SSC MTS
Recruits Class 10 pass candidates as Multi-Tasking Staff (Group C) in central government departments, and as Havaldar in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN).
Eligibility
Matriculation (Class 10) from a recognised board is the only educational requirement. Age is 18 to 25 years for most MTS posts and 18 to 27 years for Havaldar and some MTS posts, with standard category relaxations. There is no attempt limit within the age window. Havaldar candidates must additionally clear physical efficiency and physical standard tests.
Age limit: 18–25 years (MTS); 18–27 years (Havaldar and some MTS posts)
Exam pattern
A single computer-based exam held in two sessions on the same day, with no interview. Session I (45 minutes): Numerical and Mathematical Ability (20 questions, 60 marks) and Reasoning Ability (20 questions, 60 marks) — no negative marking. Session II (45 minutes): General Awareness (25 questions, 75 marks) and English Language (25 questions, 75 marks) — 1 mark deducted per wrong answer. Session I is qualifying; merit is drawn from Session II. Havaldar aspirants then face a Physical Efficiency Test/Physical Standard Test (walking distance, height and chest norms), followed by document verification.
Syllabus at a glance
Numerical ability covers Class 10-level arithmetic — number system, fractions, percentages, ratio, averages, time and work, mensuration. Reasoning includes series, analogies, coding-decoding, and simple non-verbal puzzles. English tests basic grammar, vocabulary, spellings and a short comprehension passage. General Awareness spans everyday science, polity, history, geography and recent current affairs.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | 30 Jun 2026 | confirmed |
| Application window (closed) | 30 Jun – 31 Jul 2026 | confirmed |
| Computer-based exam | Sep–Nov 2026 window (per SSC calendar) | confirmed |
| Result | Early 2027 | tba |
| Havaldar PET/PST | After CBE result, 2027 | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Lucent's General Knowledge — Dr Binay Karna et al.
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
- Kiran's SSC MTS Previous Year Solved Papers — Kiran Prakashan
How toppers play it
- Merit comes only from Session II (GA and English), so give current affairs and vocabulary the largest share of revision time — Session I just needs a safe qualifying score.
- Session I has no negative marking: attempt all 40 questions without hesitation.
- In Session II every wrong answer costs a full mark out of 3 — skip pure guesses, especially in GA.
- Havaldar aspirants should begin walking/running practice early; the PET (1,600 m walk in 15 minutes for men, 1 km in 20 minutes for women) trips up unprepared candidates.
- With 45 minutes per session, practise full timed mocks — the per-session clock is stricter than the overall question count suggests.