The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has officially moved a step closer to filling the academic void in the State’s technical education sector. On Friday, the Commission released the list of candidates shortlisted for interviews for the post of Assistant Professor (Computer Science). However, for a significant number of aspirants, the celebration is tempered by a unique legal limbo. Following the written examination held on January 4, 2026, the Commission has shortlisted 249 candidates for the interview stage of the Main Part (Part A) of the selection process. While the results signal progress, they also highlight the ongoing administrative tightrope the state is walking regarding the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation dispute due which the final selection for 11 seats has been officially withheld. The 87-13 Split: A Professional Stalemate:

 

In compliance with the General Administration Department’s (GAD) 2022 directives, the MPPSC has split the recruitment results into two distinct categories: 1.The Main List (87%): This includes candidates selected against the undisputed 14% OBC quota. These 249 candidates will proceed to interviews with a relatively clear path forward. 2.The Provisional List (13%): This is where the “limbo” begins. To account for the contested 27% OBC reservation currently under judicial review, the Commission has created a provisional pool. This includes a 13% bracket for OBC candidates and a matching 13% bracket for Unreserved (UR) candidates.

 

The notification makes it clear that candidates in the Provisional Part are essentially placeholders. Their final selection is not determined by their merit alone, but by the eventual verdict of the High Court. “Candidates in the provisional list will participate in the interview process, but their appointment is strictly conditional,” the notice states. Crucially, the Commission has mandated an ‘Abhivachan Patra’ (undertaking) from these aspirants, ensuring they acknowledge that they cannot claim a seat in the Main List, regardless of their performance. The recruitment drive aims to fill 87 total vacancies in Computer Science. The complexity is most visible in the OBC category: •Total OBC Vacancies: 23 •Cleared for Appointment (Main Part): 12 •Held in Abeyance (Provisional Part): 11 For the 11 seats held in the provisional part, two sets of candidates, OBC and Unreserved, will compete and wait. Only one group will eventually be appointed, depending on whether the court upholds the 27% or the 14% reservation cap.