If you have an LLB and you live in Madhya Pradesh, this is one of the few state jobs where your degree is the whole ticket. No coding round, no typing test, no running track. Just law, MP general knowledge, and an interview.
And this year the news got better. MPPSC first advertised 17 posts in March 2026. In July it issued a corrigendum and pushed the count to 107. That single change turned a nearly impossible fight into a real one.
Latest notification and important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. 03/2026 released | 10 March 2026 |
| First application window | 9 April to 8 May 2026 |
| Corrigendum No. 01/03/2026 (vacancies raised to 107) | 6 July 2026 |
| Re-opened application window | 10 July to 24 July 2026 |
| Free correction window | till 26 July 2026 |
| Late-fee window (₹3,000) | last week of July 2026 |
| Extended late-fee window (₹25,000) | early August to 23 September 2026 |
| Admit card | around 8 October 2026 (tentative) |
| Written exam (CBT) | 18 October 2026 |
| Interview | to be announced |
Two warnings. The exact late-fee dates differ across coaching websites, so open the corrigendum PDF on the MPPSC site before you pay anything. And if you already applied under the March notification, you do not have to apply again. Your old form counts. Keep an eye on our exam news page for the interview schedule once MPPSC puts it out.
What the job actually is
An Assistant District Prosecution Officer fights criminal cases on behalf of the State. The police file the challan, and you are the person who takes that case into court and argues it. You are a Gazetted Class II officer under the Home Department of Madhya Pradesh.
Day to day, you sit in the district or tehsil court. You read case diaries, examine prosecution witnesses, cross-examine defence witnesses, and argue on bail, framing of charge and sentencing. You also advise the police on weak spots in an investigation before the chargesheet goes in.
It is court work, not desk work. If you enjoy standing up and arguing, you'll like it. If you wanted a quiet file-pushing job, look elsewhere. Postings are across MP districts, and transfers within the state are normal.
Vacancy details
The original advertisement had 17 posts. The corrigendum raised the total to 107 posts. The revised category-wise split sits inside the corrigendum, and MPPSC also applies a horizontal reservation for women that needs an MP domicile certificate.
The old split shows how thin it was before: 16 unreserved, 1 SC, 1 ST. With 107 posts, every category now has a workable number. Do not plan on the old figure.
Eligibility
Education. A Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent from a university recognised in India. The degree must be complete before the last date of application, so final-year students cannot apply. Bar Council enrolment is expected, and a first division in law or a few years of actual practice carries weight at selection.
Age. 21 to 40 years as on 1 January 2027.
| Category | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| Unreserved / other state candidates | 40 years |
| SC / ST / OBC / EWS (MP domicile) | 45 years |
| Women (MP domicile) | 45 years |
| MP government servants / contract staff | 45 years |
| Persons with disability (MP domicile) | additional relaxation as per Appendix-1 |
Relaxations follow Appendix-1 of the notification. Read it. MP rules are generous to domicile holders and strict on candidates from other states.
Domicile. Anyone can apply, but reservation, the lower fee and most relaxations need an MP domicile certificate. Without it you compete as an unreserved outsider at the full fee.
Physical standards. None. There is no PET or medical stage.
Application process and fee
| Head | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unreserved and other-state candidates | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / OBC / EWS (MP domicile) | ₹250 |
| MPOnline portal charge (everyone) | ₹40 |
| Form correction | ₹50 per correction |
| Late fee (first window) | ₹3,000 |
| Late fee (second window) | ₹25,000 |
Yes, ₹25,000 is real. MPPSC uses a steep late fee to stop last-minute crowding.
Steps: register on MPOnline, fill the form on mppsc.mp.gov.in, upload photo, signature, LLB degree, caste and domicile certificates, pay by net banking, UPI or kiosk, and save the printout. Check your category and domicile entries twice, because a wrong tick gets forms rejected at document verification.
Exam pattern
Selection has two stages: one written CBT, then an interview.
Stage 1: Computer-based test (450 marks)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Awareness (MP 35, India 10, World 5) | 50 | 150 |
| B | Law | 100 | 300 |
| Total | 150 | 450 |
Duration is 3 hours. Each correct answer gives 3 marks and each wrong answer costs 1 mark. The paper is bilingual, Hindi and English.
Stage 2: Interview (50 marks)
Final merit is CBT plus interview, out of 500. The interview is short and mostly tests whether you can talk about criminal law like a lawyer, not a student.
Detailed syllabus
Part A: General Awareness (150 marks)
Madhya Pradesh carries 35 of the 50 questions, so treat MP as the main subject here, not a side topic.
- MP history and culture: dynasties, freedom movement in MP, tribes, folk dances, fairs, festivals, literature.
- MP geography: rivers, ranges, national parks and sanctuaries, climate, soils, minerals, districts and divisions.
- MP polity and administration: state legislature, panchayati raj, state commissions.
- MP economy and schemes: crops, industries, power projects, current state welfare schemes.
- India GK: Constitution basics, national movement, economy, polity, science.
- World GK: organisations, capitals, major events.
- Current affairs: last 10 to 12 months, with MP news weighted heavily.
- Computer awareness: basic hardware, software, internet and cyber terms.
Our General Awareness guide covers the national portion, and daily current affairs updates handle the moving part.
Part B: Law (300 marks)
This is where the exam is won. The syllabus is spread over roughly ten units and is heavily criminal-law focused.
