MPPSC State Service Mains Exam 2026: Online Form, Exam Date, Fee and Full Schedule

Lokesh Rathore 📅 Published: 02 Jul 2026 🔄 Updated: 08 Jul 2026 ⏱ 10 min read

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has opened the online application window for the State Service (Mains) Exam. If you are searching for "MPPSC Mains 2026", this is almost certainly the exam you mean, because the Mains papers themselves are being held in August 2026. But there is an important naming detail every candidate should get straight before filling the form.

Officially, this is the State Service (Mains) Exam 2025, conducted under the original notification Advt No. 45/2024 dated 31.12.2024. It is governed by Vigyapti (Notice) No. 02/Mukhya-Pariksha/2025, dated 20.06.2026, titled "Sanshodhit Pariksha Karyakram" (Revised Exam Schedule), issued by MPPSC. This is a completely different, older recruitment cycle from the newer "State Service Exam 2026" (Advt No. 29/2025, dated 31.12.2025), whose Prelims has not even been conducted yet. If you clear the 2025-cycle Prelims (result declared on 05.03.2025), this Mains notice is for you. If you are still waiting for the 2026-cycle Prelims, this article does not apply to your cycle - do not use any figures from this post for that exam.

Related MPPSC update: MPPSC Assistant Professor admit card 2026 is out for six subjects (exam 12 July).

Why is a "2025" exam happening only in mid-2026?#

Many candidates are understandably confused about the long gap between the Prelims result (March 2025) and the Mains exam (August 2026). The reason is a court matter, not an administrative delay you need to worry about. A writ petition (WP 9253/2025, along with IA No. 14061/2025) was pending before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Once the Court, by its order dated 18.06.2026, permitted the Commission to proceed, MPPSC issued this revised exam schedule within days. In short: the gap is a documented legal process, and the Commission has now been cleared to conduct the Mains exam. Candidates who already qualified in Prelims do not need to worry about the delay itself - they only need to focus on meeting the new deadlines below.

How many vacancies and posts does this cover?#

Multiple news reports and aggregator sources (not the original Advt 45/2024 notification itself, which has not been freshly reviewed for this article) put the total number of posts at approximately 158, combining State Service and State Forest Service vacancies together. Posts commonly mentioned include Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Commercial Tax Officer, District Registrar, and Labour Officer, among others.

Treat this 158 figure as reported, not as an officially reconfirmed number for this specific article. For your exact post-wise and category-wise eligibility, check your own Prelims result letter/category intimation or refer back to the original Advt 45/2024 notification on the MPPSC website. Do not assume any particular post has a fixed number of seats without checking the original vacancy notification yourself.

Key dates: application, correction and admit card#

These are the dates every candidate in this cycle needs on their calendar right now.

Applications and corrections must be done at www.mponline.gov.in or www.mppsc.mp.gov.in. No corrections will be entertained after 17.07.2026, so it is worth submitting your form early rather than waiting until the last day, in case you need to fix an entry afterward.

Day-wise Mains exam schedule (August 2026)#

This is the single most important table on this page, so save or bookmark it. All six papers are subjective/descriptive in nature, using a Structured Answer Copy / Question-Answer Booklet format (explained in the next section).

Notice that the first four General Studies papers run for a full three hours each, while Paper V and Paper VI are shorter, at two hours and two-and-a-half hours respectively. Six exam days in a row is demanding, so plan your revision schedule and rest days accordingly well before 08.08.2026.

Exam format: Structured Answer Copy rule#

All six Mains papers use a Structured Answer Copy, also called a Question-Answer Booklet. This means the booklet itself has a fixed, limited space printed under each question, and you must write your answer only within that space, respecting the prescribed word limit for that question. Answers written outside the designated space, in margins, or on extra sheets are not counted and will be treated as invalid. This is a stricter format than a plain answer sheet where you decide how much space to use, so practising within word limits during your preparation matters as much as knowing the content.

Language and medium rule#

Here is a rule that trips up many candidates every cycle, so read it carefully:

• The four General Studies papers (Paper I to Paper IV) can be answered in either Hindi or English, based on the medium you selected in your application form.
• Paper V (General Hindi and Grammar) and Paper VI (Hindi Essay and Precis/Drafting Writing) must be answered only in Hindi by every candidate - this applies even if you chose English as your medium for the General Studies papers.

In other words, choosing English medium exempts you from writing the General Studies answers in Hindi, but it does not exempt you from Paper V and Paper VI, which stay compulsorily in Hindi for everyone.

Application and exam fee#

If you need to correct your submitted form during the correction window (30.06.2026 to 17.07.2026), an additional correction fee of Rs 50 per correction sitting applies (inclusive of service tax). No corrections of any kind are allowed once 17.07.2026 has passed, so double-check every field, especially your category, medium choice and personal details, before you finalize a correction sitting.

How to apply#

1. Visit www.mponline.gov.in or www.mppsc.mp.gov.in during the application window (25.06.2026 to 15.07.2026).
2. Fill the online Mains application form, choosing your medium of answering for the General Studies papers at this stage.
3. Pay the applicable application/exam fee plus the Rs 40 portal fee through the payment options offered on MP Online.
4. Recheck every entry before final submission. If you spot an error afterward, use the correction window (30.06.2026 to 17.07.2026), keeping in mind the Rs 50 correction fee per sitting.
5. Download your admit card from 03.08.2026 onward, once it is released.

