If you are preparing for the MP Nursing Officer recruitment exam, the most important update right now is the exam schedule. The official documents on the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board website show that the Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor Recruitment Test 2026 starts from 15 May 2026. The test is scheduled in two shifts, so candidates should check the admit card carefully for their exact reporting time, exam centre and shift allocation.
Many candidates are also searching for the cut-off, but the timing matters here. Since the exam has not been completed yet, the final category-wise cut-off is not available. At this stage, what you can rely on is the official minimum qualifying mark structure, the exam pattern, the marking scheme, and the way MPESB says results and merit preparation will be handled for a multi-shift online exam.
This guide is built to answer those practical questions clearly. It covers the official exam date, shift timings, application timeline status, exam pattern, negative marking, qualifying marks, eligibility snapshot, admit card process, and what the current cut-off position actually means for candidates.
MP Nursing Officer Exam Date 2026 and shift timings
The official MPESB schedule shows that the Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor Recruitment Test 2026 starts from 15 May 2026. The exam is planned in online mode and may be conducted across multiple shifts.
| Particular | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Exam start date | 15 May 2026 |
| First shift reporting time | 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM |
| First shift instruction reading time | 9:50 AM to 10:00 AM |
| First shift exam time | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Second shift reporting time | 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
| Second shift instruction reading time | 2:50 PM to 3:00 PM |
| Second shift exam time | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
Do not assume that every candidate will be placed in the same shift. Check the admit card carefully once it is released because the exact test city, centre and shift will be printed there.
Application timeline and current status
The exam-date update makes more sense when you see it together with the official application timeline. For candidates who are now only tracking the exam stage, the application window has already closed.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application start date | 6 April 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 20 April 2026 |
| Application correction last date | 25 April 2026 |
| Exam starts from | 15 May 2026 |
This means the present focus for registered candidates should be admit card tracking, revision, document readiness and exam-day planning rather than fresh registration.
Which posts are covered under this exam
This recruitment test covers two healthcare teaching and service-side posts under the Madhya Pradesh public health and medical education setup: Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor. The rulebook is issued for the combined recruitment test for these posts.
In practical terms, candidates should not treat this as a generic nursing entrance test. It is a recruitment examination tied to specific posts under the state health and medical education system. That is why the exam pattern, qualifying marks and result preparation method are framed for recruitment rather than academic admission.
Exam pattern and marks distribution
The official rulebook gives a straightforward exam structure. There is one question paper carrying 100 marks.
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics, General Science and General Aptitude | 25 |
| Subject-related questions | 75 |
| Total | 100 |
This distribution matters because a candidate who is strong only in the nursing subject area but weak in the basic general section can still lose marks that matter around the qualifying range and eventual merit position.
Marking scheme and negative marking
MPESB has clearly mentioned the evaluation method in the rulebook. Each correct objective answer carries 1 mark, and each wrong answer leads to a deduction of 0.25 mark.
- Correct answer: 1 mark
- Wrong answer: minus 0.25 mark
- Mode of test: online objective examination
This means accuracy matters. Blind guessing can reduce your effective score, especially when the paper is competitive and the difference between just qualifying and getting into the merit range may be narrow.
Minimum qualifying marks and present cut-off status
The most important distinction for candidates is the difference between minimum qualifying marks and the final cut-off. The final cut-off has not been released yet because the exam is still pending. What is officially available now is the qualifying benchmark defined in the rulebook.
| Category group | Official minimum qualifying benchmark |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | 50% |
| SC, ST, OBC and PwD | 40% |
The rulebook also mentions relaxation in minimum qualifying marks for EWS candidates under the relevant state order, while selection in the EWS list remains merit-based. Candidates should understand that qualifying marks are only the starting threshold. The actual final cut-off for selection will depend on the number of vacancies, category-wise competition, exam difficulty, normalized scoring across shifts and overall performance of candidates.
How the final cut-off is likely to be prepared
Because this is an online exam conducted in multiple shifts, MPESB has stated that result and merit preparation may use its normalized equi-percentile approach for such exams. The rulebook also says that qualifying marks for any category will be based on the candidate's proportionate score.
- Multi-shift exams are not judged only by raw score comparison across shifts.
- MPESB applies its prescribed normalization and percentile-based result method where applicable.
- Final selection cut-off is therefore expected only after the exam, evaluation and merit preparation are completed.
So, if you are searching for the MP Nursing Officer cut-off 2026 today, the practical answer is this: only the qualifying benchmark is official right now, while the final category-wise selection cut-off will come later with the result and merit process.
Eligibility snapshot for Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor
Even though the main concern here is the exam date, candidates often re-check eligibility at the last stage. The rulebook gives a useful eligibility snapshot for these posts.
- For Nursing Officer direct recruitment: 10+2 with PCB, relevant recognized nursing qualification, and live registration with the Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council.
- For Nursing Officer, the rulebook mentions recognized B.Sc. Nursing or post-basic nursing pathway with the prescribed marks requirement and category relaxation where applicable.
- For Sister Tutor direct recruitment: 10+2 with PCB, B.Sc. Nursing or Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, one year of experience, and live registration with the Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council.
If your documents or registration status are incomplete, resolve them before document verification stage because clearing the exam alone does not guarantee final appointment.
Admit card, reporting and exam day instructions
The test admit card will be made available on the MPESB website and will not be sent separately by post. Candidates must download it online and carry it with the required identification documents mentioned by the board.
- Download the test admit card from the MPESB website.
- Reach the centre within the reporting window printed for your shift.
- Carry the required photo identity proof as instructed.
- Electronic items such as mobile phones, calculators and similar devices are not permitted in the exam hall.
- Late entry after the reporting cut-off can cause loss of exam access.
Since the exam is online and shift-based, reporting discipline is important. Reaching late can create avoidable problems even if you are otherwise fully prepared.
Objection process after the exam and what to track next
After the examination, MPESB allows candidates to raise objections through the online link shown on its website within the prescribed period. The rulebook states that objections are taken online after the link is activated, and a fee is charged per question or answer challenge.
After the exam, candidates should track the following sequence on the official portal:
- Test admit card and exam instructions
- Candidate response or objection window, if activated
- Final answer key or resolution stage
- Result and merit-related update
- Final category-wise cut-off or selection position, if published as part of result-related records
At this stage, the smartest approach is to treat 15 May 2026 as the immediate milestone and view the cut-off as a later result-stage outcome, not something already available.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The MP Nursing Officer and Sister Tutor Recruitment Test 2026 starts from 15 May 2026.
The first shift is from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the second shift is from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with separate reporting windows for each shift.
No. The final post-wise and category-wise cut-off has not been released yet because the exam is still pending.
The rulebook mentions 50% for unreserved candidates and 40% for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates.
Yes. Each wrong answer carries a deduction of 0.25 mark.
The exam carries 100 marks in total.
The test admit card will be made available online on the MPESB website and will not be sent by post.