MP ESB Vanrakshak, Kshetra Rakshak, Jail Prahari & Assistant Jail Superintendent Recruitment 2026

Are you aspiring for a prestigious government career in Madhya Pradesh? The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MP ESB), Bhopal, has released an exciting notification for the Combined Recruitment Exam 2026! This massive recruitment drive, a true Sarkari Naukri opportunity, aims to fill a staggering 1679 vacancies across various departments including Forest Guard, Field Guard, Jail Prahari, and Assistant Jail Superintendent. If you meet the eligibility criteria, this is your golden chance to secure a stable and rewarding position with the Madhya Pradesh government. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 

The online application window for these sought-after posts opens on February 28, 2026, and closes on March 14, 2026. Candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly and apply well before the deadline to avoid last-minute rush. With competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a clear career path, these positions offer a robust start to your professional journey. Read on for a complete breakdown of all the details you need to know to successfully apply!

🎯 Quick Highlights

• Organization: Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MP ESB)
• Post Names: Forest Guard (वनरक्षक), Field Guard (क्षेत्ररक्षक), Jail Prahari (जेल प्रहरी), Assistant Jail Superintendent (सहायक जेल अधीक्षक)
• Total Vacancies: 1679 Posts
• Salary: Up to ₹1,14,800/month (Post-wise)
• Application Start Date: 📅 28 February 2026
• Application Last Date: ⚠️ 14 March 2026 (Apply Soon!)
• Exam Date: 07 April 2026 onwards
• Official Website: esb.mp.gov.in

📋 Vacancy Details (Total: 1679 Posts)

The MP ESB recruitment drive for 2026 features a substantial number of vacancies across four key positions. Here's a detailed, post-wise breakdown:

Forest Guard (वनरक्षक) - Total: 728 Posts

Note: 1% of total vacancies (7 posts) are reserved for National/International outstanding sportspersons and are subsumed within the respective categories. No separate reservation for PwD or women (women selected on merit).

Field Guard (क्षेत्ररक्षक) - Total: 169 Posts

Note: 1% of total vacancies (2 posts) are reserved for National/International outstanding sportspersons and are subsumed within the respective categories. No separate reservation for PwD or women (women selected on merit).

Jail Prahari (जेल प्रहरी) - Total: 757 Posts

Note: 35% horizontal reservation for women. Posts are not reserved for PwD.

Assistant Jail Superintendent (सहायक जेल अधीक्षक) - Total: 25 Posts

Note: 35% horizontal reservation for women. Posts are not reserved for PwD.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before applying. Applications from ineligible candidates will be rejected.

Age Limit: (As on 01 January 2026)

• Minimum Age:
• 18 Years for Forest Guard, Field Guard, Jail Prahari.
• 21 Years for Assistant Jail Superintendent.
• Maximum Age (General/Open Competition):
• 33 Years for all posts.
• Age Relaxation (for Madhya Pradesh Domiciles only):
• Women (Unreserved), SC/ST/OBC, Government Employees, Employees of Corporations/Boards/Autonomous Bodies, Home Guards: Up to 38 years (includes 5 years relaxation).
• Inter-caste Marriage Awardees: Additional 5 years relaxation for spouse.
• Vikram Awardees: Additional 5 years relaxation.
• Retrenched Government Servants: Service period (max 7 years) deducted from age, final age not more than 3 years above max age limit.
• Ex-Servicemen: Service period deducted from age, final age not more than 3 years above max age limit.
• Contract Employees: Up to 55 years (after including all relaxations, overall maximum for contract employees is 55 years).
• Overall Maximum Age Limit (after all relaxations): 38 Years (except for Contract Employees, where it can go up to 55 years).

Educational Qualification:

• Forest Guard (वनरक्षक) & Field Guard (क्षेत्ररक्षक): Candidates must have passed 10th class (High School under 10+2 system or Old Higher Secondary) from a recognized board/institution in Madhya Pradesh.
• Jail Prahari (जेल प्रहरी): Candidates must have passed 10+2 system or Higher Secondary examination from a recognized board.
• Assistant Jail Superintendent (सहायक जेल अधीक्षक): Candidates must hold a Graduation Degree from a recognized University.

