MP Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) Recruitment 2026: 728 Posts, Exam Pattern and Physical Standards
Application status: CLOSED. The online form for MP Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) Recruitment 2026 is no longer open. If you applied during the window, your job now is to prepare. This page is an exam-stage details guide, not an apply-now page. What comes next, in order, is the admit card release, the written exam conducted by MPESB, and then the physical measurement and walk test conducted by the Forest Department. Below is the full breakdown of vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern and physical standards exactly as written in the official rule book.
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB, the body many people still call Vyapam) is recruiting Van Rakshak (Forest Guard) for the MP Forest Department. The post sits in the executive cadre, and it is a district-cadre post. That second detail matters more than it sounds: your merit and your appointment are tied to the district you picked on the form. Choose well, because that choice shapes your real odds.
One point to settle up front. The Van Rakshak vacancies came inside a single combined MPESB notification that also covered Kshetra Rakshak (Field Guard), Jail Prahari and Assistant Jail Superintendent. Those other posts carry their own separate vacancies and their own physical standards. This article covers Forest Guard / Van Rakshak only, so do not mix the numbers across posts.
MP Forest Guard Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), for the MP Forest Department |
| Post name | Van Rakshak (Forest Guard), executive cadre, district cadre |
| Total vacancies | 728 (per Forest Dept letter dated 23.12.2025, subject to district roster) |
| Pay scale | Rs. 15,500 to Rs. 62,000 |
| Qualification | 10th pass (High School) from a recognised board |
| Age (as on 01.01.2026) | 18 to 33 years for open category; up to 38 years for relaxed categories |
| Application fee | Rs. 500 unreserved; Rs. 250 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS of MP, plus MP Online portal charge |
| Application opened | 28 February 2026 |
| Last date | 14 March 2026, extended by corrigendum (reported up to about 30 April 2026), now CLOSED |
| Selection | Written exam, then physical measurement, then walk test |
| Official website | esb.mp.gov.in |
Eligibility: Who Could Apply
The qualification bar here is deliberately low, which is a big part of why this recruitment pulls such heavy competition.
- Education: A 10th pass (High School) certificate from a recognised board. Nothing higher is asked for the post.
- Age: Counted as on 01 January 2026. Open and general candidates had to be between 18 and 33 years. A 5-year relaxation lifts the upper limit to 38 years for women, SC, ST and OBC candidates, government employees, Nagar Sainik and similar categories.
- Non-MP candidates: If you are not a resident of Madhya Pradesh, you could apply only against unreserved posts. No age relaxation and no reservation benefit applies.
Selection Process Step by Step
Plenty of candidates assume the physical test decides everything. It does not. Here is how the stages actually fit together.
- Written exam (MPESB): The board conducts an objective written exam. This is the only stage that carries marks toward final merit.
- Physical measurement (Forest Department): Height and chest are checked. Qualifying only, no marks awarded.
- Walk test or Paidal Chaal (Forest Department): A timed walk over a set distance. Again qualifying only, no marks.
Two rules govern the flow, and both are worth fixing in your head. First, the final merit list is built entirely on the written exam score, and it is prepared district-wise because this is a district-cadre post. Second, after the written result, candidates up to 5 times the vacancies in each district are called for the physical measurement and walk, in order of merit. Clearing the cutoff alone will not carry you through. You need a score high enough to land inside that 5x band for your chosen district.
This is why the district you picked at application time matters so much. A district with a handful of vacancies needs a far stronger written score to enter the 5x list than a district with many vacancies.
Written Exam Pattern
The written paper is simple in structure, and the rules carry one piece of good news.
- Total marks: 100
- Duration: 2 hours
- Language: Bilingual, set in both Hindi and English
- Type: Objective (multiple choice)
- Negative marking: None. MPESB combined recruitment tests do not deduct marks for wrong answers, so attempt every question.
The minimum qualifying marks are 33% for unreserved candidates and 23% for SC, ST and OBC candidates. EWS candidates get a 10% relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks. Treat these figures as the floor, not the target. Since merit is district-wise and only 5x candidates move ahead, your real goal is to score well above the bare minimum.
Physical Standards (Forest Guard / Van Rakshak)
These standards apply to Van Rakshak specifically. Remember that the other posts in the same notification use different numbers.
| Category | Height | Chest (normal / after expansion) |
|---|---|---|
| Male (general) | 163 cm | 79 cm, minimum 5 cm expansion |
| Male (SC/ST) | 152 cm | 79 cm, minimum 5 cm expansion |
| Male (MP Naxal-affected areas) | As above | 74 cm normal / 79 cm after expansion (relaxed) |
| Female (general) | 150 cm | Not required |
| Female (SC/ST) | 145 cm | Not required |
For women, the chest measurement does not apply. One medical rule is worth noting: a woman found to be 12 weeks or more pregnant is declared temporarily unfit for the physical at that time. A medical fitness certificate is required before appointment in every case.
Walk Test (Paidal Chaal)
The walk is a genuine endurance check, so do not push preparation for it to the last week.
- Male: 25 km in 4 hours
- Female: 14 km in 4 hours
The walk is qualifying only and carries no marks. Two practical points from the rule book: you must reach the venue 60 minutes before the reporting time, and the admit card is mandatory for both the physical measurement and the walk. Turn up without it and you will not be allowed to take the test.
How to Download the Admit Card
The admit card for the written exam and the physical stage is issued online by MPESB. There is no postal copy. The basic steps:
- Open the official website, esb.mp.gov.in.
- Find the Forest Guard / Van Rakshak (Jail/Van 2026) admit card link on the home page.
- Log in using your application number and date of birth or password.
- Check every detail on the card, then download and print at least two copies.
Carry the admit card with a valid photo ID to every stage. As noted above, it is mandatory for the physical and the walk.
For more posts at this stage, see our Latest Jobs section, and you can track every MPESB update in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Forest Guard vacancies are there in 2026?
There are 728 Van Rakshak (Forest Guard) posts, per the Forest Department letter dated 23.12.2025. The number can shift slightly with the district roster.
What is the educational qualification for MP Forest Guard?
A 10th pass (High School) certificate from a recognised board is enough. No higher qualification is needed.
What is the height requirement for Van Rakshak?
Male candidates need 163 cm (152 cm for SC/ST). Female candidates need 150 cm (145 cm for SC/ST). Male candidates also need a 79 cm chest with at least 5 cm expansion, relaxed to 74 cm normal in MP Naxal-affected areas.
What is the walk test distance?
Male candidates walk 25 km in 4 hours and female candidates walk 14 km in 4 hours. The walk is qualifying only and carries no marks.
Is there negative marking in the written exam?
No. MPESB combined recruitment tests do not carry negative marking, so it makes sense to attempt every question.
What is the salary of an MP Forest Guard?
The pay scale is Rs. 15,500 to Rs. 62,000, along with the usual government allowances as applicable.
A Note Before You Plan
The exam date for this recruitment was scheduled and then revised more than once, so do not treat any single date floating around as final. Confirm the current exam and admit-card dates only on the official site, esb.mp.gov.in, before you make any travel or leave plans.
Last verified: June 2026 (official MPESB rule book). Always cross-check the latest exam date, admit-card date and any corrigendum on the official website esb.mp.gov.in before acting.
Disclaimer: mprojgarkhabar.com is a private, independent website - NOT an official government portal. Always verify all details on the official website before acting.
