Madhya Pradesh Police | Visbal HQ Bhopal | Male Candidates Only | Music Skill Required
If you have a passion for music and want to serve in the Madhya Pradesh Police, the MP Police Aarakshak (Band) Recruitment 2026 is your opportunity. The Office of the Inspector General of Police, Visbal Headquarters, Bhopal has invited online applications for 679 posts of Aarakshak (Band) across various police units in Madhya Pradesh. Applications open on 5 April 2026 and close on 19 April 2026.
What is the Aarakshak (Band) Post?
The Aarakshak (Band) is a Class III government post in the Madhya Pradesh Police Department. These constables are recruited specifically to serve in police band teams being established across all districts of the state. It is a state-level cadre post, meaning selected candidates can be posted anywhere in Madhya Pradesh — but not in their home district.
The pay scale for the post is ₹19,500 – ₹62,000. During the probation period, candidates receive a stipend of 70% of minimum pay in the first year, 80% in the second year, and 90% in the third year. After probation, full salary along with DA, HRA, TA, and other allowances applicable under state government rules will be paid.
Vacancy Breakdown – 679 Posts
The total vacancy is 679, distributed across Open, Home Guard, and Ex-Servicemen categories:
| Category | Open | Home Guard | Ex-Servicemen | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR | 204 | 41 | 27 | 272 |
| SC | 81 | 16 | 11 | 108 |
| ST | 102 | 20 | 14 | 136 |
| OBC | 208 | 43 | 27 | 278 |
| EWS | 51 | 10 | 07 | 68 |
| Total | 509+66 | 89+13 | 59+09 | 679 |
Important: Female candidates are not eligible for this recruitment.
Table of Contents
Who Can Apply? – Eligibility Criteria
Before filling the form, make sure you meet all three conditions — education, age, and instrument skill.
Nationality & Domicile
The candidate must be an Indian citizen. MP domicile is mandatory to claim reservation benefits and age relaxation. Candidates from other states can apply only for Unreserved (Open) posts, with a maximum age of 33 years and no reservation benefits.
Educational Qualification
This is a straightforward eligibility condition. You need to have passed:
- 10th class (Matriculation) or Higher Secondary or equivalent — for UR, OBC, SC, and EWS candidates
- 8th class or equivalent — for ST candidates only
No relaxation in educational qualification is provided under normal circumstances.
Age Limit (calculated as on 19 April 2026)
Minimum age is 18 years for all. Maximum age varies by category:
| Applicant Type | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| UR Male – MP Domicile | 33 years |
| EWS Male – MP Domicile | 33 years |
| SC / ST / OBC Male – MP Domicile | 38 years |
| Govt. Employees / Home Guards – MP | 38 years |
| Inter-caste Married Candidates – MP | 38 years |
| UR + Vikram Award – MP Domicile | 38 years |
| Reserved + Vikram Award – MP Domicile | 43 years |
| Candidates from Other States | 33 years (no relaxation) |
The Most Important Condition – Musical Instrument
This is what makes this recruitment unique. Every candidate must know how to play at least one instrument from the mandatory List A. Without this skill, there is no point applying.
List A – Mandatory (must know at least one): Piccolo, Concert Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, Bassoon, Euphonium, Bass Tuba, Bagpipe, Tenor Drum, Bugle, Side Drum, Bass Drum.
List B – Desirable (carry bonus marks): Keyboard / Organ / Piano, Guitar (acoustic/lead/bass), Violin / Viola / String Bass, Percussion/Drum (acoustic or electronic), Indian Classical Instruments — Sitar, Tabla, Harmonium, Bansuri, Sarod, Sarangi, Santoor.
Knowing a List B instrument in addition to a List A instrument is treated as additional qualification and earns 5 bonus marks per instrument, with a maximum of 15 bonus marks.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / OBC / EWS (MP domicile only) | ₹250 |
| MP Online Portal Charge | ₹150 + 18% GST (extra) |
Payment must be made online through the MP Online portal. No other mode of payment is accepted.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online only through the MP Online portal. No offline applications or applications sent by post will be considered. Keep your application number safe as it will be needed to download your admit card later.
Steps to apply:
- Visit the MP Online portal (mponline.gov.in)
- Find the link for MP Police Aarakshak (Band) Recruitment 2026
- Register and fill in the application form carefully
- Upload required documents and photograph
- Pay the application fee online
- Submit and save your application number
If you need to make corrections after submitting, the correction window is open from 5 April to 24 April 2026.
