In a sweeping overhaul of Madhya Pradesh’s public recruitment system, the state government has announced plans to introduce a single, UPSC-like entrance examination for all state government jobs.

The reform — spearheaded by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav — aims to eliminate multiple MPPSC exams, streamline the hiring process, and fill over 20,000 police and departmental vacancies with greater speed and transparency.

Under the proposed framework, the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) will conduct one comprehensive, standardised test instead of the current system of separate, department-specific examinations.

Officials said the move would reduce redundancy, minimise delays, and simplify the process for lakhs of job aspirants across the state.

“The new unified model will save time, ensure fairness, and make recruitment truly merit-based,” CM Yadav said, calling the change a long-overdue modernization of the state’s employment machinery.

Ending duplication, ensuring transparency

Currently, the MPPSC conducts a series of individual recruitment exams for different departments — a process often criticised for its lengthy timelines and procedural overlaps. The single-window system is designed to streamline candidate evaluation, standardise question patterns, and improve efficiency across the state’s hiring structure.

Officials say this reform will not only accelerate recruitments but also enhance transparency and accountability, curbing opportunities for irregularities.

Push to fill 20,000 police posts

Among the government’s immediate priorities is the filling of more than 20,000 police vacancies within the next three years. The Chief Minister emphasised that the unified recruitment mechanism would be instrumental in achieving this target, ensuring that “every appointment is fair, fast, and merit-based.”

The overhaul is also expected to shorten the recruitment cycle — from notification to appointment — a process that has historically spanned months or even years.

Building a merit-driven system

While the new system is still under development, ongoing recruitment drives such as the Madhya Pradesh State Eligibility Test (MP SET) 2025 will proceed as scheduled. Registrations for MP SET opened on October 25, 2024, and will continue until November 20, 2025, for candidates aspiring for lectureship and assistant professorship positions.

Officials view the unified exam initiative as a turning point for Madhya Pradesh’s governance model, aligning it more closely with national recruitment standards.

By merging multiple exams into a single, credible system, the Yadav government hopes to restore public confidence, cut red tape, and build a faster, fairer, and more meritocratic framework for government employment.