For lakhs of Class 10 pass candidates, the SSC MTS 2026 exam is the most accessible route to a central government job. The Staff Selection Commission recruits Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (in CBIC and CBN) through a computer based test, with a physical test for Havaldar posts. This guide explains the SSC MTS syllabus, the exam pattern, the selection process, salary and a practical preparation plan. It also tells you honestly where the 2026 recruitment stands today, so you do not waste time on rumours.
- Notification status: no confirmed official 2026 notification found yet; awaited
- Qualification: Class 10 (matriculation) pass
- Exam: computer based test, 90 questions, 270 marks, two sessions
- Negative marking (latest pattern): none in Session 1, 1 mark in Session 2
- Selection: CBT, then PET/PST for Havaldar only, then document verification
- Last cycle vacancies: 7,948 posts
- Pay: Pay Level 1, starting basic pay ₹18,000
SSC MTS 2026 Notification Status: What Is Confirmed
Many websites carry headlines such as “SSC MTS 2026 notification out”, but when we checked several education sites and the SSC calendar reports, none of them showed a confirmed official 2026 notification with an application window. Here is the honest picture:
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Original SSC calendar plan | Notification in June 2026, closing in July 2026, exam in September to November 2026 |
| Revised schedule | SSC issued a revised schedule notice in August 2026; MTS dates were reported as still awaited |
| Current expectation | Several sites say the notification may come around October 2026, which is an expectation and not an announcement |
| Application dates 2026 | Not announced |
| Exam date 2026 | Not announced |
| Vacancies 2026 | Not announced |
Last Cycle at a Glance: SSC MTS and Havaldar 2025-26
The most recent completed cycle gives you a reliable idea of how the 2026 recruitment is likely to work. The dates below were reported for the 2025 recruitment.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online applications | 26 June to 24 July 2025 |
| Correction window | 4 to 6 August 2025 |
| Computer based exam | 4 to 20 February 2026 |
| Havaldar PET/PST shortlist | 3 August 2026 |
| Havaldar PET/PST | 24 to 31 August 2026 |
| Total posts | 7,948 |
| Post group | Vacancies (2025 cycle) |
|---|---|
| MTS (age 18 to 25) | 6,078 |
| MTS (age 18 to 27) | 732 |
| Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) | 1,138 |
| Total | 7,948 |
Notice that the exam for the 2025 cycle was held in February 2026, which was later than first forecast. SSC timelines often slip, so prepare for the long run.
SSC MTS Eligibility and Age Limit
Nationality
You must be an Indian citizen, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin from the listed countries who has come to settle permanently in India.
Educational qualification
You must have passed Class 10 (matriculation) or an equivalent examination from a recognised board. There is no minimum percentage requirement in the last notification. The notification states the date by which you must hold the qualification; in the previous cycle it was 1 August 2025.
Age limit (based on the last notification)
- MTS (most posts): 18 to 25 years
- Havaldar and certain MTS posts: 18 to 27 years
| Category | Upper age relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (General) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen and other groups | As per government rules in the notification |
The age is counted as on a cut-off date that SSC fixes in each notification, so the exact date for 2026 will be known only after it is released.
Application fee
In the last cycle the fee was ₹100 for general category candidates. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates were exempt. A few websites describe the fee category slightly differently, so check the 2026 notification.
SSC MTS 2026 Selection Process
- Computer based examination (CBE): compulsory for all candidates applying for MTS and Havaldar.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST): only for Havaldar posts. The shortlist for this stage is made from the CBE result (the Havaldar PET/PST shortlist for the last cycle was released on 3 August 2026).
- Document verification: shortlisted candidates present original documents for checking.
For MTS posts, the merit list is based on the CBE marks, followed by document verification. For Havaldar posts, you must also meet the PET and PST standards. Read the official notification for how these tests are scored and how the final merit is prepared.
