MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board for 2784 Krishi Vistar Adhikari (Agriculture Extension Officer) posts across the state. Applications are open from 3 July 2026 to 17 July 2026 through the official portal. The written exam will be conducted on 2 August 2026 in online mode, followed by document verification for shortlisted candidates.
MPESB Recruitment Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Board | Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB), Bhopal |
| Exam Name | Group-2 Sub Group-1 Krishi Vistar Adhikari Recruitment 2026 |
| Post Name | Krishi Vistar Adhikari (Agriculture Extension Officer) |
| Post Code | 01 |
| Total Vacancies | 2784 |
| Department | Directorate of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, MP |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Recruitment Type | Direct Recruitment (Class III, Executive post) |
| Job Location | Madhya Pradesh |
| Official Website | https://esb.mp.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 02/07/2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 03/07/2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 17/07/2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 03/07/2026 to 22/07/2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Before the exam, on esb.mp.gov.in |
| Written Exam Date | From 02/08/2026 (Sunday) |
Exam Shift Timings
| Shift | Reporting Time | Instruction Reading | Exam Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Shift | 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM | 8:50 AM to 9:00 AM | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (3 hours) |
| Second Shift | 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM | 2:20 PM to 2:30 PM | 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (3 hours) |
Candidates who arrive after the reporting time will not be permitted to enter the exam centre.
Vacancy Breakdown
| Category | Total Posts |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 1126 |
| EWS | 444 |
| SC | 316 |
| ST | 122 |
| OBC | 776 |
| Total | 2784 |
Category-Wise and Horizontal Reservation Details
| Category | Open | Women | Ex-Serviceman (Open) | Ex-Serviceman (Women) | Contract (Open) | Contract (Women) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR | 528 | 260 | 76 | 38 | 150 | 74 | 1126 |
| EWS | 208 | 102 | 30 | 14 | 60 | 30 | 444 |
| SC | 148 | 74 | 22 | 10 | 42 | 20 | 316 |
| ST | 58 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 122 |
| OBC | 364 | 180 | 50 | 26 | 104 | 52 | 776 |
| Total | 1306 | 644 | 186 | 92 | 372 | 184 | 2784 |
Women candidates receive 35% horizontal reservation, and ex-servicemen receive 10% reservation in all Class III posts. A total of 168 posts are reserved for Divyangjan (PwD) candidates across VH, HH, LD and MD categories, distributed proportionally within each category’s open posts.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or a related agricultural discipline are eligible to apply. The degree must be fully completed on or before the date of application submission. As per the official rulebook, candidates must also be domiciled in Madhya Pradesh (except for unreserved posts) and registered with an Employment Office in the state.
Educational Qualification
The minimum educational qualification for the MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026 is a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. The qualification must be fully completed on or before the application submission date. Final-year or result-awaited candidates are not eligible. Candidates must enter their marksheet number, marks obtained, and maximum marks in the online application form.
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age (as on 01/01/2026) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (Open direct recruitment) | 40 years |
| SC / ST / OBC candidates (MP domicile) | 45 years |
| Women candidates of MP (reserved and unreserved) | 45 years |
| MP Government / Corporation / Board employees, Home Guards, Divyangjan (PwD) | 45 years |
| EWS candidates | 40 years (no age relaxation) |
| Contract (Samvida) employees and Rule-14 priority categories | Up to 55 years (as per relaxation rules) |
The minimum age for all candidates is 18 years. SC, ST, and OBC candidates who are domiciles of Madhya Pradesh receive 5 years’ age relaxation above the unreserved limit, raising their maximum age to 45 years. Women candidates across all categories get 5 years’ relaxation, whether reserved or unreserved. EWS candidates receive no age relaxation and follow the unreserved age limit of 40 years. Government employees, home guards, and contract workers with eligible service records may claim relaxation up to 55 years as per applicable departmental rules.
Who Should Consider This Recruitment?
- Holders of a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or allied agricultural sciences are eligible to apply.
- Candidates aged 18 to 40 years (unreserved) or 18 to 45 years (reserved categories) meeting the educational requirement should apply.
- Residents of Madhya Pradesh who are registered with an Employment Office in the state qualify under domicile requirements; non-domicile candidates may apply only for unreserved posts without any fee concession or age relaxation.
- Women candidates receive 35% horizontal reservation across all categories, making this a strong opportunity for female applicants.
- Contract employees with a minimum of five years of continuous service and ex-servicemen are eligible under their respective quotas with extended age relaxation up to 55 years.
