The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) has officially commenced the online registration process for the Group 5 Combined Recruitment Test 2026. This major recruitment drive aims to fill 373 vacancies across various healthcare and paramedical roles, including Staff Nurses, Pharmacists, and Lab Technicians.
Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official MPESB portal at esb.mp.gov.in or the MP Online kiosk system. The application window is scheduled to remain open until March 30, 2026, with the computer-based examination set to begin on April 15, 2026.
MPESB Group 5 Online Registration
| Feature | Details |
| Total Vacancies | 373 (Direct and Backlog) |
| Primary Roles | Staff Nurse, Pharmacist, Lab Technician, OT Technician |
| Registration Period | March 16, 2026 – March 30, 2026 |
| Minimum Salary | Level 1 (₹15,500 base) |
| Maximum Salary | Level 9 (₹1,14,800 ceiling) |
| Exam Format | Computer Based Test (CBT) – 100 Marks |
| Mandatory Document | MP Rojgar Panjiyan (Live Registration) |
The Strategic Importance of the 2026 Recruitment
The 2026 Group 5 notification arrives at a critical juncture for the Madhya Pradesh Department of Medical Education and the Department of Public Health and Family Welfare. As the state continues to expand its medical college infrastructure and district hospital capabilities, the demand for skilled paramedical staff has reached a five-year high.
Industry experts suggest that this recruitment drive is part of a larger initiative to reduce the patient-to-staff ratio in rural sectors. “The focus isn’t just on hiring, but on professionalizing the paramedical cadre,” says Dr. Alok Verma, a healthcare policy analyst. “By offering Level 7 and Level 9 pay scales for senior roles, the state is signaling that it values technical expertise as much as administrative roles.”
Detailed Schedule and Financial Requirements
The board has outlined a strict timeline for the recruitment process. Candidates are advised to complete their profile registration and document uploads well before the deadline to avoid technical delays.
Official Timeline
- Application Start: March 16, 2026
- Application Deadline: March 30, 2026
- Correction Window: March 16 – April 04, 2026
- Admit Card Release: Expected 1st week of April 2026
- Examination Date: Commencing April 15, 2026 (Multiple shifts)
Fee Structure
Fees must be paid through the Integrated MP Online Portal. The breakdown is as follows:
- General / Other State Candidates: ₹500 (Exam Fee) + ₹60 (Portal Fee) = ₹560
- SC / ST / OBC / PwD (MP Residents): ₹250 (Exam Fee) + ₹60 (Portal Fee) = ₹310
- Backlog Posts: Exempt from exam fees; only the ₹60 portal fee applies.
Salary Scales and Career Benefits
The MPESB Group 5 positions offer competitive pay scales categorized under the state government’s seventh pay commission matrix. Beyond the basic pay, selected candidates will receive allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA) and House Rent Allowance (HRA).
Post-Wise Pay Structure
According to the official rulebook, the pay levels vary based on the technical requirements and seniority of the role:
| Post Title | Pay Level | Pay Scale (INR) | Essential Qualification |
| Physiotherapist | Level 9 | ₹36,200 – ₹1,14,800 | Degree in Physiotherapy |
| Staff Nurse | Level 7 | ₹28,700 – ₹91,300 | B.Sc Nursing / GNM |
| Lab Technician | Level 7 | ₹28,700 – ₹91,300 | B.Sc / Diploma in MLT |
| Pharmacist Grade-2 | Level 6 | ₹25,300 – ₹80,500 | B.Pharma / D.Pharma |
| Dresser Grade-2 | Level 3 | ₹18,000 – ₹56,900 | 12th + Dresser Cert. |
Note on Probation: Under current state policy, new recruits typically receive 70% of the pay scale in the first year, 80% in the second, and 90% in the third, reaching 100% upon successful completion of the three-year probation period.
Eligibility and Mandatory Requirements
Candidates must meet three primary tiers of eligibility: academic background, age limits, and mandatory state registrations.
1. Educational Qualifications
All applicants must have completed 10+2 (Higher Secondary) with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology). Additionally, professional certification is non-negotiable. For instance, a Staff Nurse must possess a registration from the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council, while a Pharmacist must be registered with the Pharmacy Council.
2. Age Limits (as of January 1, 2026)
The board has provided age relaxations for various categories:
- Unreserved (Male): 18 to 40 years.
- SC/ST/OBC/Women/Govt. Employees: 18 to 45 years.
3. The “Live Registration” Mandate
A critical requirement for this recruitment is the “Live Registration” (Jeevit Panjiyan) with the Madhya Pradesh State Employment Office (Rojgar Panjiyan). Applications submitted without a valid registration number at the time of form filling are liable for rejection during document verification.
Comprehensive Syllabus Breakdown
The examination structure for Group 5 is designed to test both general aptitude and specialized technical knowledge.
Part A: General Aptitude (25 Marks)
This section is common for all posts and includes:
- General Knowledge: Focus on MP History, Geography, and current events.
- General Hindi & English: Basic grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension (10th-grade level).
- General Mathematics: Percentage, Interest, Profit & Loss, and Basic Algebra.
- General Science: Everyday physics and biology.
- General Reasoning: Coding-decoding, blood relations, and series completion.
Part B: Technical Subject (75 Marks)
This is the core of the exam. The questions are based on the specific curriculum of the degree or diploma required for the post. For example:
- Staff Nurse: Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Ward Management, and Midwifery.
- Pharmacist: Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Jurisprudence.
Step-by-Step Registration Process
To ensure a high-trust application process, the MPESB utilizes a Profile Registration system. Follow these steps:
- Profile Creation: Visit the MPESB website and click on “Candidate Profiling.” You will need a mobile-linked Aadhaar Card for e-KYC.
- Document Upload: Upload a recent photograph (with the date and name mentioned), your signature, and a handwritten self-declaration template provided by the board.
- Application Form: Log in with your Profile ID, select “Group 5 Recruitment,” and choose your post preferences based on your qualifications.
- Preference Selection: If you are eligible for multiple posts (e.g., Lab Technician and Lab Attendant), ensure you rank them in order of your preference.
- Payment and Print: After paying the fee, download the Application Receipt. Note that the application is incomplete until a “Transaction ID” is generated.
Examination Centers and Logistics
The MPESB has designated several cities as exam hubs to accommodate the high volume of applicants:
- Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, and Satna.
The exam will be conducted in two shifts. Candidates must carry a valid original Photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Driving License) to the center. E-Aadhaar is only valid if verified via UIDAI.
Historical Context and Expert Analysis
In previous years (2023 and 2024), the Group 5 exams saw a high level of competition, with cut-off marks for General category Staff Nurses often exceeding 75/100.
“The 2026 cycle is expected to be more technical,” says Satish Kumar, a senior educator at a leading MP coaching institute. “With fewer vacancies (373) compared to previous large-scale drives, candidates cannot afford to ignore the 25-mark General Aptitude section, which often acts as the tie-breaker.”
Conclusion
The MPESB Group 5 recruitment represents a significant opportunity for healthcare professionals to secure stable, well-paying government positions in Madhya Pradesh. With the application window closing on March 30, interested candidates must act swiftly to ensure their Rojgar Panjiyan is active and their technical knowledge is up to the current 2026 standards.
Accuracy in the application form—especially in post-preference selection—remains the most critical step in ensuring a successful candidacy.