SSC MTS Exam Pattern
The latest pattern, reported by several sources, has two mandatory sessions held on the same day. Session 2 starts after Session 1 ends. You must appear in both sessions.
| Session | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Numerical and Mathematical Ability | 20 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Session 1 | Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving | 20 | 60 | |
| Session 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 45 minutes |
| Session 2 | English Language and Comprehension | 25 | 75 | |
| Total | 90 | 270 | 90 minutes |
- Mode: online, objective type (multiple choice).
- Marks per question: 3 marks for every correct answer.
- Negative marking: none in Session 1; 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Session 2.
Some websites quote slightly different figures, such as a 0.25 negative mark or a 100 question paper. These come from older cycles. For 2026, rely only on the official notification.
Minimum Qualifying Marks and What They Mean
| Category | Minimum qualifying percentage | Marks out of 270 |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 30% | 81 |
| OBC / EWS | 25% | 67.5 |
| All other categories | 20% | 54 |
These are only the minimum qualifying marks. The actual cut-off for selection is much higher and depends on the number of candidates, the difficulty of the paper and the vacancies in each category and region. Aim to score well above the qualifying line.
SSC MTS Syllabus 2026
The syllabus is set at the Class 10 level. SSC publishes only broad subject names, so the topic lists below are compiled from the standard pattern of past papers. Topic-wise weightage on coaching sites is unofficial, so use it as a guide and not as a rule.
1. Numerical and Mathematical Ability
- Number system, HCF and LCM, squares and square roots, simplification
- Percentage, ratio and proportion, average, partnership
- Profit and loss, discount, mixtures and alligation
- Time and work, pipes and cisterns, time speed and distance
- Simple and compound interest, age problems
- Basic algebra, geometry, mensuration, and elementary trigonometry
- Data interpretation and number series
2. Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving
- Number and alphabet series, missing numbers
- Analogy, classification (odd one out), coding and decoding
- Blood relations, direction sense, ranking and order
- Syllogism, Venn diagrams, statement and conclusion
- Non-verbal reasoning: paper folding, mirror and water images, embedded figures, figure counting
- Matrix, mathematical operations, dictionary order and word formation
3. General Awareness
- Indian history, culture and the freedom struggle
- Indian geography, climate, rivers and resources
- Indian polity and the Constitution
- Basic economy and financial awareness
- General science of Class 10 level (physics, chemistry and biology)
- Current affairs, awards and honours, books and authors, sports, important days
- Government schemes, important organisations and static general knowledge
4. English Language and Comprehension
- Reading comprehension passages
- Error spotting and sentence improvement
- Fill in the blanks and cloze test
- Synonyms, antonyms and spelling errors
- Idioms and phrases, one word substitution
- Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, sentence rearrangement
Havaldar PET and PST Standards
Only candidates applying for Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) have to go through physical tests. The standards reported from the latest notice are given below. One site also mentions a cycling task, so read the official notification for the final list.
| Test | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Efficiency Test (walking) | 1,600 metres in 15 minutes | 1 kilometre in 20 minutes |
| Minimum height | 157.5 cm | 152 cm |
| Chest | 81 cm, with at least 5 cm expansion | Not applicable |
| Minimum weight | Not applicable | 48 kg |
Height relaxation is available for certain groups, such as Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and Scheduled Tribes, and weight relaxation applies in certain regions. Havaldar aspirants should begin walk and brisk-walk practice well before the exam, because the test is held within a fixed time.
SSC MTS Salary and Job Profile
MTS and Havaldar are Group C posts placed in Pay Level 1 of the 7th Pay Commission, with a starting basic pay of ₹18,000 per month. On top of this, employees receive dearness allowance, house rent allowance and transport allowance, which vary with the city of posting. Websites quote in-hand salaries of roughly ₹18,000 to ₹22,000, but these are estimates and not official figures.
Other benefits include pension coverage as per rules, medical facilities, leave travel concession, and promotion opportunities through departmental routes. MTS employees work in offices of central ministries and departments, handling office support and non-technical duties, while Havaldars work in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the Central Bureau of Narcotics.
