Opening Overview
Madhya Pradesh Employee Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal is conducting the Subedar/Sub Inspector Cadre Selection Examination 2026 for the Madhya Pradesh Police Department. The examination includes non-technical and technical posts, with the preliminary examination scheduled to begin from 28/10/2026 in two shifts.
Candidates should download the Test Admit Card from the official MPESB website using their online application number. The admit card will contain the candidate's roll number, examination centre, photograph, identification details and other examination instructions.
Post Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Madhya Pradesh Employee Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal |
| Department | Police Headquarters, Home (Police) Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh |
| Post Name | Subedar and Sub Inspector Cadre |
| Total Vacancies | 507 posts as notified in the recruitment rulebook |
| Qualification | Graduation, Mechanical Engineering Diploma, or Graduation in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, depending on the post |
| Category | Admit Card / Selection Examination 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Online Examination |
| Official Website | www.esb.mp.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 09/09/2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 23/09/2026 |
| Application Correction Start Date | 09/09/2026 |
| Last Date for Application Correction | 28/09/2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | From 28/10/2026 |
| Main Examination | Date to be announced after declaration of the preliminary examination result |
Admit Card Details
Candidates can obtain the online examination admit card by using their online application number on the MPESB website. Admit cards will not be sent through post.
The Test Admit Card will generally be made available in two parts. The first part contains the applicant's details, examination name, roll number and examination centre. It also includes the permanent identification mark and details of the photo identity document entered in the application form.
Candidates must verify the following details after downloading the admit card:
- Candidate name and photograph
- Roll number and application number
- Examination name and post group
- Examination date, shift and reporting time
- Examination centre address
- Permanent identification mark
- Photo identity document details
- Instructions relating to biometric verification and examination conduct
Examination Schedule
Preliminary Examination
| Shift | Reporting Time | Time for Reading Instructions | Answering Time | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Shift | 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM | 09:50 AM to 10:00 AM | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 100 |
| Second Shift | 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM | 02:50 PM to 03:00 PM | 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM | 100 |
The preliminary examination will be held in online mode for 2 hours and will carry 100 marks. There will be no negative marking in the preliminary examination.
Main Examination
The main examination will be conducted after the preliminary examination result. It will consist of two question papers:
| Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Main Question Paper I | 2 hours | 300 |
| Main Question Paper II | 2 hours | 300 |
The main examination will be conducted in two shifts, generally from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM. Wrong answers in the main examination carry a negative marking of one-third mark. Unattempted questions do not carry negative marking.
Candidates applying for technical posts must also appear for the applicable Technical Question Paper III of 300 marks and 2 hours duration. Group 1 candidates will answer questions based on Mechanical Engineering, while Group 2 candidates will answer questions based on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Documents to Carry to the Examination Centre
Candidates must carry the following items:
- Printed copy of the MPESB Test Admit Card downloaded from www.esb.mp.gov.in
- One original, valid, photo-bearing identity document
- Aadhaar Card, Voter Identity Card, PAN Card, Driving Licence, passport or another identity document specifically accepted by MPESB
- Aadhaar number, Aadhaar VID or Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar information as required for verification
- Blue or black ball-point pen, wherever permitted by the examination instructions
Only a UIDAI-verified e-Aadhaar will be accepted where e-Aadhaar is used. Candidates without an original valid photo identity document may be denied entry to the examination.
Examination Centre Instructions
- Aadhaar-based multi-level biometric verification is compulsory at the time of entry and during the examination.
- Candidates must report to the examination centre within the reporting time printed on the admit card.
- Late-arriving candidates may not be allowed to enter the examination centre.
- Candidates must sign, provide their left-thumb impression and write the required handwriting specimen before the invigilator during the examination.
- Candidates cannot leave the examination room after the examination begins until the examination concludes.
- Mobile phones, calculators, Bluetooth devices, smart watches, electronic watches, log tables, listening devices, recording devices, pagers, sunglasses, scales, compasses, whitener, rough paper and other unauthorised material are prohibited.
