The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially notified 9,583 vacancies for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff (MTS) and Havaldar cadres in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN). This recruitment drive represents one of the largest matriculation-level central government employment openings in India, offering entry into General Central Service Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial positions under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix Level-1 with permanent central service privileges.
Candidates aspiring to secure permanent central government employment across key ministries, attached offices, constitutional bodies, and field directorates must carefully examine the recruitment framework, examination pattern, reservation roster, physical criteria for Havaldar posts, and regional vacancy allocations outlined in this comprehensive career dossier.
SSC MTS & Havaldar 2026: Executive Examination Blueprint
| Recruitment Feature | Official Notification Parameters |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC, New Delhi) |
| Post Designations | Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) & Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) |
| Total Notified Vacancies | 9,583 Posts (MTS: ~6,144 | Havaldar: ~3,439) |
| Pay Scale & Remuneration | Pay Band-1 (₹5,200 – ₹20,200) + Grade Pay ₹1,800 (7th CPC Level-1: ₹18,000 to ₹56,900) |
| Application Mode | Online via One-Time Registration (OTR) on ssc.gov.in |
| Educational Qualification | Matriculation (10th Pass) from a recognized state or central board |
| Age Eligibility Criteria | 18 to 25 Years (MTS general) & 18 to 27 Years (Havaldar & select MTS cadres) |
| Selection Stages | Computer Based Examination (CBE) + PET/PST (Havaldar Only) + Document Verification |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (Exempted for Women, SC, ST, PwBD, and ESM candidates) |
Cadre-Wise Vacancy Distribution and Departmental Scope
The 9,583 vacancies announced by the Commission are divided into two distinct operational wings across central government departments:
- Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS): Approximately 6,144 vacancies are distributed across Central Ministries (Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Finance, Railways, Agriculture), Central Administrative Tribunals, Election Commission of India, and various central subordinate field offices. The responsibilities encompass physical maintenance of section records, general cleanliness, delivering files within offices, non-clerical routine office support, operating photocopiers and digital scanners, and dispatching postal communication.
- Havaldar (CBIC and CBN): Approximately 3,439 vacancies are allocated to field establishments of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (Customs Commissionerates, Central GST Commissionerates) and the Central Bureau of Narcotics. Havaldars are entrusted with security and custodial escort duties, guarding seized contraband goods, assisting Superintendents and Inspectors during search, seizure, and anti-smuggling raids, and providing security coverage for premier departmental infrastructure.
Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications & Age Relaxations
To ensure eligibility before initiating the online registration portal, candidates must satisfy the following statutory conditions:
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed the Matriculation Examination (Class 10th) or equivalent recognized examination from an authorized Board of Education as on the crucial eligibility date. Candidates appearing in their qualifying examination must possess documented proof of passing on or before the closing date.
- Age Limits:
- For MTS Cadres: 18 to 25 years (candidates born not before 02-08-2001 and not later than 01-08-2008).
- For Havaldar in CBIC/CBN and specific MTS posts: 18 to 27 years (candidates born not before 02-08-1999 and not later than 01-08-2008).
- Statutory Age Relaxations: SC/ST candidates receive a 5-year upper age relaxation; OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) receive 3 years; PwBD (Unreserved) receive 10 years; PwBD (OBC) receive 13 years; PwBD (SC/ST) receive 15 years; and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) receive 3 years deduction from actual age after deducting military service rendered.
Computer Based Examination (CBE) Architecture & Marking Scheme
The selection mechanism for both MTS and Havaldar positions relies strictly on an objective Computer Based Examination structured into two distinct mandatory sessions conducted on the same test sitting:
| Examination Session | Test Subjects / Components | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration & Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session-I (Qualifying Only) | Numerical and Mathematical Ability | 20 Questions | 60 Marks | 45 Minutes (60 Mins for scribes). NO NEGATIVE MARKING in Session-I. |
| Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving | 20 Questions | 60 Marks | ||
| Session-II (Decides Final Merit) | General Awareness (Current Affairs, Science, History, Polity) | 25 Questions | 75 Marks | 45 Minutes (60 Mins for scribes). NEGATIVE MARKING: 1 Mark deducted for each incorrect response. |
| English Language and Comprehension | 25 Questions | 75 Marks |
Critical Merit Rule: Performance in Session-I is evaluated first as a screening benchmark. If an applicant fails to achieve the minimum qualifying score in Session-I (typically 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS, and 20% for SC/ST), their Session-II answers will not be evaluated. The final selection and state allocation are determined solely on the normalized aggregate score of Session-II (150 Marks).
