computer Operator, Campus Supervisor | Rs. 25,300 – 80,500 (Level 6) | First-class Diploma in the relevant engineering branch |
| Surveyor | Rs. 22,100 – 70,000 (Level 5) | ITI certificate in Surveying or Diploma in Civil Engineering |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Diploma or Degree in the relevant branch – Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electronics & Telecommunication, Architecture, Fashion Technology, Modern Office Management, Hotel Management, Agriculture Engineering, Textile Design, Automobile, or Refrigeration & Air Conditioning – or an ITI Draughtsman (Civil) / Surveyor certificate. The exact requirement is listed post code by post code in the rule book. |
| Qualification Cut-off | The candidate must already hold the required qualification on the last date of applying; a qualification earned later is not accepted. |
| Age Limit | Minimum 18 years, maximum 40 years for posts filled by open competition, reckoned as on 01.01.2026. Check your age eligibility → |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or a citizen of Nepal holding a certificate under the MP Civil Services Recruitment Rules 1961. |
| Domicile | Only candidates who are native residents of Madhya Pradesh get reservation, age relaxation and the reduced fee. Candidates from other states may apply against Unreserved / Open posts only, with no relaxation of any kind. |
| Employment Exchange | Live registration with a Madhya Pradesh employment exchange is compulsory for all posts. |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 50% for Unreserved candidates; 40% for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates. |
| Application Restriction | Only one application form per candidate. Several posts may be selected inside that one form, in a preference order that the candidate sets. |
Age relaxation
| Category | Maximum Age / Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Open competition – direct recruitment (all candidates) | 40 years |
| MP native SC / ST / OBC candidates | 45 years (5 years relaxation) |
| MP native women, unreserved as well as reserved | 45 years |
| MP native government, corporation, board and autonomous body employees | 45 years |
| MP native Nagar Sainik (Municipal Soldier) | 45 years |
| MP native PwBD (Divyangjan) candidates | 45 years |
| Recipients of the inter-caste marriage incentive award | 5 years additional relaxation |
| Vikram Award winning sportspersons | 5 years additional relaxation |
| Retrenched government employees | Up to 7 years of earlier temporary service is deducted from the age; the resulting age may not exceed the upper limit by more than 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen | The whole period of earlier service is deducted; the resulting age may not exceed the upper limit by more than 3 years |
| Genuinely displaced goldsmiths (Swarnkar) | Relaxable up to 35 years |
| Category A-1 and A-2 (soldiers disabled or killed in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, and their dependents) | Up to 55 years, plus 5% additional marks in the exam |
| Overall ceiling | 45 years in every case, except contract employees and the categories covered by Rule 14 |
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
Enter your date of birth, the 01.01.2026 cut-off date and your category to see instantly whether you fall inside the 18 to 40 year band, or the relaxed limit of up to 45 years.
