MPPSC 2026 Notification: Key Highlights
Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has released the State Service Exam 2026 notification, announcing 155 vacancies for various administrative posts. The exam will be one of the most important state-level competitive exams in 2026, with a fixed schedule for prelims and mains as per the latest exam calendar.
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Total vacancies: 155 (including State Administrative Service, State Police Service, Finance Service, Naib Tehsildar and other posts).
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Selection stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview in three-tier process.
Important Dates and Application Schedule
The commission has provided a clear timeline for the online application process, helping aspirants plan both form filling and preparation in advance.
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Online application start date: 10 January 2026.
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Last date to apply: 9 February 2026 (up to 12 midnight).
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Prelims admit card: Expected from 16 March 2026 on the official website.
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Prelims exam date: 26 April 2026, conducted across multiple districts of Madhya Pradesh.Candidates will be able to apply through the official MPPSC portal at mppsc.mp.gov.in and other authorised online platforms.
Exam Pattern and Negative Marking Change
The MPPSC State Service Prelims will be an OMR-based objective exam with two papers – General Studies (Paper 1) and General Aptitude Test/CSAT (Paper 2), each carrying 200 marks. Questions will be asked in both Hindi and English, and prelims will act as a screening test for the mains stage.
A major change this time is the introduction of negative marking in the prelims, as mentioned in the notification, which confirms that wrong answers will now attract penalty marks. Though the exact fraction per wrong answer is yet to be officially detailed, coaching experts widely expect a 1/3 or 1/4 pattern, similar to other major PCS and UPSC-style exams. This change is likely to bring the effective cut-off range down compared to previous cycles and reward candidates with high accuracy.
Eligibility, Age Criteria and Final-Year Students
For MPPSC State Service Exam 2026, the minimum age limit is 21 years, calculated as on 1 January 2026, while the upper age limit varies by category as per state government rules. Reservation benefits and age relaxations will apply for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD and ex-servicemen in line with existing MP government policy.
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Educational qualification: Candidates must have a graduate degree from a recognised university, or be in the final year of graduation with the condition that their degree is completed by the last date of mains application.
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Domicile and category certificates must be valid for the relevant financial year as specified in the detailed notification.
Why This Notification Matters for Aspirants Now
The MPPSC 2026 notification has arrived at a time when competition is intense and aspirants are demanding more transparent and merit-based selection. With negative marking being introduced, guesswork and random attempts are expected to reduce, creating a more level playing field for serious candidates who follow a concept-driven preparation strategy.
For students, the key takeaway is clear: treat prelims, mains and interview as one integrated journey, start mains-oriented study from day one, and focus on accuracy rather than just attempting maximum questions in the prelims.
