SSC GD vs MTS: Quick Answer
SSC GD Constable is the uniformed exam: one 60-minute test of 80 questions, then a physical test (race, height and chest), a medical and document verification, for Constable posts in the CAPFs and Rifleman in Assam Rifles at Pay Level 3 (basic ₹21,700). SSC MTS is the civilian office exam: one computer-based test in two sessions on the same day, where Session I only qualifies you and only Session II decides merit, for Multi-Tasking Staff and Havaldar posts at Pay Level 1 (basic ₹18,000). Both need only a Class 10 pass. If you are physically fit and want uniformed service and higher pay, GD is the target; if you want office work with no race to run (for MTS posts), MTS is the target. A candidate under 23 can write both.
Key takeaway: The exams look alike on the surface — both are Class 10 level, both test Reasoning, Maths, GA and English — but they are scored oppositely. GD scores everything in one paper (each question worth 2 marks). MTS scores only Session II (each question worth 3 marks, with a full 1-mark penalty). Preparing for one without learning the other's scoring rules is the commonest way to lose marks.
SSC GD vs MTS 2026: Comparison Table
| Point | SSC GD Constable 2026 | SSC MTS and Havaldar (2025 notice — latest scheme) |
|---|---|---|
| Forces / departments | BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, SSF; Rifleman in Assam Rifles | Ministries and departments (MTS); CBIC and CBN (Havaldar) |
| Nature of post | Uniformed, armed police constable | Group C civilian (MTS); uniformed Havaldar in CBIC/CBN |
| Qualification | Class 10 (Matriculation) pass | Class 10 (Matriculation) pass |
| Age limit | 18-23 years as on 01.01.2026 | 18-25 years (most MTS posts) / 18-27 years (Havaldar and a few MTS posts), as on 1 August 2025 |
| Exam | One CBE: 80Q / 160 marks / 60 min | One CBE in two sessions: Session I 40Q/120/45 min + Session II 50Q/150/45 min |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer (against +2) | Session I: none; Session II: 1 mark per wrong answer (against +3) |
| Merit decided by | CBE score (plus NCC bonus where applicable) | Session II score only (normalised); Session I is qualifying |
| Physical test | PET (race) + PST (height/chest) for all qualifiers | PET/PST only for Havaldar, at 1:7 on Session II scores; MTS has none |
| Pay level | Level 3 | Level 1 |
| Starting basic pay | ₹21,700 | ₹18,000 |
| Vacancies | 25,487 tentative (23,467 men, 2,020 women) — 2026 cycle | 7,948 tentative (6,810 MTS + 1,138 Havaldar) — 2025 cycle |
| 2026 notification status | Issued (notice dated 01.12.2025); CBE result out 12 Oct 2026 | Not released as of 7 November 2026 — no 2026 date or vacancy figure exists |
As of 7 November 2026. Sources: SSC Constable (GD) 2026 notice (F. No. HQ-C-3007/10/2025-C-3); SSC MTS and Havaldar Examination 2025 notice (uploaded 26 June 2025). Detail: SSC GD syllabus 2026 and SSC MTS syllabus 2026.
Eligibility: GD vs MTS Qualification and Age Limit
| Point | SSC GD | SSC MTS / Havaldar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum qualification | 10th pass from a recognised board, by 01.01.2026 | 10th pass (Matriculation) |
| Age (General) | 18-23 as on 01.01.2026 (born 02.01.2003 to 01.01.2008) | 18-25 (most MTS) / 18-27 (Havaldar, few MTS), as on 1 August 2025 |
| OBC relaxation | +3 years | +3 years |
| SC/ST relaxation | +5 years | +5 years |
| Physical standards | Height 170 cm (men) / 157 cm (women); chest 80 cm (85 cm expanded) for men, with lower limits for specified groups and regions | Height/chest standards only for Havaldar (PET/PST stage); MTS has no physical standard |
| NCC | Bonus marks in the CBE (A/B/C certificate) | No NCC bonus |
The age difference is the practical gate. GD's window is the narrowest of any SSC exam — 18 to 23 — so a 24-year-old graduate cannot write GD at all, but can still write MTS (18-25 group) and Havaldar (18-27). Conversely, a 19-year-old Class 10 pass candidate is eligible for both. MTS also splits merit by age group (18-25 and 18-27) and by State/UT, so the same Session II score can mean selection in one state and rejection in another. See SSC GD eligibility and the age section of SSC MTS syllabus.
