MP Nursing Recruitment Resumes After High Court Nod – 2,646 Posts Up for Grabs

The recruitment process for over two and a half thousand nursing positions across Madhya Pradesh has restarted, following an interim order from the High Court. The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (ESB) is now accepting applications for Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor posts under the Public Health and Medical Education Department, with a tight window closing on May 3.

The development brings some relief to candidates who had been waiting on the sidelines due to pending litigation.

High Court allows limited window

The interim order, issued in response to a set of petitions, permits eligible candidates to apply between April 29 and May 3. Officials confirmed that this concession applies only to those who are part of the ongoing legal proceedings. For everyone else, the earlier application schedule remains closed.

The court has not stayed the examination itself but has attached conditions. Applicants under this category will have provisional candidature, meaning their results will be withheld until the final disposal of the petitions. Selection and appointment, authorities clarified, hinge entirely on how the court rules eventually.

Strict action for false information

The ESB has put out a clear warning alongside the notification. Any applicant found furnishing incorrect or misleading details — whether in educational credentials, experience, or category certificates — will face immediate cancellation of candidature. Officials said verification will happen at multiple stages, and no leniency is promised.

Candidates who miss the May 3 deadline, for any reason, will not be given another chance to apply. The board has stressed that individual responsibility lies with the applicant to complete the online process in time.

 Vacancy breakdown: 1,256 hospital posts

A total of 2,646 positions are to be filled through this joint recruitment examination for the 2026 cycle. Nursing Officer posts account for the bulk: 1,256 in government hospitals and another 954 in government medical colleges. Additionally, 218 posts of Sister Tutor are open.

Both are regular, Group C positions. Nursing Officers fall under Level-7 with a pay scale starting at ₹28,700, while Sister Tutors are placed at Level-9 with a starting salary of ₹36,200.

Exam pattern and shifts

The written examination will carry 100 questions, each worth one mark, and candidates will get two hours to answer. The paper is split into two sections: 25 marks for General Knowledge, Hindi, English, Mathematics, and Science combined, and 75 marks for Nursing subjects.

The exam will be held in two shifts on the same day — morning session from 10 AM to 12 PM, and afternoon from 3 PM to 5 PM. Selection will be purely merit-based on written exam scores. General category candidates need at least 50% marks to qualify, while reserved categories require 40%.

Application fee and mandatory requirements

Online applications require Aadhaar-based registration, and candidates must keep their application number safe. A valid photo ID — Aadhaar, PAN, or voter ID — is compulsory on exam day. Active registration with the employment office is also a must.

Fee structure: ₹500 for General category, ₹250 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Divyang residents of Madhya Pradesh, and no fee for backlog vacancies. Additionally, portal charges apply — ₹60 for kiosk applications and ₹20 for self-login.

What happens next

Officials said the examination will proceed as scheduled while the court hears the petitions. For candidates applying under the interim order, the wait for results could extend beyond the usual timeline. Final appointments will also depend on document verification and departmental requirements once the legal clarity emerges.

For now, the ESB portal is live, and applicants in the affected group have until May 3 to submit their forms. Those outside the petition have no current window and must wait for further announcements.