1. Introduction
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) conducts the Police Constable Recruitment Test to find suitable candidates for the state police force. In 2023, a major recruitment drive was launched to fill thousands of positions for Constables in the General Duty and Radio Operator cadres. While the exam aims to fill these spots with capable individuals, recent reports have highlighted a concerning issue regarding vacant posts. According to recent news reports, even after the selection process, around 900 candidates did not report for joining. This has raised suspicions about the fairness of the exam, with investigations revealing that some candidates might have used “solvers” or impersonators to write their exams, leading them to avoid the final verification stage out of fear of being caught.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Start Date | 26/06/2023 |
| Online Application End Date | 10/07/2023 |
| Correction Start Date | 26/06/2023 |
| Correction Last Date | 15/07/2023 |
| Exam Date | Starts from 12/08/2023 |
3. Vacancy Details
Out of the total 7,500 posts initiated in 2023, appointment orders were issued for 6,400 candidates. However, 13% of the posts were withheld due to a court case regarding OBC reservation. Surprisingly, 900 selected candidates did not join. This has left many posts vacant. Authorities suspect that many of these non-joining candidates may have been involved in fraud, such as using fake biometrics or impersonators, and therefore did not show up for final verification.
Official Vacancy Breakdown:
The rule book lists a total of 7,411 posts, divided into General Duty (GD) and Radio cadres.
| Post Category | UR (Open) | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
| Constable (GD) – Special Armed Force | 536 | 536 | 317 | 397 | 198 | 2646 |
| Constable (GD) – Except Special Armed Force | 504 | 504 | 298 | 374 | 186 | 4444 |
| Constable (Radio Operator) | 49 | 49 | 29 | 37 | 18 | 321 |
| Total | 1089 | 1089 | 644 | 808 | 402 | 7411 |
4. Eligibility – Educational Qualification, Age Limit
Educational Qualification:
- Constable (GD): The candidate must have passed the 10th Class exam under the 10+2 system or Higher Secondary or an equivalent exam. For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, passing the 8th Class is sufficient.
- Constable (Radio): The candidate must have passed the 12th Class (10+2 system). Additionally, they must possess a 2-year certificate or diploma in Electronics, Computers, or Telecommunication from a recognized ITI, Polytechnic, or College.
Age Limit and Relaxation:
The age limit is calculated as of July 10, 2023. Due to COVID-19, the government provided a special 3-year relaxation for all categories.
| Category | Maximum Age Limit (Including 3 Years COVID Relaxation) |
| Male (Unreserved/Other State) | 36 Years |
| Male (EWS) | 36 Years |
| Female (All Categories) | 41 Years |
| Male (SC/ST/OBC) | 41 Years |
| Govt. Employees/Home Guard | 41 Years |
| Inter-caste Marriage (Male) | 41 Years |
| Vikram Award Winner (Male) | 41 Years |
5. Physical Standard Details
| Category | Height (Minimum) | Chest (Male Only) |
| Male (Unreserved/OBC) | 168 cm | 79 cm (Normal) – 84 cm (Expanded) |
| Male (SC) | 165 cm | 79 cm (Normal) – 84 cm (Expanded) |
| Male (ST) | 160 cm | 76 cm (Normal) – 81 cm (Expanded) |
| Female (All Categories) | 155 cm | Not Applicable |
6. Physical Efficiency Test Details
The physical test is rigorous and carries 100 marks for General Duty constables. The marks depend on how fast you run or how far you jump.
| Event Name | Details & Scoring Example (Men) | Details & Scoring Example (Women) |
| 800 Meter Run | One chance given. Example: Finishing in less than 124.2 seconds gives a full 40 marks. | One chance given. Example: Finishing in less than 176 seconds gives a full 40 marks. |
| Long Jump | Three chances given. Example: Jumping more than 5.57 meters gives a full 30 marks. | Three chances given. Example: Jumping more than 4.36 meters gives a full 30 marks. |
| Shot Put | Three chances given. Weight: 7.26 kg. Throwing more than 8.76 meters gives a full 30 marks. | Three chances given. Weight: 4 kg. Throwing more than 7.20 meters gives a full 30 marks. |
7. Salary
| Post Name | Pay Scale |
| Constable (All Cadres) | Rs. 19,500 – Rs. 62,000 |
Note: According to the rules, selected candidates receive a stipend of 70% in the first year, 80% in the second year, and 90% in the third year of the minimum pay scale.
8. Selection Process
- Written Examination: This is the first step. It involves an online objective-type test.
- Technical Examination: This applies only to candidates applying for the Radio Operator post.
- Physical Proficiency Test (PPT): Candidates who qualify in the written exam are called for physical tests. For GD posts, the marks from this test are added to the final merit list. For Radio posts, this test is only qualifying in nature.
- Document Verification: This is a crucial step. As noted in the news clipping, biometric verification (fingerprints and photos) is conducted here to stop fraud.
- Medical Test: A health check-up is done to ensure the candidate has no physical disabilities or vision issues.
9. Exam Pattern
The written exam is designed to test general knowledge and mental ability. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Subject Area | Number of Questions | Marks | Time Duration |
| General Knowledge & Logical Knowledge | 40 | 40 | – |
| Intellectual Ability & Mental Aptitude | 30 | 30 | – |
| Science & Simple Arithmetic | 30 | 30 | – |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
10. Admit Card
The admit card is a mandatory document for entering the exam hall. The board releases it on their official website (www.esb.mp.gov.in). The admit card comes in two parts:
- The first part contains the applicant’s details, exam center, and roll number.
- The second part contains the candidate’s permanent body mark and photo ID details.
Candidates must paste a self-attested photo in the second part.
11. Result
After the exam, the results are declared in phases.
- First Phase Result: This result does not show the final status but indicates whether the candidate is “Qualified” or “Disqualified” for the Physical Proficiency Test.
- Final Result: The final merit list is prepared by combining marks from the written test and the physical test (for GD posts). For technical posts, the written and technical marks are combined.