Other Essential Criteria:

• Nationality: Indian Citizen is mandatory. Citizens of Nepal or Bhutan may also apply with a valid certificate under MP Civil Services Recruitment Rules 1961.
• MP Employment Exchange Registration: All candidates applying for these posts must have valid registration with the Madhya Pradesh State Employment Exchange. This is mandatory for MP domiciled candidates.
• Domicile: Only MP Domiciles are eligible for reservation and age relaxation benefits. Candidates from other states can apply only under the Unreserved/Open category.

💰 Salary & Benefits

Successful candidates will be appointed with attractive salary packages and benefits. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

• Forest Guard (वनरक्षक) & Field Guard (क्षेत्ररक्षक):
• Pay Scale: ₹19,500 - ₹62,000 (As per 7th Pay Commission)
• Jail Prahari (जेल प्रहरी):
• Pay Scale: ₹5,200 - ₹20,200 + Grade Pay ₹1,900
• 7th Pay Commission Level: Level 4, approx. ₹19,500 - ₹62,000.
• Assistant Jail Superintendent (सहायक जेल अधीक्षक):
• Pay Scale: ₹36,200 - ₹1,14,800
• 7th Pay Commission Level: Level 9.

Probation Period: All selected candidates will undergo a 3-year probation period. During probation, a stipend will be paid:

• First Year: 70% of the minimum pay scale.
• Second Year: 80% of the minimum pay scale.
• Third Year: 90% of the minimum pay scale.

In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates will receive various allowances and benefits as per Madhya Pradesh Government rules from time to time.

📝 Selection Process

The selection for MP ESB Forest Guard, Field Guard, Jail Prahari, and Assistant Jail Superintendent posts involves two main stages:

1. Stage 1: Written Examination (Computer Based Test - CBT)
• Conducted by MP ESB, Bhopal.
• 100 objective-type questions for 100 marks.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Medium: Hindi and English.
• Negative Marking: Yes, 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.
• Qualifying Marks: Unreserved category candidates must score a minimum of 33%, while SC/ST/OBC candidates need 23%. EWS candidates receive a 10% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks.
• Candidates will be shortlisted for the next stage based on their merit in the written exam. For Forest Guard, 5 times the number of vacancies (category-wise, district-wise) will be called. For Jail Prahari and Assistant Jail Superintendent, 10 times the number of vacancies will be called.
2. Stage 2: Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET) / Walk Test
• Conducted by the respective departments (Forest Department for Forest/Field Guard, Jail Department for Jail Prahari/Assistant Jail Superintendent).
• This stage is qualifying in nature; no marks are awarded. Candidates must meet prescribed physical standards and clear the respective physical tests.
• Document Verification: All original documents will be verified during this stage.
3. Final Merit List:
• A final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the written examination, subject to qualifying the Physical Test and Document Verification.
• Tie-breaking Rule: In case of a tie in written exam marks, candidates will be prioritized based on marks in the online exam, and if still tied, then by age (older candidate preferred).

🏋️ Physical Standards & Tests

Meeting the prescribed physical standards and clearing the physical efficiency tests are crucial for selection. Details for each post are as follows:

For Forest Guard (वनरक्षक) & Field Guard (क्षेत्ररक्षक):

Physical Standard	Male	Female
Height	163 cm	150 cm
Chest (Normal)	79 cm	Not Applicable
Chest (Expansion)	5 cm (minimum)	Not Applicable
Walk Test (4 Hours)	25 km	14 km

Note for Forest Guard & Field Guard: SC/ST Male candidates require a minimum height of 152 cm, and SC/ST Female candidates require 145 cm. Chest relaxation of 5 cm (74 cm normal, 79 cm expanded) for Naxal-affected areas of MP.

For Jail Prahari (जेल प्रहरी):

Physical Standard/Test	Male	Female
Height	165 cm	158 cm
Chest (Normal)	83 cm	Not Applicable
800 Meter Run Time	2 min 50 sec (1 attempt)	4 min 00 sec (1 attempt)
Shot Put (Weight)	20 feet (7.260 kg ball) (3 attempts)	16 feet (4.00 kg ball) (3 attempts)

Note for Jail Prahari: Ex-Servicemen have 3 min 15 sec for 800m run and 15 feet (7.260kg) for Shot Put. Visual acuity must be normal. No knock-knees or flat feet. PwD are not eligible.