About the Agriculture Extension Officer Role
Krishi Vistar Adhikari (Agriculture Extension Officer) posts in the Directorate of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development involve extension work, farmer education, and the dissemination of agricultural technologies across Madhya Pradesh. These officers act as a link between the agriculture department and farming communities, advising on crop selection, sustainable practices, integrated pest management, soil conservation, and post-harvest handling. The role requires fieldwork in rural and semi-urban areas, interaction with farmer groups, organisation of training programmes, and periodic reporting to district agriculture offices. As a Class III executive post under the 7th Pay Commission, this career path offers structured promotion to supervisory and management roles within the agriculture department over time.
Pay Scale and Benefits
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale | Rs. 25,300 – 80,500 (Class III) |
| Probation Period | 3 years |
| First Year Stipend | 70% of minimum (approximately Rs. 17,710/month) |
| Second Year Stipend | 80% of minimum (approximately Rs. 20,240/month) |
| Third Year Stipend | 90% of minimum (approximately Rs. 22,770/month) |
| After Probation | Full pay scale with admissible allowances |
Selected candidates are appointed in Pay Level 5 (Class III). During the three-year probation period, a stipend is paid instead of the full salary as per the Madhya Pradesh General Administration Department circular dated 12 December 2019. Upon successful completion of probation, candidates receive the regular pay scale of Rs. 25,300-80,500 along with dearness allowance, house rent allowance (if applicable), and other statutory benefits applicable to Class III government employees.
Application Fee
| Category | Exam Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) candidates | Rs. 500 |
| SC / ST / OBC / EWS candidates (MP domicile) | Rs. 250 |
| Divyangjan (PwD) candidates (MP domicile) | Rs. 250 |
| Direct Recruitment – Backlog posts | No fee |
In addition to the exam fee, an MP Online portal fee of Rs. 60 applies if the form is filled through an authorised kiosk, or Rs. 20 if filled through a registered citizen user login. Candidates making corrections during the correction window must pay Rs. 20 per correction plus Rs. 40 portal fee per correction. Payment can be made through credit card, debit card, net banking, or at an authorised MP Online kiosk.
Selection Process
The selection process for MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026 consists of a single online written examination followed by document verification. There is no interview round. The written exam is of 200 marks, conducted in online mode for 3 hours, with two parts: General Knowledge section (100 marks) and subject-based Agriculture section (100 marks).
After the exam, MPESB prepares a normalised merit list using the Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling technique if the exam is held in multiple shifts. A waiting list equivalent to 15% of total posts remains valid for one year or until the next recruitment result, whichever is earlier. Document verification is conducted by the Directorate of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, not by MPESB. Appointment orders are issued within a maximum of three months from the date of the selection list.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
- Unreserved (UR) candidates: 50% of total marks
- SC / ST / OBC / EWS / Divyangjan candidates: 40% of total marks (with 10% relaxation)
EWS candidates are eligible for a 10% relaxation in qualifying marks, but their final selection is made on merit from the EWS candidates’ list only.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The written exam consists of a single question paper of 200 marks to be solved in 3 hours. Part A covers General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Maths, General Reasoning Ability, General Science, and General Computer Knowledge (100 marks total). Part B comprises subject-based questions on Agriculture and Horticulture (100 marks). All questions are objective type (MCQ) with four options each, available in both Hindi and English medium.
Each correct answer carries 1 mark. Negative marking is applied: 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer as per the official rulebook. Candidates must confirm their raw score (number of correct answers) on the computer screen before submitting the exam. Objections against questions can be filed online within three days of the objection link opening, with a fee of Rs. 150 per question. There is no provision for re-evaluation or re-totalling after the result is declared.
Part A: General Subjects (100 Marks)
- General Knowledge
- General Hindi
- General English
- General Maths
- General Reasoning Ability
- General Science
- General Computer Knowledge
Part B: Agriculture Subject Syllabus (100 Marks)
The agriculture section covers General Agriculture (importance in the national economy), Agronomy (major crops of MP, agro-techniques, farming systems, sustainable agriculture, agro-meteorology, agro-climatic zones), Soil Science (composition, physical and chemical properties, nutrient management, problem soils), Soil and Water Conservation (watershed management), Plant Physiology (nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, respiration, growth regulation), Crop Improvement (genetics and plant breeding), Horticulture (package of practices for fruits, vegetables, spices, nursery management, post-harvest handling), Plant Protection (pest and disease management, integrated pest management, pesticide safety), Agricultural Economics (principles applied to farming, farm planning, marketing, regulated markets in MP including e-Chaupal), and Agricultural Extension Education (philosophy, extension organisations, communication methods, farmer organisations, training, rural development programmes).
Exam Cities
The written exam will be conducted in the following 11 cities across Madhya Pradesh. Applicants must select four exam city preferences (in order of priority) while filling out the online application form. Exam centres are allotted randomly, subject to seat availability, and MPESB’s decision on centre allotment is final.