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standards Test (PST) for Havaldar
Candidates who shortlist for Havaldar cadres in CBIC and CBN must undergo mandatory physical evaluation administered by the departmental authorities:
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET):
- Male Candidates: Walking 1,600 meters in 15 minutes.
- Female Candidates: Walking 1.0 kilometer in 20 minutes.
- Physical Standard Test (PST) Requirements:
- Male Candidates: Height minimum 157.5 cm (relaxable by 5 cm for Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas, and members of Scheduled Tribes). Chest 81 cm unexpanded with minimum expansion of 5 cm.
- Female Candidates: Height minimum 152 cm (relaxable by 2.5 cm for hill tribes and ST). Weight minimum 48 kg (relaxable by 2 kg for ST candidates).
Salary Breakdown: In-Hand Pay Under 7th CPC Level-1
Selected candidates receive competitive monthly remuneration supplemented by standard central government statutory allowances:
- Basic Pay: ₹18,000 per month.
- Dearness Allowance (DA): 50% of Basic Pay (₹9,000) adjusted bi-annually per Consumer Price Index revisions.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): Categorized by posting station:
- Class X (Metropolitan Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru): 30% (₹5,400).
- Class Y (Tier-II Urban Hubs like Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna): 20% (₹3,600).
- Class Z (Rural and Semi-Urban Districts): 10% (₹1,800).
- Transport Allowance (TPTA): ₹1,350 to ₹1,800 + DA thereon depending on classification.
- Gross Monthly Emoluments: Approximately ₹32,000 to ₹36,500 per month.
- Net In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹28,500 to ₹32,800 after statutory National Pension System (NPS) and CGHS medical contributions.
Step-by-Step Online Application Walkthrough on ssc.gov.in
- Navigate to the official Staff Selection Commission portal at
ssc.gov.in. - Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) profile if not registered on the new portal, furnishing Aadhaar, matriculation roll number, and verified contact credentials.
- Access the candidate dashboard, click on Apply under Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff, and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination 2026.
- Fill in preferences for Examination Centres across designated regions (e.g., NR, CR, ER, WR, SR).
- Exercise state and cadre preferences for MTS and Havaldar appointments carefully. State preferences cannot be revised after final submission.
- Capture live photograph via the official SSC mobile application or desktop webcam ensuring plain white background and uniform lighting without eyeglasses or head coverings.
- Upload digital signature complying with the specified dimensions (10 to 20 KB in JPEG format).
- Pay the ₹100 application fee through BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or Visa/Mastercard/RuPay credit/debit channels.
- Download and archive the final system-generated Application Form with transaction acknowledgement for future recruitment phases.
Frequently Asked Questions (Candidate Inquiries)
Q1: Can candidates from any state apply for vacancies in other states?
Yes. SSC MTS is an all-India examination. During application form submission, candidates can submit preference codes for all states and Union Territories across India.
Q2: Is there any interview or descriptive paper in SSC MTS 2026?
No. The erstwhile Paper-II descriptive essay/letter test has been abolished. Selection is purely based on the objective CBE Session-II merit.
Q3: What happens if a candidate fails the Havaldar PET walking test?
Candidates who fail the physical walking test for Havaldar will remain eligible for MTS vacancies provided they meet the requisite Session-II cutoff marks for their preferred MTS state choices.
Q4: In which languages is the Computer Based Examination administered?
The examination is conducted in English, Hindi, and 13 regional Indian languages including Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Ram Avtar is the Founder and Lead Career Analyst at Govt Results Alert. With over 6 years of experience analyzing Government Recruitment Notifications, SSC, Banking, and Railway examination patterns, he leads our fact-checking team to deliver authentic, timely, and verified job alerts directly from official government gazettes.
