Provisional merit list is the first merit list. After this, another final merit list will be declared as well or more than 1 lists can also be declared. But provisional merit list is not the final merit list.

For example, if you want to get a government job and if your name is in the provisional merit list so it doesn’t mean you got selected because there are other exams and test which candidates have to clarify who qualify in the provisional merit list. Final merit list will decide who will get the job

actual merit rank means that you are selected.