MP government plans massive overhaul of ESB and MPPSC recruitment rules

New draft rules propose a centralised eligibility score card system for state government jobs from October 2026, public suggestions invited till June 5.

BHOPAL: In a major move aimed at restructuring the state’s bureaucratic hiring process, the Madhya Pradesh government is set to overhaul the recruitment rules for its two premier testing agencies—the MP Employee Selection Board (ESB) and the MP Public Service Commission (MPPSC).

The General Administration Department (GAD) has prepared the fresh draft guidelines, effectively moving towards a unified testing format. Under the proposed framework, all government recruitments in the state, excluding those falling directly under the purview of the MPPSC, will now be mandatorily conducted through the ESB.

According to officials, these new MP recruitment rules are slated to take effect from October 1, 2026, replacing the legacy guidelines established back in 2013. The state has opened the floor for public feedback, asking citizens and stakeholders to submit their suggestions or objections by June 5, 2026.

Shift to eligibility score cards

The core of the proposed reform rests on shifting away from independent, multi-layered department exams to a streamlined "Eligibility Test" and "Score Card System". The draft rules indicate that the ESB will henceforth conduct three distinct categories of eligibility tests every year. These will include a General Eligibility Test, a Technical Eligibility Test, and a Teacher Eligibility Test.

Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks in these screening rounds will be issued an official score card. This card will serve as the baseline credential required to apply for specific vacancies across various state departments.

Validity windows and lifespans

Sources familiar with the matter said that the scores obtained in the General and Technical eligibility tests will not remain valid indefinitely. The validity will extend from the date of result declaration until December 31 of the subsequent two calendar years.

Interestingly, while the qualification status for the Teacher Eligibility Test will remain valid for a lifetime, the actual score card required for job deployment will still carry a restricted validity period, forcing candidates to maintain updated performances for fresh recruitments.

Relief from multiple preliminary rounds

The primary objective behind this structural pivot is to ease the burden on job aspirants, who currently find themselves appearing for repetitive preliminary screening tests for every minor departmental vacancy. Under the new rules, a single high score can be utilized to apply for multiple job openings across different portfolios.

Local authorities confirmed that the entire execution workflow will transition to a fully digital platform. The administration claims this digital push will significantly enhance transparency, reduce delays, and standardise evaluation metrics across the board.

Breakdown of the new exam pattern

The draft outlines a specific distribution of marks to keep testing standards uniform. For the General Eligibility Test, the paper will feature 100 questions divided into four distinct operational sections. The syllabus will cover General Knowledge, Current Affairs, MP General Knowledge & State Schemes, alongside Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and basic Computer Literacy.

The Technical Eligibility Test will similarly feature 100 questions. However, to ensure specialised assessment, 25 questions will focus on general aptitude, while the remaining 75 questions will strictly test the specific technical discipline of the applicant.

MPPSC regulations undergo parallel revision

Simultaneously, the state government has trained its eyes on reforming the apex state recruitment body. Draft rules titled the "Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission Examination Rules 2026" have been formally notified for public review.

The GAD has uploaded the complete text of these proposed changes on its official web portal. Ajay Katesaria, Additional Secretary of the General Administration Department, stated that the administration is keen on reviewing stakeholder inputs before finalizing the gazette notification.

Deadline for public submissions

An official notification confirms that any individual, institution, or legal stakeholder wishing to log an objection or suggest amendments must do so in writing before the June 5 deadline. Inputs can be emailed directly to sogad1@mp.gov.in or submitted through the dedicated feedback links on gad.mp.gov.in. The department has explicitly clarified that any communication received after the stipulated date will not be taken into consideration for the final drafting phase.