Exam Pattern: GD One Paper vs MTS Two Sessions
GD pattern in full: SSC GD exam pattern 2026.
SSC GD: one paper, four equal parts
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| B | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| C | Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| D | English or Hindi (your choice) | 20 | 40 |
| Total | 80 | 160 |
Time: 60 minutes for the whole paper. Marking: +2 / −0.25. Level: Matriculation (Class 10). There is no algebra, geometry or trigonometry in the GD maths list — it is the easiest maths section among SSC exams — and Part D tests basic comprehension in the language you choose. The CBE is offered in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages. A pure guess has a slightly positive expected value (+0.31), and eliminating one option makes guessing clearly worth it — the opposite of MTS Session II, where guessing is punished.
SSC MTS: two sessions, only the second counts
| Session | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Numerical and Mathematical Ability (20) + Reasoning (20) | 40 | 120 | 45 min | None |
| II | General Awareness (25) + English (25) | 50 | 150 | 45 min | 1 mark per wrong answer |
Session I closes automatically after 45 minutes and Session II starts immediately. Session II is evaluated only if you qualify Session I (UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20% — 36, 30 and 24 marks out of 120). Merit is Session II normalised marks only, with separate cut-offs by category, State/UT and age group. Havaldar candidates are shortlisted for PET/PST at 1:7 on Session II scores; failing Havaldar PET/PST keeps you in the race for MTS. Scribe-eligible candidates get 60 minutes per session.
The scoring trap is Session I. Because it carries no negative marking and only needs a qualifying score, the correct strategy is to attempt all 40 questions — but candidates who treat Session I as the real exam and save time for it lose the paper that actually counts. Session II has the harshest penalty in either exam: −1 against +3 means a blind guess breaks even on average (EV 0), and eliminating even one option makes guessing worth it — the break-even chance is 25%, and one option eliminated leaves you at 33%.
Physical Test: GD PET/PST vs MTS (Havaldar Only)
GD: every candidate who qualifies the CBE faces the PET and PST. The PET is a race (with height and chest measurement in the PST stage) — the exact race standard and height/chest table are in the GD eligibility note. Failing the physical standards ends the candidature regardless of CBE score, and the medical examination and document verification follow. The CBE result and cut-off for the 2026 cycle were published on 12 October 2026 (1,97,408 shortlisted for PET/PST), and the PET/PST is the next stage.
Posts, Work and Career Growth
- GD Constable / Rifleman: armed police duty in the CAPFs (border guarding in BSF/ITBP/SSB, industrial security in CISF, internal security in CRPF, VIP and special duties in SSF) and counter-insurgency and border duties as Rifleman in Assam Rifles. The work is uniformed, shift-based and posting-heavy, with promotion to Head Constable, Assistant Sub-Inspector and beyond through service and departmental exams.
- MTS: office support work in ministries and departments — record keeping, dak, photocopying, watch and ward, cleaning and upkeep, and general assistance to sections. Promotion runs to Lower Division Clerk and beyond through departmental exams and seniority.
- Havaldar (CBIC/CBN): uniformed preventive work — anti-smuggling and enforcement support, patrolling and guard duties — at Level 1 pay with uniformed allowances as applicable.
GD is the only one of the two that puts you in uniform from day one with force discipline, postings across the country and force-specific allowances (field, ration and related allowances are set by each force and are not in the SSC notice, so no figure is stated here).
Salary: GD vs MTS Pay and In-Hand
| Point | SSC GD (Level 3) | SSC MTS / Havaldar (Level 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay scale | ₹21,700 to ₹69,100 | ₹18,000 to ₹56,900 (Level 1 matrix) |
| Starting basic pay | ₹21,700 | ₹18,000 |
| Approximate in-hand (before tax, DA 63%) | About ₹36,938 to ₹44,212 | About ₹29,673 to ₹34,006 |
| DA basis | 63% from 1 July 2026 (Cabinet decision, PIB 28 October 2026) | 63% from 1 July 2026 (same decision) |
| What is official | Level 3 and ₹21,700 from the GD notice | Level 1 and ₹18,000 from the MTS notice |
| What is calculated | Gross and in-hand are our calculations from official DA, HRA and TA rates | Same method; force-specific allowances are not included for either |
GD starts ₹3,700 a month above MTS in basic pay, and the gap is larger in hand because HRA and Transport Allowance are percentages and slabs of basic pay. Over a career the gap compounds through increments on different matrices. Full workings: SSC GD salary 2026 and SSC MTS salary 2026.