Open the Age CalculatorSelection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Online Computer Based Test (CBT) | One paper of 200 marks in 3 hours, objective multiple-choice, set in both Hindi and English. Part A carries 100 marks covering General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics, General Reasoning, General Science and General Computer Knowledge. Part B carries 100 marks on the candidate’s technical trade – 14 trade paper codes (A to N) are mapped to the 132 post codes. Negative marking: 0.25 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Held from 07.10.2026 in two shifts – 09:00 AM to 12:00 noon (report 07:00-08:00 AM) and 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM (report 12:30-01:30 PM). |
| 2. Normalisation and percentile scoring | Because the exam runs across more than one shift, raw scores are converted using the Normalised Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling technique laid down in board order dated 13.02.2025. Minimum qualifying marks are 50% for Unreserved and 40% for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates. Ties are broken first on proportionate marks, then on age – the older candidate ranks higher. |
| 3. Merit / proficiency list | MPESB publishes a post-wise proficiency list plus a waiting list of up to 15% of the total posts, prepared from the percentile score and the preference order the candidate filled in. The waiting list stays valid for one year or until the next exam result is declared, whichever is earlier. |
| 4. Document verification by the department | The concerned department examines the educational, technical and professional certificates and confirms eligibility. MPESB itself does not verify or authenticate any candidate document. |
| 5. Appointment | The department issues the appointment order and allots the candidate to a specific office; appointment orders are to be issued within three months of the selection list. A candidate who does not join by the last date given in the order automatically loses the candidature. Pay during probation is 70% of the minimum of the scale in the first year, 80% in the second and 90% in the third. |
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale – Sub Engineer (Upyantri) | Rs. 32,800 – 1,03,600 per month (7th Pay Matrix Level 8) |
| Pay Scale – Mineral Surveyor | Rs. 28,700 – 91,300 per month (Level 7) |
| Pay Scale – Draughtsman, Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant | Rs. 25,300 – 80,500 per month (Level 6) |
| Pay Scale – Surveyor | Rs. 22,100 – 70,000 per month (Level 5) |
| Pay during probation | 70% of the minimum of the pay scale as stipend in the first year, 80% in the second year and 90% in the third year; the full pay scale starts only after probation is successfully completed (GAD circular C. 3-13/2019/3/1 dated 12.12.2019) |
| Exam travel allowance | MP native SC, ST and OBC candidates and certified PwBD candidates are reimbursed their travel expenses for attending the exam, paid by the concerned department through e-payment on submitting Format-1 with bank details, caste or disability certificate and original tickets |
| Other allowances | Not specified in notification – allowances are payable as per Madhya Pradesh Government rules applicable to the post |
How to Apply
- Go to MP Online at mponline.gov.in and open Citizen Services → Application → ESB. Read the instructions and examination rules, then click Continue.
- Fill every field of the online form accurately – the form cannot be submitted with a blank field. Enter your Aadhaar number or Aadhaar VID, your permanent body identification marks and the details of the photo ID you will carry to the exam, then select your posts and set your preference order carefully.
- Upload a scanned colour photograph (taken within the last three months, white background, with your name and the photo date printed on it), your signature below it, and a two-line handwriting sample, all in JPG format.
- Recheck everything, click Submit, then use Proceed to Payment to pay the exam fee by credit card, debit card or net banking. The form can also be filled and paid for at an authorised MP Online kiosk.
- Save the printed receipt and your application number – the application number is what you will need to download your admit card from esb.mp.gov.in. Corrections are possible until 17.09.2026 on payment of Rs. 20 per correction plus a Rs. 40 portal fee.
Note: Only online applications are accepted – offline or postal applications will not be considered. Candidates of the Baiga, Sahariya and Bhariya tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh must instead send a hard copy application in Format-2, with all certificates attached, directly to the concerned department before the last date; an application sent by them to MPESB is treated as invalid.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
Resize and compress your passport-size photograph and signature to the exact pixel and KB size the online form will accept, straight in your browser.
