MP Forest Guard Recruitment 2026: Application Deadline Approaching on March 14
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) in Bhopal has announced that the online application window for the Forest Guard, Field Guard, Jail Prahari, and Assistant Jail Superintendent recruitment examination for the year 2026 will officially close on March 14, 2026. Candidates who have not yet submitted their registration forms are strongly urged to complete the process before this critical deadline to avoid missing out on this significant employment opportunity.
Important Dates and Application Process
The recruitment drive was officially launched with the release of the notification on February 27, 2026, followed by the commencement of online applications starting February 28, 2026. Interested and eligible candidates must submit their applications exclusively through the official MPESB portals at esb.mp.gov.in and esb.mponline.gov.in. It is crucial to note that the board has provided a correction window until March 19, 2026, allowing applicants to rectify any errors in their submitted forms. The computer-based test for the selection process is scheduled to begin from April 07, 2026.
Vacancy Details and Post-Wise Distribution
This recruitment campaign offers a total of 1,679 vacancies across various positions within the Forest Department and the Jail Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The detailed breakdown of available posts is as follows:
- Forest Guard (Van Rakshak): 728 posts
- Field Guard (Kshetra Rakshak): 169 posts
- Jail Prahari (Warder): 757 posts
- Assistant Jail Superintendent: 25 posts
Eligibility Criteria and Age Requirements
The eligibility criteria vary depending on the position. For the roles of Forest Guard, Field Guard, and Jail Prahari, candidates must have successfully passed Class 10 from a recognized board. In contrast, applicants for the Assistant Jail Superintendent post are required to hold a graduate degree from a recognized university.
Regarding age limits, candidates applying for Forest Guard, Field Guard, and Jail Prahari positions must be between 18 and 33 years of age. For the Assistant Jail Superintendent role, the age bracket is set from 21 to 33 years. All age calculations will be based on January 01, 2026. The MPESB has clarified that upper age relaxation will be applicable for candidates belonging to reserved categories, in strict accordance with prevailing government rules and regulations.
Application Fee Structure
The application fee has been structured to accommodate different candidate categories. Applicants from the General, Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories are required to pay Rs 500. However, candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), female, Physically Handicapped (PH), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) categories need to submit a reduced fee of Rs 250. It is mandatory that all payments be made through online modes only; no offline payment methods will be accepted.
Selection Process and Final Stages
The selection process for these government positions will be comprehensive and multi-staged. It will commence with a written examination, followed by a skill test for qualifying candidates. Those who successfully clear these initial stages will be called for subsequent rounds, including document verification and a thorough medical examination, before the final appointment is confirmed.
Prospective applicants are strongly advised to meticulously review the official notification available on the MPESB websites to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and understand the application guidelines. Completing the registration process well before the March 14, 2026 deadline is essential to circumvent any last-minute technical issues or delays that could jeopardize their application.