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Jabalpur
- Khandwa
- Neemuch
- Ratlam
- Rewa
- Sagar
- Satna
- Sidhi
- Ujjain
Documents Required
Documents to Upload with the Online Application
- Recent colour photograph (white background, not older than three months, with candidate’s name and date of photograph printed on it, both ears clearly visible)
- Scanned signature (short signatures, signatures in capital letters, or multiple signatures not accepted)
- Handwriting sample (two lines in the candidate’s own handwriting, in the prescribed format)
- Class 8th / 10th / 12th marksheet as proof of date of birth
- Caste/category certificate (SC / ST / OBC / EWS) issued by a competent MP authority (where applicable)
- Disability certificate for Divyangjan candidates, issued by the competent authority
- Contract service certificate (minimum five years of continuous Samvida service) for contract employee quota claimants
- NCC ‘C’ certificate or other bonus-mark certificates, where applicable
Documents to Carry on Exam Day
- Admit card (Test Admit Card – TAC) downloaded from esb.mp.gov.in, with Part 2 entries duly filled
- Original photo ID: Voter ID, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence or Passport (e-Aadhaar printout valid only if verified by UIDAI)
- Black ballpoint pen
How to Apply for MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026
Only online applications are accepted; offline applications will be rejected. The application window is open from 3 July 2026 to 17 July 2026.
- Visit the official MPESB website esb.mp.gov.in or the MP Online portal mponline.gov.in.
- Locate and open the application link for “Group-2 Sub Group-1 Krishi Vistar Adhikari Recruitment Test 2026”.
- Read the official rulebook and all eligibility conditions carefully before beginning the form.
- Fill in your personal details, Aadhaar number or VID, permanent body identification marks, photo ID details, and educational qualification details (marksheet number, marks obtained, maximum marks).
- Upload a photograph, signature and handwriting sample in the prescribed JPG format and file size specifications.
- Select four exam city preferences in order of priority.
- Pay the application fee through credit card, debit card, net banking or an authorised MP Online kiosk.
- Submit the form, note down your application number, and keep a printout of the application and fee receipt for future reference. You will need the application number to download your admit card.
Complete your application well before the deadline to avoid last-minute portal congestion or technical issues. The correction window remains open until 22 July 2026; use this period to fix any errors in your form. Aadhaar-based biometric verification will be conducted at the exam centre, so ensure your Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked before exam day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Applying
- Uploading a photograph outside the prescribed specifications (white background, colour, not older than three months, with name and date printed, both ears visible) â the form will reject non-compliant images during upload.
- Entering an incomplete or incorrect Aadhaar number â Aadhaar is mandatory, and biometric verification at the exam centre will fail if the number does not match.
- Selecting more than four exam cities or failing to prioritise them correctly â only four preferences can be selected, and MPESB allocates centres randomly without regard to preference order.
- Submitting the application form with an incomplete educational qualification (e.g., result-awaited or final-year status) â only candidates with fully completed Bachelor’s degrees are eligible; this is verified during document verification, and candidature may be cancelled.
- Claiming age relaxation, reservation, or fee concession without valid supporting documents (caste certificate, disability certificate, contract service certificate) â these will be verified during document verification, and false claims lead to cancellation of candidature and legal action.
Important Instructions for Applicants
Aadhaar registration is compulsory, and multi-level Aadhaar-enabled biometric verification will be done at the exam centre. Keep your Aadhaar biometrics unlocked on the exam day; entry to the exam will be denied otherwise. Entry to the exam centre is allowed only up to the reporting time; latecomers will not be admitted under any circumstances.
Mobile phones, calculators, log tables, digital watches, sunglasses, whitener, and all electronic devices are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall. Carrying or using such items is treated as an Unfair Means (UFM) case, which leads to disqualification. Candidates cannot leave the exam hall before the exam ends. The educational qualification must be completed on or before the date of applying; final-year or result-awaited candidates are not eligible.
Eligibility in the online exam is purely provisional. Certificates are verified by the department during the appointment process. Any wrong information or impersonation leads to the cancellation of candidature. Impersonation cases also invite an FIR and legal action. No correction of any kind is allowed after the correction window closes on 22 July 2026, and no correction is entertained after the admit card is issued.
Objections to questions can be submitted only online within three days of the objection link opening, at Rs. 150 per question. Travel expense reimbursement for eligible MP domicile SC / ST / OBC and PwD candidates is paid by the department through e-payment; submit bank details in Proforma-1 with the required enclosures. For application-related help, contact the MP Online helpdesk at 0755-6720200 or the MPESB toll-free number 18002337899. Complaints can be emailed to [email protected].