Selection Process – 3 Stages
Unlike most police constable recruitments which involve a written exam, this recruitment has a completely different selection process centred around musical ability.
Stage 1 – Skill Test (Qualifying)
Every candidate who applies is first screened through a Skill Test. You will be asked to play one instrument of your choice from List A. This test is only qualifying — no marks are given. Passing the Skill Test gives you entry to Stage 2.
Stage 2 – Band Playing Test (75 Marks)
This is the most important stage. The total marks are 75, broken down as:
- Trade Test: 60 marks — performance on your chosen List A instrument assessed for brass or pipe band playing ability
- Bonus Marks: Up to 15 marks — 5 marks for each List B instrument you can play (maximum 3 instruments = 15 marks)
Minimum qualifying marks in Band Playing Test:
- General / OBC / EWS candidates: 50% (minimum 37.5 out of 75)
- SC / ST candidates: 40% (minimum 30 out of 75)
Based on cut off marks in this test, 3 times the number of advertised posts (category-wise) will be shortlisted for the interview round.
Stage 3 – Interview (25 Marks)
Candidates who qualify Stage 2 are called for an interview of 25 marks. The interview assesses trade knowledge, NCC participation, sports achievements, personality, communication ability, and general awareness.
Date, time, and venue for the interview will be communicated to candidates via email, SMS, and WhatsApp by the MP Online portal.
Final Merit = Band Playing Test Marks + Interview Marks (Total 100 marks)
Physical Standards
Candidates must meet the following physical requirements:
| Category | Height | Chest (Normal) | Chest (Expanded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | 168 cm | 81 cm | 86 cm |
| SC / ST / Maratha | 165 cm | 79 cm | 84 cm |
| Gorkha / Garhwali / Kumaon | 158 cm | 76 cm | 81 cm |
No relaxation is provided in physical standards at any stage. If chest measurement at normal is already above the minimum, it must still expand by at least 5 cm.
Medical Standards:
- Eyesight: 6/9 in one eye and 6/12 in the other (without glasses)
- No colour blindness
- No knock knee or flat foot
- No physical disability of any kind
Medical examination will be conducted by the District Medical Board.
After Selection – What Happens Next
Once the final merit list is prepared, selected candidates are appointed on a probation period of 3 years. During this period they undergo mandatory training in physical fitness, intellectual development, band instrument training, and drills.
A few important service conditions to keep in mind:
- Selected candidates will be posted to a unit other than their home district
- They must complete a minimum of 5 years of service in the allotted unit before being eligible for transfer
- Unit allocation is done by the Police Headquarters based on merit rank and administrative requirements
Documents Required at Physical Test / Document Verification
Keep the following documents ready:
- Birth certificate or 10th marksheet showing date of birth
- Educational qualification certificate
- Caste certificate (for SC / ST / OBC candidates) — in MP Government prescribed format
- MP domicile certificate
- Home Guard / Ex-Servicemen service certificate (if applicable)
- Vikram Award certificate (if applicable)
- Children’s birth certificates (for married candidates)
- Bank passbook first page photocopy (for SC / ST / OBC candidates claiming travel allowance)
- Aadhar Card (mandatory)
Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 5 April 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 19 April 2026 |
| Correction Window Closes | 24 April 2026 |
| Physical / Skill Test Date | To be announced |
| Official Portal | mponline.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can girls apply for MP Police Aarakshak Band 2026? No. The official notification clearly states that female candidates are not eligible for this recruitment.
Q. Is a written exam involved in this recruitment? No. There is no written examination. Selection is based entirely on the Band Playing Test (75 marks) and Interview (25 marks), after clearing the Skill Test and physical standards.
Q. Which instrument should I choose for the Skill Test? Choose the instrument from List A that you are most confident with and have been practising the longest. If you also know a List B instrument, make sure to demonstrate that too during the Band Playing Test as it can fetch you up to 15 additional bonus marks.
Q. I am from UP. Can I apply for this recruitment? Yes, but only for Unreserved (Open) category posts. You will not get any reservation benefit or age relaxation. Your maximum age as on 19 April 2026 must not exceed 33 years.
Q. What is the last date to apply? The last date to submit the online application is 19 April 2026. The correction window remains open until 24 April 2026.
Q. Where do I apply? Applications must be submitted only through the MP Online portal. No offline mode is available.
For official notification PDF and to apply online, visit the MP Online portal at mponline.gov.in. Always cross-check details with the official notification before applying.