MP govt to change recruitment system from October:3 annual eligibility exams introduced, score cards to decide job recruitment

The Madhya Pradesh government is set to introduce a major overhaul in the state’s government recruitment system. The state government has released the draft of new recruitment rules under which almost all government recruitments — except those conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) — will now be carried out exclusively through the Employees Selection Board (ESB). Departments will no longer be allowed to conduct separate recruitment processes on their own. The new rules will come into effect from October 1, 2026, replacing the 2013 recruitment rules. The government has invited objections and suggestions from the public till June 5, 2026. Recruitment to be based on eligibility exams and score cards The biggest change in the proposed system is the introduction of an eligibility examination and score card-based recruitment process instead of direct recruitment examinations. Under the new model, the ESB will conduct three types of eligibility examinations every year: Only candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by the government will receive a score card. This score card will later be used for applying to government jobs. Candidates scoring below the qualifying marks will not be issued a score card. Strict action against cheating and misconduct The government has also proposed strict provisions to curb malpractice during examinations. If a candidate: their candidature will be cancelled immediately and they may be declared ineligible. Misbehaving with or threatening supervisors and examination duty staff has also been categorized as a serious offense. Pattern of general and technical eligibility exams Score card valid for nearly two-and-a-half years The result will be declared in percentile format and only candidates crossing the prescribed cut-off will receive score cards. Candidates wanting to improve their scores will be allowed to reappear in subsequent examinations. The score card for General and Technical Eligibility Examinations will remain valid till December 31 of the second year after the result year, effectively making it valid for nearly two-and-a-half years. Candidates qualifying the Teacher Eligibility Test will remain eligible for life, although the score card for applying to jobs will remain valid for around two-and-a-half years. Government claims process will become easier and more transparent The government claims that the new system will reduce the burden of appearing in multiple preliminary examinations for different recruitments. Candidates will be able to apply for several government jobs using a single score card. The fully online recruitment process is also expected to improve transparency and simplify applications and selection procedures. Online appointment portal to be introduced Under the new system, a dedicated online appointment portal will be created for: The draft rules also state that only the Class 10 mark sheet will be accepted as valid proof of age. Employees already holding regular government jobs will be allowed to secure a new post through this system only once. Major changes in Group C and D recruitments For Group C and Group D posts outside the jurisdiction of MPPSC, departments will no longer conduct direct recruitments. All such recruitments will be carried out through ESB’s combined eligibility examinations. The ESB will also get the authority to revise examination syllabi in consultation with the government and may introduce common syllabi for different examinations whenever required. After selection and issuance of appointment orders, candidates’ documents and information will undergo fresh verification. Registration on the IFMIS portal will only be completed after final verification. MPPSC to introduce combined recruitment exams The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission will also introduce combined recruitment examinations based on five broad academic and technical groups instead of conducting separate exams for individual posts. These groups will include: All government departments will now be required to provide vacancy details by September 30 every year. Age calculation for recruitments will be based on January 1 of the year following the recruitment year. Direct interviews possible for some posts The draft rules also provide that if applications for any post are less than three times the number of vacancies, the MPPSC may conduct direct interviews based on qualification and experience without holding a written examination. Reservation rules also revised Changes have also been proposed in reservation rules. Candidates from reserved categories availing relaxation in age, marks or qualifications will now be counted only under the reserved category list and not in the general merit list.