MPPSC SSE Prelims 2026: Over 1.35 lakh apply for 155 posts

Indore: For thousands of young aspirants across Madhya Pradesh, the race for a govt job became steeper this year. The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) State Services Examination 2026 attracted around 1.35 lakh applicants for just 155 vacancies."This year, the number of applicants rose compared to last year, with over 1.35 lakh applications till the first deadline," said MPPSC OSD R Panchbhai.The SSE preliminary examination is scheduled for April 26. The rise in applications compared to last year came despite a slight drop in vacancies. In 2025, about 1.18 lakh candidates competed for 158 posts."The number of posts is low, but we cannot skip a year. Every attempt matters at this stage," said a first-time applicant, Gitika Rawat, preparing in Indore.Another aspirant, Shailendra Kumar, pointed to continuing appeal of public sector employment for ordinary households. "For many poor and middle-class families, a govt job still means stability and respect. That is why so many of us stay in the race even when vacancies are limited," said the candidate from Ujjain.The dip last year, followed by a rise this time, suggests renewed interest, possibly driven by delayed attempts during earlier cycles and continued demand for secure careers.The rush was visible on the final day of registration, Feb 9, when more than 5,000 applications were submitted. Some candidates reported slow servers and payment glitches during peak hours. Late fee provisions remain high. Candidates missing the deadline now need to pay Rs 3,000 in the first week, after which the late fee rises steeply to Rs 25,000.