Admit cards are not sent by post, so you must download and print your own copy. If you do not have easy printer access, an MP Online authorised kiosk can give you a printout for a Rs 5 portal fee.

Valid photo ID to carry to the exam centre

Along with your printed admit card, you must carry one of the following original photo IDs to the exam hall:

• Voter ID card
• Aadhaar card (a photocopy is acceptable)
• Driving licence
• PAN card
• Passport
• Bank passbook with photograph
• A photo service-identity card issued by a central/state government body, PSU, local body or other employer
• For candidates currently studying, a photo ID issued by the head of their educational institution, issued within the last 3 years
• A recent photo identity card attested by a Gazetted Officer

Exam centres#

The Mains exam will be held at the following centres: Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Ratlam, Satna, Sagar, Shahdol, Barwani, Ujjain and Balaghat. Keep in mind that the Commission may reduce the number of centres for administrative reasons or depending on the final number of candidates, so always confirm your allotted centre on your admit card rather than assuming it will be your preferred city.

What happens if you miss the last date#

This point deserves its own section because the consequence is final. If you do not submit your online Mains application by 15.07.2026, your candidature for the State Service Exam 2025 (this cycle) will be automatically terminated. No representation or appeal against this termination will be entertained by the Commission. If you cleared Prelims and intend to appear for Mains, there is no safety net for missing this date - treat 15.07.2026 as a hard deadline, not a soft one.

Also be alert to a common scam pattern around application time: do not pay any amount beyond the application fee, exam fee and the Rs 40/Rs 5 portal fees mentioned above. If a cyber cafe or kiosk operator demands extra money to "help" you apply, you can complain directly to the MP Online helpline at 0755-6720200 or 0755-6720201.

How to use the next six weeks#

With roughly six weeks between now and the exam dates in August, your priority should shift from broad revision to answer-writing practice under the Structured Answer Copy format described above, since space and word-limit discipline can cost marks even when your content knowledge is solid. If you are still working out how Prelims-stage preparation differs from what Mains now demands, our guide on MPPSC prelims vs mains strategy walks through that shift in approach. If you are earlier in your MPPSC journey and want a broader foundation first, start with our how to start MPPSC preparation guide. The exam scheme and detailed syllabus for State Service Mains 2025 are published separately on www.mppsc.mp.gov.in; this notice covers only the schedule and application process, not the syllabus content itself.

If you are also tracking other MPPSC recruitment cycles, note that the Commission runs multiple exams in parallel - for instance, see our coverage of the MPPSC Assistant Professor Recruitment 2026, which is a separate exam conducted by the same board.

Frequently asked questions#

When is the MPPSC Mains exam 2026?

The State Service (Mains) Exam 2025 will be held from 08.08.2026 to 13.08.2026, with one paper per day: General Studies Papers I to IV on 08, 09, 10 and 11 August, followed by Paper V (General Hindi and Grammar) on 12 August and Paper VI (Hindi Essay and Precis/Drafting Writing) on 13 August 2026.

What is the last date to apply for MPPSC Mains 2026?

The online application window is open from 25.06.2026 to 15.07.2026. Candidates who do not submit their form by 15.07.2026 will have their candidature for this cycle automatically terminated, with no appeal entertained, so it is best not to wait until the final day.

When will the MPPSC Mains admit card be released?

The admit card will be available for download from 03.08.2026 onward, on www.mponline.gov.in and www.mppsc.mp.gov.in. It is not sent by post; you can print it yourself or get a printout from an MP Online authorised kiosk for a Rs 5 portal fee.

What is the MPPSC Mains application fee?

It is Rs 400 for Madhya Pradesh-domicile SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and PwD (Divyang) candidates, and Rs 800 for all other categories and for candidates residing outside Madhya Pradesh. An additional MP Online portal fee of Rs 40 (including service tax) applies on top of this in every case.

Can I correct my MPPSC Mains application form?

Yes, corrections are allowed from 30.06.2026 to 17.07.2026, for a fee of Rs 50 per correction sitting (inclusive of service tax). No corrections are permitted after 17.07.2026, so review your form carefully before that window closes.

How many vacancies are there in MPPSC State Service 2025?

Multiple news and aggregator sources report approximately 158 total posts across State Service and State Forest Service for this cycle, including posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, Commercial Tax Officer, District Registrar and Labour Officer. This figure has not been independently reconfirmed from the original Advt 45/2024 notification for this article, so treat it as reported rather than certain, and verify your specific post/category eligibility from your Prelims result or the original notification.

Last verified: 1 July 2026 (MPPSC State Service Mains Exam 2025 schedule per the official notice, Vigyapti No. 02/Mukhya-Pariksha/2025 dated 20.06.2026, at mppsc.mp.gov.in). Exam schedules can be revised, so always confirm the latest notice on the official website before making travel or leave plans.

Disclaimer: mprojgarkhabar.com is a private, independent website - NOT an official government portal. Always verify all details on the official website before acting.

About the Author

Lokesh Rathore

Lokesh Rathore is from Madhya Pradesh and has personally prepared for MP government exams such as MPESB (Vyapam) and MPPSC. He has been through the entire process himself - from filling the online form to the exam hall, answer keys and results - so he explains the practical side behind every notification: eligibility doubts, common mistakes, and the right preparation strategy. Through MP Rojgar Khabar, his goal is simple: to give every MP aspirant accurate, trustworthy guidance in one place.