The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal, also known as MP Vyapam, has released the notification for the Group-3 Sub Engineer, Draftsman/Cartographer, Laboratory Technician and Other Equivalent Posts Combined Recruitment Examination 2026 (Second) for 1700 posts across 131 post codes spanning multiple Madhya Pradesh government departments, directorates and polytechnic colleges. Online applications are accepted at esb.mp.gov.in or through MP Online kiosks from 29 August 2026 to 12 September 2026. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) is scheduled to commence from 7 October 2026 in two shifts per day. Selection is through a single 200-mark CBT with negative marking. Pay scale ranges from Level 4 to Level 8 of the MP Pay Matrix.
Important – Read Before You Apply: Four things that will trip you up if missed. First, Aadhaar-based registration on the MPESB portal is mandatory – candidates without an Aadhaar number linked to their application cannot register or appear in the exam; multi-level biometric verification is conducted at the exam centre using Aadhaar. Second, a live registration with a Madhya Pradesh Employment Office (Rojgar Karyalaya) is mandatory before applying – an expired or inactive registration will make you ineligible; renew it before 12 September 2026 if needed. Third, EWS candidates are not eligible for any age relaxation – the 5-year upper-age relaxation available to SC/ST/OBC/PwBD and women applies to all those groups but is specifically excluded for EWS candidates; EWS applicants must satisfy the general 18-40 years limit. Fourth, candidates belonging to Madhya Pradesh’s three special primitive tribal communities – Baiga, Sahariya/Saharia and Bharia – must apply in hard copy directly to the concerned department using the Annexure-2 format in the notification; applications sent to MPESB by these candidates will not be considered valid.
MPESB Group 3 Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal (MP Vyapam) |
| Exam Name | Group-3 Combined Recruitment Examination 2026 (Second) |
| Posts | Sub Engineer (Upyantri), Draftsman/Cartographer, Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant, Surveyor, Mineral Surveyor and other equivalent Group-3 posts |
| Total Vacancies | 1700 across 131 post codes |
| Pay Level | Level 4 to Level 8 of MP Pay Matrix |
| Application Mode | Online via esb.mp.gov.in or MP Online kiosk |
| Application Fee | Rs. 500 (Unreserved); Rs. 250 (MP domicile SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) + portal charges |
| Application Opens | 29 August 2026 |
| Application Closes | 12 September 2026 |
| Correction Window | 29 August to 17 September 2026 |
| CBT Exam Starts | 7 October 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), two shifts per day |
| Selection | Single CBT of 200 marks with negative marking |
| Official Website | esb.mp.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 29 August 2026 |
| Online application closes | 12 September 2026 |
| Correction window closes | 17 September 2026 |
| CBT examination begins | 7 October 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Exam shifts | Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon; Shift 2: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| Reporting time – Shift 1 | 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM |
| Reporting time – Shift 2 | 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM |
The correction window closes 5 days after the application deadline – candidates who submit before 12 September should use this window to verify and correct any errors. Late entry after the reporting time is not permitted under any circumstances.
Vacancy Details – Category-wise
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 628 |
| OBC | 426 |
| ST | 254 |
| SC | 246 |
| EWS | 146 |
| Total | 1700 |
Vacancies are spread across 131 post codes covering multiple Madhya Pradesh government departments, directorates and polytechnic colleges. The notified vacancy count is provisional and subject to revision by the concerned departments.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualification: Varies by post code. The general pattern is a Diploma (typically 3 years) or Degree in the relevant engineering/technical branch from a recognised university, board or institution. Technical branches covered include Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunication, Agriculture, Fashion Technology, Architecture and Interior Design, Modern Office Management, Hotel Management, Textile Design, Automobile, Refrigeration and AC, Mining/Civil (Mineral Surveyor posts), and ITI Craftsman Civil-trade posts. First-class requirement applies to certain post codes – verify your specific post code from the notification.
Employment Office Registration: A live registration with a Madhya Pradesh Employment Office (Rojgar Karyalaya) is mandatory.