SSC MTS Preparation Tips and a 12-Week Plan
Because the notification is awaited, you have a rare advantage: time. If you use the next twelve weeks well, you can be ready before the application form even opens.
Step 1: Understand the paper before studying
Each question carries 3 marks, and you get about 67 seconds per question in Session 1 (45 minutes for 40 questions) and about 54 seconds per question in Session 2 (45 minutes for 50 questions). This means Session 2 is faster, so build speed in General Awareness and English early.
Step 2: Follow this 12-week plan
| Weeks | Focus | Daily target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Basics: tables, squares, fractions, percentage; English grammar rules; syllabus and previous year paper analysis | 2 to 3 hours |
| 3 to 5 | Maths: ratio, average, profit and loss, time and work, speed and distance, interest; Reasoning: series, coding, analogy | 3 to 4 hours; one sectional test daily |
| 6 to 7 | Geometry and mensuration; non-verbal reasoning; blood relations, direction, syllogism; English comprehension and error spotting | 3 to 4 hours |
| 8 to 9 | General Awareness: history, geography, polity, science, economy; start daily current affairs | 3 to 4 hours plus one full mock every 3 days |
| 10 to 11 | Full mocks and previous year papers in exam timing; detailed error analysis | 4 to 5 hours; one full mock daily |
| 12 | Revision of formulas, error notebook and current affairs; light mocks; Havaldar aspirants continue walking practice | 3 hours; no new topics |
Step 3: Subject-wise tips
- Maths: memorise tables up to 20, squares up to 30 and cubes up to 15. Learn the percentage to fraction conversions. Solve arithmetic questions first and keep geometry for later.
- Reasoning: this is the fastest scoring part. Practise series, coding-decoding and analogy daily, and revise non-verbal figure questions each week.
- General Awareness: use short notes for static topics and read the last six to twelve months of current affairs. Since Session 2 has negative marking, answer only the questions you are reasonably sure about.
- English: read a newspaper editorial every day, learn ten new words a day, and practise two comprehension passages. Grammar questions take less time than passages, so attempt them first.
Step 4: Build a mock test habit
- Start with one sectional test per day and move to full mocks from week 8.
- Always keep the real time limits: 45 minutes for each session.
- Spend as much time analysing a mock as taking it.
- Write every wrong or guessed question in an error notebook with the correct method, and revise it weekly.
Step 5: Previous year papers
Solve papers from the last few cycles. They show you which topics come up repeatedly, such as percentage, ratio, series, coding, Indian polity and error spotting, and they help you judge the real difficulty level.
Exam Strategy for the Two Sessions
- Session 1 has no negative marking. Attempt all 40 questions. If you are stuck, make an informed guess instead of leaving it blank.
- Session 2 has a 1 mark penalty. Each question is worth 3 marks, so guessing starts to pay off only when you are more than about 25 percent sure of the answer. If you can remove two options, a guess becomes worthwhile; if you have no idea, skip it.
- Start Session 2 with your strong subject. If English is your strength, begin with it to build confidence and bank marks quickly.
- Watch the clock. Check the time after every ten questions, and do not spend more than a minute on any one question.
- Do not miss either session. Both are compulsory, and missing one can disqualify you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing “notification out” headlines without checking ssc.gov.in.
- Studying only maths and ignoring General Awareness, which carries 75 of the 270 marks.
- Guessing every answer in Session 2 and losing marks to negative marking.
- Taking mocks without a timer and then running out of time in the exam.
- Havaldar aspirants ignoring physical preparation until the PET date is announced.
- Paying agents or unofficial sites who promise a job. SSC recruitment involves no payment other than the official fee.
Useful Official Resources
Related reading: SSC CHSL 2026 Tier 1 exam date and preparation guide; SSC JE 2026 eligibility, application and exam pattern; and SSA recruitment 2026 explained: SSC, EPFO and Samagra Shiksha.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Has the SSC MTS 2026 notification been released?