- Candidates must preserve their application number because it is required for downloading the admit card.
Selection Process
The selection process is conducted in two stages:
- Preliminary written examination conducted by MPESB.
- Main written examination.
- Physical Measurement Test.
- Physical Efficiency Test.
- Document verification.
- Personality interview.
- Medical examination and character verification.
- Training after appointment.
Candidates equal to approximately ten times the advertised vacancies may be shortlisted for the main written examination. Candidates equal to approximately three times the advertised vacancies may be shortlisted for the Physical Efficiency Test and interview, subject to the applicable category-wise cut-off.
Vacancy Details
| Post | Post Type | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Subedar | Non-Technical | 81 |
| Sub Inspector, Special Armed Force (SAF) | Non-Technical | 69 |
| Sub Inspector, District Police Force (DEF) | Non-Technical | 312 |
| Sub Inspector, Arms | Technical, Group 1 | 10 |
| Sub Inspector, Photo | Technical, Group 2 | 9 |
| Sub Inspector, Q.D. | Technical, Group 2 | 4 |
| Sub Inspector, Finger Print | Technical, Group 2 | 22 |
| Total | 507 |
The Sub Inspector SAF post is restricted to male candidates. Candidates who are not domiciled in Madhya Pradesh may apply only against open/unreserved vacancies and will not receive the benefit of reservation or age relaxation.
Eligibility and Qualification
- Subedar, Sub Inspector SAF and Sub Inspector DEF: Graduation degree or equivalent from a recognised university.
- Sub Inspector Arms: Three-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a recognised technical university.
- Sub Inspector Photo, Q.D. and Finger Print: Graduation degree or equivalent with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry from a recognised university.
- Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- All required certificates relating to age, education, domicile, category, police service or ex-serviceman status must be available by the last date of application.
Physical Standards
Minimum Height
| Candidate | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| Male | 167.5 cm |
| Female | 152.4 cm |
Chest Standard for Male Candidates
- Minimum chest without expansion: 81 cm
- Minimum chest with expansion: 86 cm
- Minimum expansion required: 5 cm
No relaxation is permitted in the minimum physical standards. Candidates must also satisfy the prescribed eyesight, colour vision and medical fitness requirements. Knock knees, flat feet, serious eye disorders and physical disability that affects police service may lead to disqualification.
Physical Efficiency Test
The Physical Efficiency Test carries 100 marks:
| Event | Maximum Marks | Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| 800-metre race | 40 | One opportunity |
| Long jump | 30 | Three opportunities |
| Shot put | 30 | Three opportunities |
The minimum qualifying marks in the Physical Efficiency Test are 30 marks for non-technical posts and 20 marks for technical posts. The Physical Efficiency Test is compulsory, and no exemption or change of scheduled date is permitted on medical or other grounds.
Interview and Final Merit
Candidates who obtain the minimum Physical Efficiency Test marks and qualify in document verification will be called for a 50-mark personality interview. The final merit list will be prepared using the marks obtained in the main examination, Physical Efficiency Test and interview, subject to document verification, medical fitness and character verification.
For multi-stage examination results, MPESB may use the Normalised Equi-Percentile scaling technique. The preliminary examination score is used for shortlisting, while final selection is based on the applicable main examination, physical test and interview scores.
Official Examination Centres
The online examination may be conducted at Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Sidhi, Ujjain, Barwani and Anuppur. Candidates are required to enter four preferred examination cities. The final centre may be allotted according to seat availability and MPESB's decision will be binding.
Important Candidate Instructions
Candidates should check all details printed on the admit card carefully and immediately contact MPESB through the official channels if any discrepancy is found. The examination centre, shift and reporting time printed on the admit card must be followed. Eligibility remains provisional until verification by the concerned department during the recruitment process.
MPESB helpdesk: 0755-6720200
Toll-free information number: 18002337899
Examination complaints may be sent to complaint.esb@mp.gov.in.