What Happens After You Apply
- Application window closes on 17/07/2026.
- The application correction window remains open until 22/07/2026 for candidates who need to fix errors.
- Admit card (Test Admit Card – TAC) is released on esb.mp.gov.in before 02/08/2026; download it using your application number.
- Written exam is held on 02/08/2026 (Sunday) in two shifts at allotted exam centres across 11 cities.
- MPESB prepares the merit list using Normalised Equi-Percentile (NEP) scaling and publishes it on the official website.
- Document verification is conducted by the Directorate of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development for shortlisted candidates.
- The final selection list is released following successful document verification.
- Appointment orders are issued within a maximum of three months from the selection list date.
- Selected candidates report for joining as per the appointment order and undergo a three-year probation period.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Visit Website |
| Apply Online (MPESB Portal) | Apply Now |
| Apply Online (MP Online Portal) | Apply Now |
| Download Official Notification | Download Notification |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026, and how many posts are available?
Ans. MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer Recruitment 2026 is a direct recruitment drive by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board for 2784 Krishi Vistar Adhikari posts in the Directorate of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development. These are Class III executive positions filled through a single online written exam followed by document verification. The posts are distributed across 5 categories (UR, EWS, SC, ST, OBC) with horizontal reservations for women (35%), ex-servicemen (10%), and Divyangjan (PwD) candidates.
Q2. What is the educational qualification required for the MPESB Agriculture Extension Officer?
Ans. A Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or a related agricultural discipline from a recognised university is required. The degree must be fully completed on or before the date of submitting the online application. Candidates with final-year or result-awaited degrees are not eligible. The marksheet number, marks obtained, and maximum marks of the qualifying degree must be entered in the online form and verified during document verification.
Q3. What is the age limit, and is there relaxation for reserved categories?
Ans. The minimum age for all candidates is 18 years. The maximum age limit is 40 years for unreserved (UR) and EWS candidates. SC, ST, and OBC candidates who are domiciles of Madhya Pradesh receive 5 years’ relaxation, raising their maximum age to 45 years. Women candidates across all categories receive 5 years’ age relaxation (45 years maximum). Government employees, home guards, contract workers, and Divyangjan candidates may claim relaxation up to 55 years as per applicable rules. Age is calculated as of 1 January 2026.
Q4. How many vacancies are there for women candidates in this recruitment?
Ans. A total of 644 posts (approximately 23% of 2784 total posts) are reserved for women candidates across all categories. Women receive 35% horizontal reservation in all Class III posts, as per Madhya Pradesh recruitment rules. These women’s posts are distributed across UR, EWS, SC, ST, and OBC categories proportionally. Additionally, women candidates from reserved categories also get age relaxation up to 45 years.
Q5. What is the exam pattern, and how is negative marking applied?
Ans. The exam consists of a single question paper of 200 marks to be solved in 3 hours. Part A has 100 marks on General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Maths, General Reasoning Ability, General Science, and General Computer Knowledge. Part B has 100 marks on subject-based Agriculture and Horticulture topics. All questions are objective type (MCQ) with four options each, in Hindi and English medium. Each correct answer carries 1 mark, and 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer (negative marking). The minimum qualifying marks are 50% for unreserved candidates and 40% for reserved candidates (with 10% relaxation for EWS).
Q6. What is the application fee, and is there any concession for reserved categories?
Ans. The application fee is Rs. 500 for unreserved (UR) candidates and Rs. 250 for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and Divyangjan (PwD) candidates who are Madhya Pradesh domiciles. Backlog/direct recruitment posts have no fee. An additional MP Online portal fee of Rs. 60 (kiosk) or Rs. 20 (citizen login) is applicable. Candidates making corrections during the correction window (until 22 July 2026) must pay Rs. 20 per correction plus Rs. 40 portal fee. Payment is through credit card, debit card, net banking, or an authorised MP Online kiosk.
Q7. When is the application deadline, and when is the exam scheduled?
Ans. The online application window is open from 3 July 2026 to 17 July 2026. The application correction window extends until 22 July 2026. The admit card will be released before the exam on esb.mp.gov.in. The written exam is scheduled for 2 August 2026 (Sunday) in two shifts: First Shift 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Second Shift 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Candidates must report by the specified reporting time; latecomers will not be admitted.
Q8. Is Aadhaar mandatory, and what is the biometric verification process?
Ans. Yes, Aadhaar registration is mandatory for all candidates. Multi-level Aadhaar-enabled biometric verification will be conducted at the exam centre on exam day. Your Aadhaar biometrics must be unlocked at the time of verification; if they are locked, entry to the exam centre will be denied. Ensure your Aadhaar number is correctly entered in the online application form and that your biometrics are active and accessible.