As of 22 October 2026, we could not find a confirmed official SSC MTS and Havaldar 2026 notification. The tentative SSC calendar had planned it for June 2026, and the schedule was later revised, with several websites now expecting it around October 2026. Check the official SSC website for the final notice.
When will the SSC MTS 2026 exam be held?
No official exam date has been announced for the 2026 cycle. The original SSC calendar had a window of September to November 2026, but this depends on the notification, which is still awaited. The previous cycle’s computer based exam was held from 4 to 20 February 2026.
What is the SSC MTS exam pattern?
The latest pattern has two mandatory computer based sessions with 90 questions and 270 marks in total. Session 1 has Numerical and Mathematical Ability and Reasoning with 40 questions in 45 minutes, and Session 2 has General Awareness and English with 50 questions in 45 minutes. Every question carries 3 marks.
Is there negative marking in SSC MTS?
In the latest pattern there is no negative marking in Session 1, and 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Session 2. Confirm this in the 2026 notification, because SSC can change the marking scheme.
What is the SSC MTS syllabus 2026?
The syllabus covers four subjects: Numerical and Mathematical Ability, Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving, General Awareness, and English Language and Comprehension. The level is Class 10. Detailed topic lists are given in this article.
What is the selection process for SSC MTS?
Selection is through a computer based examination for all posts, a Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test for Havaldar posts only, and then document verification. MTS posts are filled on the basis of the computer based exam and document verification.
What is the eligibility and age limit for SSC MTS?
You need to have passed Class 10 from a recognised board. In the last notification the age limit was 18 to 25 years for most MTS posts and 18 to 27 years for Havaldar and certain MTS posts, with relaxation of 5 years for SC and ST and 3 years for OBC candidates. The 2026 notice will give the final rules.
How many vacancies were there in the last SSC MTS cycle?
The 2025 cycle had 7,948 posts: 6,078 MTS posts with an age limit of 18 to 25, 732 MTS posts with an age limit of 18 to 27, and 1,138 Havaldar posts. The 2026 vacancy count will be known only after the notification is released.
What are the PET and PST standards for SSC Havaldar?
In the latest notice, male candidates have to walk 1,600 metres in 15 minutes and female candidates 1 kilometre in 20 minutes. Height must be at least 157.5 cm for men and 152 cm for women, men need a chest of 81 cm with 5 cm expansion, and women need a minimum weight of 48 kg. Relaxations apply to some groups.
What is the salary of an SSC MTS employee?
MTS and Havaldar posts are in Pay Level 1 of the 7th Pay Commission, with a starting basic pay of 18,000 rupees. Dearness allowance, house rent allowance and transport allowance are added, so the in-hand salary depends on the city of posting.
What was the application fee for SSC MTS?
In the last cycle the fee was 100 rupees for general category candidates, while women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen were exempt. Some websites list the fee category differently, so check the 2026 notification.
How should I prepare for SSC MTS 2026?
Start with the Class 10 level basics of maths, reasoning, English and general awareness, practise sectional tests with a timer, take full mock tests regularly, and keep an error notebook. Havaldar aspirants should also train for the walking test. A week-wise plan is given in this article.
Is this website the official SSC website?
No. This article is an independent information guide and is not affiliated with the Staff Selection Commission or the Government of India. Always confirm notices and dates on the official SSC website.
Conclusion
The SSC MTS 2026 exam is open to every Class 10 pass candidate, and its syllabus is simple enough to master with steady practice. The official notification is still awaited, so do not rely on unconfirmed dates. Instead, use the time to learn the four-subject syllabus, practise with sectional timers, build a mock test habit, and, if you are aiming for Havaldar, train for the walking test. When SSC publishes the notification, you will be ready to apply on day one and compete with confidence. Keep checking ssc.gov.in for the official notice.