BHOPAL — The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board has published the provisional answer key for the 2026 Forest Guard and Jail Prahari (Jail Warder) recruitment examination, opening a tight, seven-day window for candidates to flag disputed questions. The objection portal opened on June 23, 2026 and will close on June 30, 2026, after which no challenges will be entertained.
Lakhs of aspirants who appeared for the combined Forest Guard and Jail Prahari examination can now download their response sheets alongside the official answer key. Officials have urged candidates to act quickly, warning that the deadline is firm and late submissions will not be processed under any circumstances.
The released documents allow each candidate to cross-check their recorded answers against the board's tentative key. Discrepancies — whether in a question's correct option or a suspected mismatch in the recorded response — can be formally contested during the live window. The board has indicated that objections supported by valid reference material will be reviewed by a subject expert panel before the final key is locked.
Why This Matters Now
The answer key stage is decisive. Because the final merit list is built directly on the verified key, even a single corrected question can shift a candidate's score and ranking. That makes the June 30 cut-off the single most consequential date on the current recruitment calendar.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Answer key & response sheet released | 23 June 2026 |
| Objection window opens | 23 June 2026 |
| Last date to raise objections | 30 June 2026 |
How to Download the Response Sheet
Candidates can retrieve their documents in a few steps:
- Visit the official MP Employees Selection Board portal.
- Open the active notification for the Forest Guard / Jail Prahari examination.
- Click the link for the answer key and response sheet.
- Log in using the registered roll number and date of birth or password.
- View the answer key, download the response sheet PDF, and save a copy for records.
Filing an Objection
To challenge an answer, candidates must select the disputed question on the portal, mark the option they believe to be correct, and upload supporting evidence such as a textbook page or authoritative citation. A prescribed fee may apply per objection, and the board has reminded applicants that frivolous or unsupported challenges are unlikely to succeed.
Examination authorities stressed that the provisional key is not final. Once all objections are evaluated, a revised final answer key will be issued, followed by the result and category-wise cut-off marks. Candidates are advised to monitor the official website for these subsequent updates rather than rely on unofficial sources circulating online.
With only a narrow window before the portal closes, officials are encouraging every appeared candidate to download their response sheet immediately and review it line by line. A careful comparison today could protect a hard-earned rank tomorrow.
Official website: esb.mp.gov.in
Download your response sheet and submit objections before the June 30, 2026 deadline — do not wait until the last hour.
