SSC MTS 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility & Free Mocks

SSC MTS is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to fill Multi Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) posts in various Central Government ministries, departments and offices, and Havaldar posts in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN).

It requires only a Class 10 pass, making it — alongside SSC GD — the most accessible central government examination in India. Multi Tasking Staff is a Group C non-gazetted, non-ministerial post covering general office duties, while Havaldar is a uniformed post in the customs and narcotics departments that additionally requires physical tests.

SSC MTS is popular because it is one of only two central government examinations open to Class 10 pass candidates, with no interview stage and a syllabus set at matriculation difficulty.

The absence of an interview makes selection purely objective, which matters a great deal to candidates without access to coaching. Session I of the paper carries no negative marking at all, so a well-prepared candidate can attempt every question in that half without risk.

The post carries full central government benefits — Seventh Pay Commission pay, dearness allowance, house rent allowance, NPS pension and CGHS medical cover — and offers departmental promotion to Lower Division Clerk and beyond over time.

• Only Class 10 required, and no interview stage
• Session I of the CBT has no negative marking
• Paper available in 13 regional languages besides English and Hindi
• Departmental promotion route to LDC and higher grades

Expected schedule for the 2026 cycle, based on the Commission’s annual calendar.ssc.gov.in — Examination Calendar

The most recent SSC MTS cycle carried approximately Varies widely by cycle vacancies.

SSC MTS vacancy counts fluctuate more than most SSC examinations — recent cycles have ranged from roughly a thousand to over eight thousand posts, because the requirement is aggregated across many separate ministries and departments. The Commission publishes a tentative figure with the notification and revises it before the final result, so the official notification on ssc.gov.in is the only reliable source.

Vacancies announced in the most recent SSC MTS notification.ssc.gov.in — Official Notification

To apply for SSC MTS 2026 a candidate must have passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognised board, and be aged 18 to 25 years for Multi Tasking Staff posts or 18 to 27 years for Havaldar posts as on the cut-off date in the notification.

Educational Qualification

Passed Matriculation or Class 10 examination from a recognised Board or University.

• The same qualification applies to both Multi Tasking Staff and Havaldar posts.
• Candidates must possess the qualification as on the cut-off date stated in the notification.

Age Limit

The age limit for SSC MTS is 18 to 25 years. The upper age limit is 25 years for Multi Tasking Staff posts and 27 years for Havaldar posts in CBIC and CBN. Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date in the notification, which the Commission specifies each cycle.

Nationality

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, Vietnam or Ethiopia with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Physical Standards

Physical tests apply only to Havaldar posts in CBIC and CBN. Physical Standard Test: male candidates require a height of 157.5 cm and a chest of 81 cm with 5 cm expansion; female candidates require a height of 152 cm and a weight of 48 kg. Physical Efficiency Test: male candidates must walk 1,600 metres in 15 minutes or cycle 8 km in 30 minutes; female candidates must walk 1 km in 20 minutes or cycle 3 km in 25 minutes.

SSC MTS is a single computer-based test held in two sessions on the same day — Session I covers numerical and reasoning ability for 120 marks with no negative marking, and Session II covers general awareness and English for 150 marks with 1 mark deducted per wrong answer.

1. 1Online application on the SSC portal within the notified window.
2. 2Computer Based Examination — Session I and Session II held on the same day.
3. 3Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test — for Havaldar posts in CBIC and CBN only.
4. 4Document verification against the qualification and category claimed.
5. 5Final merit list and allocation of post and department.

The SSC MTS syllabus covers four areas at Class 10 difficulty — Numerical and Mathematical Ability, Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving, General Awareness, and English Language and Comprehension.

SSC MTS is a Pay Level 1 post under the Seventh Pay Commission with a basic pay of ₹18,000 to ₹56,900, giving an approximate in-hand salary of ₹22,000 to ₹26,000 per month depending on city classification.

Allowances and Benefits

• Dearness Allowance (DA) — revised twice a year
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) — 27%, 18% or 9% of basic pay by city class
• Transport Allowance (TA) — city-dependent, with DA on TA
• National Pension System (NPS) with government contribution
• Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) medical coverage

The defining SSC MTS strategy is to attempt every single question in Session I, which has no negative marking, and to attempt Session II selectively, where each wrong answer costs a full mark.