Open the Photo and Signature ResizerDocuments Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Colour photograph | Scanned, taken within three months of applying, white background, face from the front with both ears visible, no dark glasses, name and photo date printed on it. Polaroid photos are not accepted. Keep at least five copies of the same photograph for later stages. Resize your photo and signature → |
| Signature | Scanned and placed below the photograph. Short signatures, block capitals or more than one style of signature are not accepted. |
| Handwriting sample | Two lines written in the candidate’s own handwriting, scanned along with the photo and signature. |
| Date of birth proof | 8th, 10th or 12th class marksheet. |
| Caste / category certificate | Issued by a competent authority (Sub-Divisional Officer, Revenue, of an MP district) for SC, ST, OBC or EWS claims. |
| PwBD (Divyangta) certificate | Issued by the competent authority; the disability percentage is verified by a medical board. |
| Contract employee certificate | Issued by the competent authority, for candidates claiming the contract-employee quota (minimum five years of continuous contract service). |
| Bonus / preference certificate | For example an NCC ‘C’ certificate or any other certificate on which preference is claimed. |
| Educational and technical certificates | Diploma, degree or ITI certificate and marksheets for the applied post; roll number, total marks and percentage must be entered in the form. |
| Employment exchange registration | Live registration with a Madhya Pradesh employment exchange. |
| Self-declaration | A declaration in the candidate’s own handwriting confirming that all information given is true, uploaded with the form. |
| To carry to the exam centre | Printed admit card (TAC) downloaded from esb.mp.gov.in, a black ballpoint pen, and an original photo ID – Voter ID, PAN card, Aadhaar card, driving licence or a signed photo marksheet. A plain e-Aadhaar printout is accepted only when UIDAI-verified. Aadhaar-enabled biometric verification is done at the centre. |
Exam Cities
The online exam will be held in 11 cities of Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Sidhi and Ujjain. Every candidate must set a preference order of four exam cities in the application form; centres are allotted randomly from those preferences based on seat availability, and no request to change the allotted centre is entertained.
Important Links
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Download Rule Book – Group-03 CRT 2026 (Second) |
| Apply Online | Apply Online at MP Online |
| Official Website | MPESB Official Website |
| Telegram | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not fill more than one application form – a duplicate or second form gets the entire application cancelled.
- Mark a preference for every post you are eligible for; a post you did not list as a preference will not be considered in the result, however high your score.
- Put the post you most want at the top of your preference list – once you are selected against a preferred post, your name is removed from the proficiency and waiting lists of every lower preference.
- Do not carry a mobile phone, calculator, log table, smart or digital watch, rough paper or any electronic device into the exam hall; possession alone is treated as unfair means (UFM).
- Guess sparingly – 0.25 mark is deducted from your total for every wrong answer.
- Any mistake in your admit card that came from your own form cannot be fixed after the correction window closes on 17.09.2026, and no change at all is allowed once the admit card is issued.
- Candidates from outside Madhya Pradesh may apply only against Unreserved / Open posts and get no reservation, age relaxation or fee concession – do not claim any of these on the form.
- Reach the centre within the reporting time (07:00-08:00 AM for the first shift, 12:30-01:30 PM for the second); latecomers are not admitted, and no candidate may leave before the exam ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for MPESB Group-3 Recruitment 2026 (Second)?
Online applications close on 12.09.2026, up to 12:00 midnight.
2. How many vacancies are there in the MPESB Group-3 Combined Recruitment Test 2026 (Second)?
There are 1,700 posts in total, spread across 48 departments and offices under 132 post codes.
3. What qualification is needed for MPESB Group-3 2026?
A Diploma or Degree in the relevant engineering branch, or an ITI certificate for the Surveyor and ITI Draughtsman (Civil) posts, with the exact requirement listed post code by post code in the rule book.
4. What is the age limit for MPESB Group-3 2026?
18 to 40 years as on 01.01.2026, raised to 45 years for MP native SC, ST and OBC candidates, women, PwBD candidates and government employees.
5. What is the application fee?
Rs. 500 per question paper for Unreserved and other-state candidates and Rs. 250 for MP native SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates, plus an MP Online portal fee of Rs. 60 through a kiosk or Rs. 20 as a registered citizen user; backlog posts carry no fee.
6. When will the MPESB Group-3 exam 2026 be held?
The online exam starts on 07.10.2026 (Wednesday) and runs in two shifts – 09:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM.
7. What is the exam pattern and is there negative marking?
One paper of 200 marks in 3 hours – 100 marks of General Knowledge, Hindi, English, Mathematics, Reasoning, Science and Computer Knowledge, and 100 marks on your technical trade – with 0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
8. In which cities will the MPESB Group-3 exam be conducted?
In 11 Madhya Pradesh cities – Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Sidhi and Ujjain – and you choose four preferred cities while filling the form.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
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