Nationality: Indian citizens; Nepalese citizens may also apply subject to the eligibility certificate under the MP Civil Services Recruitment Rules, 1961. Candidates who are not permanent residents of Madhya Pradesh may apply only against unreserved vacancies and are not entitled to reservation or age relaxation benefits.
The exact qualification, branch and any additional conditions for each of the 131 post codes is specified individually in the notification. Candidates must check the notification for their specific post code before applying.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on 1 January 2026.
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General/Unreserved | 18 to 40 years |
| MP domicile SC/ST/OBC, women (all categories), PwBD, Government/Corporation/Board/Autonomous Body employees, Home Guards | 18 to 45 years (5-year relaxation over the general limit) |
| EWS candidates | 18 to 40 years (no relaxation) |
Additional relaxation is available to Ex-servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as per orders of the MP General Administration Department. In no case will the maximum age exceed 45 years after all relaxations (except for contractual employees and categories in Rule 14 of the notification).
Pay Scale
| Pay Level | Pay Scale (Rs.) | Typical Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | Rs. 32,800 to Rs. 1,03,600 | Sub Engineer (Upyantri) |
| Level 7 | Rs. 28,700 to Rs. 91,300 | Select technical posts |
| Level 6 | Rs. 25,300 to Rs. 80,500 | Draftsman/Cartographer, Lab Technician, Surveyor and similar |
| Level 5 | Rs. 22,100 to Rs. 70,000 | Select technical posts |
| Level 4 | Rs. 19,500 to Rs. 62,000 | Select technical/other posts |
During probation, appointees receive a stipend: 70% of the minimum of the pay scale in the first year, 80% in the second year, and 90% in the third year. Full pay scale applies on successful completion of probation. The exact pay level for each post code is specified individually in the notification.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Portal Charge (Kiosk) | Portal Charge (Registered Login) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | Rs. 500 | Rs. 60 | Rs. 20 |
| MP domicile SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD | Rs. 250 | Rs. 60 | Rs. 20 |
| Direct recruitment against backlog vacancies only | Nil | Rs. 60 | Rs. 20 |
Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Selection is through a single online Computer-Based Test of 200 marks with negative marking.
| Section | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Section A | General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics, General Reasoning, General Science, General Computer Knowledge | 100 |
| Section B | Technical paper specific to the post code’s technical branch (14 paper codes: A to N) | 100 |
| Total | 200 |
Marking: +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer. No marks for unattempted questions.
For post codes 88, 128 and 131, candidates may appear in either of two related technical papers; the result is prepared using the higher of the two percentile scores.
Since the exam is conducted across multiple shifts, results are prepared using the Normalised Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling method – converting each candidate’s proportionate score into a percentile, then into a Z-value and T-score – to ensure comparability across shifts.
Objections on questions can be raised online only, within 3 days of the objection link going live, at Rs. 150 plus charges per question/answer objected to.
The Hindi text of question papers is treated as standard except for Science and Technical subject papers, where the English text is standard.
How to Apply
- Visit esb.mp.gov.in or an MP Online kiosk between 29 August and 12 September 2026.
- Complete Aadhaar-based registration on the portal before filling the application.
- Ensure your Madhya Pradesh Employment Office (Rojgar Karyalaya) registration is live before applying.
- Select the relevant post code(s) matching your qualification and technical branch.
- Pay the applicable fee plus the MP Online portal charge.
- Verify all details before submission. Use the correction window (open until 17 September 2026) to fix any errors.
- Download the Test Admit Card from esb.mp.gov.in once released ahead of 7 October 2026.
- Carry your original Aadhaar card (or e-Aadhaar/photocopy/number/VID) and a valid original photo identity proof to the exam centre – biometric verification is mandatory at entry.
Important Instructions
- Aadhaar-based registration is mandatory for all candidates.
- Live MP Employment Office registration is mandatory before applying.
- EWS candidates are not entitled to age relaxation.
- Baiga, Sahariya/Saharia and Bharia (special primitive tribal community) candidates must apply in hard copy directly to the concerned department using Annexure-2; their MPESB portal applications will not be valid.
- PwBD candidates requiring a scribe or compensatory time must submit the required documents to MPESB at least 10 days before the exam.
