SSC Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff & Havaldar 2026 — Complete Guide

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff (MTS) examination annually to recruit eligible 10th-pass candidates for Group C (Non-Gazetted, Non-Technical) posts in various Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Offices across India. A separate category — Havaldar in CBIC and CBN — is also recruited through this examination.

SSC MTS is one of the most accessible central government jobs as it requires only Class 10 qualification, making it the first serious gateway for lakhs of government job aspirants.

1. SSC MTS 2026 Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) & Havaldar 2026
Conducting Body	Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Posts Recruited	Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Havaldar (CBIC & CBN)
Minimum Qualification	10th Pass (Matriculation)
Selection Process	Session-I (Qualifying) + Session-II (Merit) → PET/PST (Havaldar)
Official Website	ssc.gov.in

2. SSC MTS 2026 Important Exam Dates

Event	Expected Date
Notification Release	June 1, 2026
Online Application Opens	June 1, 2026
Last Date to Apply	July 1, 2026
SSC MTS CBT Examination	September – November 2026
Result Declaration	December 2026 – January 2027
PET/PST (Havaldar only)	After CBT result

3. Post Details — MTS vs Havaldar

Post	Employing Departments	Age Limit	Physical Test
Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS)	Central Ministries, CBDT, CBIC, etc.	18–25 years	No
Havaldar (CBIC)	Customs & Central Excise	18–27 years	Yes (PET/PST)
Havaldar (CBN)	Central Bureau of Narcotics	18–27 years	Yes (PET/PST)

4. Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have passed Class 10 / Matriculation or equivalent examination from any recognized Board or University. No other educational qualification is required.

Age Limit (As on Crucial Date in Notification)

Category	MTS	Havaldar
General / EWS	18–25 Years	18–27 Years
OBC (NCL)	18–28 Years (+3)	18–30 Years (+3)
SC / ST	18–30 Years (+5)	18–32 Years (+5)
PwBD (General)	18–35 Years (+10)	18–37 Years (+10)

5. SSC MTS Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The SSC MTS exam is conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT) in two sessions on the same day:

Session I (Qualifying — No Merit, No Negative Marking)

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Numerical and Mathematical Ability	20	60	—
Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving	20	60	—
Total	40	120	45 minutes

Session I is qualifying. Marks are NOT added to final merit. No negative marking.

Session II (Merit-Based — Negative Marking Applies)

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
General Awareness	25	75	—
English Language & Comprehension	25	75	—
Total	50	150	45 minutes

Session II determines final merit. Negative marking: 1 mark deducted per wrong answer.

Key Syllabus Topics:

• Maths (Session I): Number System, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Basic Mensuration (Area, Perimeter).
• Reasoning (Session I): Analogies, Classification, Series (Number/Letter), Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense.
• General Awareness (Session II): Current Affairs (last 4–6 months), Indian History, Geography, Polity (Constitution Basics), Science (10th level), Awards, Sports.
• English (Session II): Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, Synonyms/Antonyms, Sentence Improvement, Active/Passive Voice, Reading Comprehension.

Physical Endurance Test — Havaldar Only

Test	Male	Female
Walk/Run	1600 m in 15 minutes	1 km in 20 minutes
Long Jump	3.6 m (3 chances)	—
High Jump	1.0 m (3 chances)	—

Height Standard: Male ≥ 157.5 cm (Havaldar); Female ≥ 152 cm.

6. Salary & Career Prospects

Post	Pay Level	Basic Pay	Gross Monthly (Approx.)
MTS	Level 1	₹18,000	₹20,000 – ₹25,000
Havaldar	Level 1	₹18,000	₹20,000 – ₹26,000

Additional allowances apply (DA, HRA, TA). In metro cities, HRA pushes the take-home higher.

Career Growth: MTS employees can appear in Departmental Limited Competitive Examinations (DLDCE) within their Ministry/Department to get promoted to Lower Division Clerk (LDC) and Upper Division Clerk (UDC) roles. This is the internal promotions track that many MTS use to build long-term government careers.

7. How to Apply for SSC MTS 2026

1. Register (or login) at the SSC Official Portal — ssc.gov.in.
2. Go to the "Apply" section → Click SSC MTS & Havaldar 2026.
3. Fill the online application form with personal, academic, and category details.
4. Select preferred Exam City Centres (up to 3 choices).
5. Select post preference (MTS and/or Havaldar — you can select one or both).
6. Upload your Photograph and Signature in JPG format.
7. Pay the Application Fee:
   • General/OBC/EWS: ₹100/-
   • Female / SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen: Nil (No fee)
8. Submit and print the Confirmation Page.

8. Preparation Strategy

• Session II (GK + English) is what decides your rank. Do not neglect it despite its simpler appearance — quality of performance here separates candidates.
• Session I strategy: Attempt all 40 questions confidently since there's NO negative marking. Even wrong answers cost you nothing.
• GK — last 4–6 months' Current Affairs is heavily tested. Read a monthly GK digest consistently.
• Books Recommended:
  • Lucent's General Knowledge (full reading, not selective)
  • SP Bakshi — English Grammar Objective (for Session II)
  • Mathematics — RS Aggarwal (Quantitative Aptitude — Chapters 1–15)
  • Reasoning — RS Aggarwal (Verbal and Non-Verbal)