For Assistant Jail Superintendent (सहायक जेल अधीक्षक):

Physical Standard/Test	Male	Female
Height	168 cm	155 cm
Chest (Normal)	84 cm	Not Applicable
Chest (Expansion)	5 cm (minimum to 89 cm)	Not Applicable
800 Meter Run Time	2 min 40 sec (1 attempt)	3 min 40 sec (1 attempt)
Long Jump	13 feet (3 attempts)	10 feet (3 attempts)
Shot Put (Weight)	19 feet (7.260 kg ball) (3 attempts)	15 feet (4.00 kg ball) (3 attempts)

Note for Assistant Jail Superintendent: Ex-Servicemen have 3 min 15 sec for 800m run and 15 feet (7.260kg) for Shot Put and 10 feet for Long Jump. Visual acuity must be normal. No knock-knees or flat feet. PwD are not eligible.

💳 Application Fee

Candidates must pay a non-refundable application fee as per their category. The fee structure is as follows:

Category	Fee per Question Paper	MPOnline Portal Fee (Kiosk)	Registered Citizen User Login Fee
Unreserved (UR)	₹500/-	₹60/-	₹20/-
SC/ST/OBC/PwD (MP Domicile)	₹250/-	₹60/-	₹20/-

Note: If applying for multiple question papers, the fee is calculated per paper. An additional fee of ₹20 + ₹40 (portal fee) will be charged for application form corrections.

📅 Important Dates

Mark these crucial dates in your calendar so you don't miss any step of the application process:

Event	Date
Application Start Date	28 February 2026
Application Last Date	14 March 2026
Application Correction Start Date	28 February 2026
Application Correction Last Date	19 March 2026
Examination Date	07 April 2026 (Starting From)

🔗 How to Apply Online

Follow these simple steps to successfully apply for the MP ESB Combined Recruitment Exam 2026:

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MP ESB) official portal: www.esb.mp.gov.in.
2. Find Recruitment Link: Look for the "Online Application" or "Recruitment" section on the homepage.
3. Read Notification Carefully: Download and thoroughly read the official notification (Rule Book) for all posts (Forest Guard, Field Guard, Jail Prahari, Assistant Jail Superintendent) to understand eligibility, instructions, and guidelines.
4. New Registration / Login: If you are a new user, complete the one-time registration process. Existing users can log in with their credentials.
5. Fill Application Form: Carefully fill in all mandatory details, including personal information, educational qualifications, and post preferences. Ensure district preference is indicated for Forest Guard posts.
6. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your recent colored photograph, signature, and self-declaration text as per the specified format and size. Ensure your photograph is not older than 3 months and clearly shows both ears.
7. Pay Application Fee: Select your category and preferred payment method (Credit Card/Debit Card/Internet Banking/MPOnline Kiosk) to pay the application fee.
8. Review and Submit: Before final submission, review your entire application form for any errors. Make corrections if necessary (within the correction window and by paying the correction fee).
9. Print Application: After successful submission and fee payment, download and print your application form for future reference.

💡 Important Tips

• Document Readiness: Keep all necessary documents (educational certificates, caste certificates, domicile, employment exchange registration, photo ID, etc.) ready in digital format before starting the application.
• Eligibility Check: Double-check the post-specific eligibility criteria, especially for physical standards and educational qualifications, to avoid disqualification.
• Photo & Signature: Ensure your photograph meets the specified requirements (recent, clear, white background, no glasses unless required, name and date on photo if applicable).
• Early Application: Apply well before the last date to prevent server issues or unexpected technical glitches.
• Multiple Post Preferences: If eligible for multiple posts, carefully select your preferences as per the instructions to ensure your application is considered for all desired roles.
• Stay Updated: Regularly check the official MP ESB website for any announcements or updates regarding the recruitment process, admit cards, or results.