The 2026 Status Warning: Read the Cycle Labels
This comparison mixes two cycle labels, and the labels matter. GD 2026 is a real, running cycle: notification dated 1 December 2025, CBE held 27 April to 30 May 2026, result and cut-off out 12 October 2026. The next GD notification (GD 2027) was listed for September/October 2026 in the SSC calendar but had not been issued as of 7 November 2026 — do not trust a page that gives a firm GD 2027 date or vacancy figure.
MTS 2026 does not exist yet as a notification. The latest official scheme is the MTS and Havaldar Examination 2025 notice (26 June 2025), whose CBE ran 4-20 February 2026. The 2026-27 calendar lists the 2026 exam, but its notice had not been published as of 7 November 2026. Every MTS figure on this page is therefore the 2025-notice scheme, which the next cycle is expected to follow — but the new notice can change any of it. No MTS 2026 date, vacancy figure or cut-off is stated here. See SSC GD cut off and SSC MTS cut off for the official cycle-labelled tables.
SSC GD or MTS: Which Should You Choose?
| If you are... | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| 18-23, physically fit, wanting uniformed service | GD first — higher pay, uniformed career, NCC bonus if you hold a certificate |
| 18-23, wanting office work | MTS — no race, no height/chest bar for MTS posts |
| 24-27 | MTS / Havaldar only — you are over the GD limit |
| Holding an NCC certificate | GD — the bonus marks apply only there |
| Weak in English | GD Part D is basic comprehension in English or Hindi; MTS Session II English is compulsory and decides merit — GD is kinder |
| Strong in GA and English, weak in Maths | MTS — Session I Maths only needs a qualifying score, and Session II (your strength) decides merit |
Write both when eligible: GD's CBE and MTS Session I share Reasoning and Maths ground, and the two exams run months apart.
SSC GD vs MTS MCQs (Quick Check)
- What is the GD CBE pattern? Answer: 80 questions, 160 marks, 60 minutes, +2/−0.25.
- Which MTS session decides merit? Answer: Session II only (Session I is qualifying).
- What is the negative marking in MTS Session II? Answer: 1 mark per wrong answer.
- What is the GD age limit? Answer: 18 to 23 years as on 01.01.2026.
- What is the starting basic pay of GD Constable? Answer: ₹21,700 (Pay Level 3).
- What is the starting basic pay of MTS? Answer: ₹18,000 (Pay Level 1).
- Does MTS have a physical test? Answer: No for MTS posts; Havaldar candidates face PET/PST at 1:7.
- Has the MTS 2026 notification been released? Answer: No — not as of 7 November 2026; the latest scheme is the 2025 notice.
SSC GD vs MTS FAQs
Can I apply for both SSC GD and SSC MTS?
Yes, if you meet both age limits. A candidate aged 18-23 with a Class 10 pass can apply for both. They are separate notices with separate applications, and the exams run at different times.
Which is easier, SSC GD or SSC MTS?
GD's paper is easier (Class 10 level, +2/−0.25, no advanced maths) but adds a physical test. MTS has no physical test for MTS posts but punishes wrong answers hard in Session II (−1 against +3) and scores only that session. "Easier" depends on whether your weak point is fitness or accuracy under penalty.
What is the salary difference between GD and MTS?
GD starts at ₹21,700 basic (Level 3); MTS and Havaldar start at ₹18,000 (Level 1). Approximate in-hand pay at DA 63% is about ₹36,938 to ₹44,212 for GD and about ₹29,673 to ₹34,006 for MTS, before income tax.
Is there an interview in SSC GD or MTS?
No. Neither exam has an interview. GD selection is CBE → PET/PST → medical → document verification; MTS selection is Session II merit → document verification (plus PET/PST for Havaldar).
When will the SSC MTS 2026 notification come?
No date is announced. The SSC calendar lists the MTS and Havaldar Examination 2026, but its notice had not been published as of 7 November 2026. Prepare with the 2025-notice scheme and check ssc.gov.in for the new notice.
Does SSC GD have negative marking?
Yes — 0.25 mark is deducted for each wrong answer, against 2 marks for a correct answer. MTS Session I has no negative marking; Session II deducts 1 mark per wrong answer.
Practice Next
- Mocks: SSC GD Full Length Mock Test 01, SSC GD Reasoning Sectional 01 and SSC MTS Full Length Mock Test 01.
- Related notes: SSC CGL vs CHSL, SSC GD syllabus 2026 and SSC MTS syllabus 2026.
- Browse all study notes.