- Constitution of India, Indian Penal Code, Probation of Offenders Act
- Code of Criminal Procedure, Motor Vehicles Act, maintenance provisions
- Indian Evidence Act, POCSO Act, Arms Act
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, Essential Commodities Act
- Wildlife Protection Act, Information Technology Act
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act
- Right to Information Act, NDPS Act
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, security proceedings
- Prevention of Corruption Act, Juvenile Justice Act
- MP state laws such as the MP Excise Act and MP Security Act
Note that MPPSC has historically framed questions on the older codes (IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act) as well as the new criminal laws. Read whatever the current notification names, and be comfortable with section numbers on both sides.
Salary and career growth
The notification quotes the pay scale as ₹9,300 to ₹34,800 with Grade Pay ₹4,200, a Gazetted Class II post. After the MP pay matrix is applied, a fresh ADPO's basic works out to roughly ₹36,000, and with DA, HRA and other allowances the in-hand lands around ₹55,000 to ₹65,000 depending on posting city. Treat that as an estimate. You also get government housing where available, medical cover and travel allowance for court duty.
Promotion runs ADPO to District Prosecution Officer, then Deputy Director, then Joint Director and Director. Movement is decent because the department is small. Add the professional value: you argue criminal cases daily, which makes you a sharper lawyer than most of your batchmates.
Previous year cut-off
MPPSC does not release ADPO cut-offs cleanly, and this exam runs irregularly. What floats around online is expected data, not official data.
| Category | Expected cut-off (out of 450) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | 360 to 370 |
| OBC | 355 to 368 |
| SC | 345 to 358 |
| ST | 330 to 342 |
Use these as a rough target only. With 107 posts instead of 17, the cut-off this year should drop noticeably. Aim for 370 plus and you're safe in almost any scenario.
Books and preparation strategy
Bare Acts first. Not commentaries, not thick guidebooks. MPPSC asks section-number questions, and no summary will save you there. Keep bare acts of IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act and the current criminal codes on your table and read them every day. For understanding, use Ratanlal and Dhirajlal for IPC and CrPC, Batuk Lal for Evidence, and any standard MP GK book for Part A.
Month 1 and 2: Finish IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act cover to cover. One reading with notes, one revision. Start 30 minutes of MP GK daily alongside.
Month 3: Move to the special acts. POCSO, NDPS, Arms, Domestic Violence, Dowry, SC/ST Act, JJ Act, PC Act, RTI, IT Act. These are short. Learn definitions and punishments, since that's what gets asked.
Last 4 weeks: MP state acts, current affairs, then only mock tests. Sit for a full 450-mark mock test at exam timing, analyse every wrong answer, and go back to the bare act section behind each mistake. Use topic-wise practice sets to fix weak acts one at a time.
If you're building a schedule from zero, our study plan tool will lay out the weeks for you, and the Reading Room has free material for the general awareness half.
Common mistakes and honest advice
Most candidates over-prepare law theory and ignore Part A. That's 150 marks sitting there, and MP GK is far easier to score than a tricky Evidence Act question. Leave it for the last month and you'll lose 40 to 50 marks you had no reason to lose.
The second mistake is skipping the special acts because they feel small. They carry a big chunk of Part B and they are the easiest marks in the paper.
Third, negative marking. At minus 1 per wrong answer, wild guessing across 30 questions can cost you a rank. Guess only when you can cut it to two options.
And be honest about the interview. Fifty marks can move you 20 ranks either way. Practise speaking about a recent criminal case out loud, in Hindi, because that's usually the language of the room.
Related reads on Pareeksha
- MP Patwari exam guide
- MP Police Constable recruitment
- MP High Court Civil Judge preparation
- MPPSC State Service Exam guide
For other national-level options while you wait for this cycle, see our SSC CGL guide and the full list of exam guides.
Official links
- MPPSC official website: mppsc.mp.gov.in (also mppsc.nic.in)
- MPOnline application portal: mponline.gov.in
FAQ
Is the MPPSC ADPO 2026 notification out? Yes. Advertisement No. 03/2026 on 10 March 2026, plus a corrigendum on 6 July 2026.
How many vacancies are there? 107 after the corrigendum. It was 17 originally.
When is the exam? 18 October 2026. Admit cards around 8 October 2026.
Can I still apply? The regular window closed on 24 July 2026. Late-fee windows run into August and September at ₹3,000 and then ₹25,000. Check the corrigendum for exact dates.
Do I need MP domicile? Not to apply. You need it for reservation, the lower fee, age relaxation and the women's quota.
Is there negative marking? Yes. Plus 3 for correct, minus 1 for wrong.
Is there an interview? Yes, 50 marks, added to the 450-mark CBT.
Can final-year LLB students apply? No. The degree must be complete before the closing date.
What is the salary? Scale ₹9,300 to ₹34,800 with GP ₹4,200. In-hand roughly ₹55,000 to ₹65,000.
Which language is the paper in? Hindi and English both.
Final word
107 posts for a law-only paper with one interview is a genuinely good deal in Madhya Pradesh right now. This exam does not run every year, so the next chance could be three years away.
If you're already in, stop reading articles and open the CrPC. Three months of bare-act reading and steady MP GK will put you above most of the field. Start with a full-length mock this week so you know exactly where you stand.
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