- Electronic devices including mobile phones, calculators, log tables, digital watches and sunglasses are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall.
- No candidate may enter after the reporting time or leave before the exam ends.
- Eligibility verified at the CBT stage is provisional; final document verification is done by the department during the appointment process.
- Admit cards will not be sent by post; they must be downloaded from the MPESB website.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online via MP Online Portal | Apply Now |
| Official Notification PDF | Apply Now |
| MPESB Official Website | Apply Now |
Frequently Asked Questions – MPESB Group 3 Recruitment 2026
Q1. How many posts are available in MPESB Group 3 Recruitment 2026?
✅ 1700 posts across 131 post codes covering Sub Engineer (Upyantri), Draftsman/Cartographer, Laboratory Technician, Technical Assistant, Surveyor, Mineral Surveyor and other equivalent Group-3 posts in multiple Madhya Pradesh government departments and polytechnic colleges.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 12 September 2026. Applications are submitted online at esb.mp.gov.in or via MP Online kiosk. The correction window remains open until 17 September 2026 for candidates who have already submitted.
Q3. When will the MPESB Group 3 CBT exam be held?
✅ From 7 October 2026 (Wednesday), conducted in two shifts per day – Shift 1 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and Shift 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Candidates must report by 7:00-8:00 AM for Shift 1 and 12:30-1:30 PM for Shift 2. Late entry is not permitted.
Q4. What is the application fee?
✅ Rs. 500 for Unreserved candidates; Rs. 250 for MP domicile SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD candidates, plus a portal charge of Rs. 60 (kiosk) or Rs. 20 (registered citizen login). No fee for candidates applying against backlog vacancies only.
Q5. Is Aadhaar mandatory for this recruitment?
✅ Yes. Aadhaar-based registration is mandatory for all candidates. Multi-level biometric verification using Aadhaar is conducted at the exam centre. Candidates must carry their original Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar along with a valid photo identity proof.
Q6. Are EWS candidates eligible for age relaxation?
✅ No. EWS candidates must satisfy the general age limit of 18 to 40 years as on 1 January 2026. The 5-year upper-age relaxation available to SC/ST/OBC, women and PwBD categories is specifically excluded for EWS candidates.
Q7. What is the exam pattern?
✅ A single 200-mark CBT: Section A carries 100 marks on General Knowledge, Hindi, English, Mathematics, Reasoning, Science and Computer Knowledge; Section B carries 100 marks on the technical paper for the post code’s branch. Marking is +1 for correct and -0.25 for wrong answers.
Q8. What is the pay scale for Sub Engineer posts?
✅ Level 8: Rs. 32,800 to Rs. 1,03,600 per month, which is the highest pay level in this recruitment. During probation, appointees receive 70% of the minimum of the pay scale in year one, 80% in year two and 90% in year three.
Q9. Can candidates from outside Madhya Pradesh apply?
✅ Yes, but only against Unreserved vacancies. Non-MP-resident candidates are not entitled to reservation benefits or age relaxation. Live MP Employment Office registration is still mandatory even for non-residents applying against open vacancies.
Q10. What happens if scores differ across exam shifts?
✅ MPESB uses the Normalised Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling method to ensure comparability. Each candidate’s score is converted into a percentile, then a Z-value and T-score, so no candidate is disadvantaged by appearing in an easier or harder shift.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the Group-3 Sub Engineer, Draftsman/Cartographer, Laboratory Technician and Other Equivalent Posts Combined Recruitment Examination 2026 (Second) notification released by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal, for 1700 posts across 131 post codes. Applications are accepted online from 29 August to 12 September 2026 at esb.mp.gov.in or via MP Online kiosk; correction window closes 17 September 2026. CBT begins 7 October 2026. Aadhaar-based registration and live MP Employment Office registration are mandatory. EWS candidates are not eligible for age relaxation. Special primitive tribal community (Baiga, Sahariya, Bharia) candidates must apply in hard copy to the concerned department. Vacancy counts are provisional. Candidates must read the official notification in full before applying. JobShouter.com is not associated with the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board in any manner.
