SSC MTS Eligibility: Quick Answer
SSC MTS eligibility, from the latest official notice — the MTS (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) Examination 2025 notice uploaded on ssc.gov.in on 26 June 2025 — is: age 18 to 25 years for most MTS posts and 18 to 27 years for Havaldar posts and a few MTS posts, as on 1 August 2025, with the usual relaxations for reserved categories; and a Matriculation (Class 10) pass. Every figure on this page is labelled with its cycle, because the 2026 notice had not been published as of 7 November 2026: SSC's 2026-27 calendar lists the 2026 exam, but until its notice appears, the 2025 notice is the latest official scheme, and you should prepare and check your eligibility against it, then re-check the new notice when it is published. As of 7 November 2026.
Cycle warning. Pages that present MTS 2026 dates, vacancies or eligibility as already notified are wrong. The live cycle is the 2025 cycle: its computer-based exam was held from 4 to 20 February 2026 and its result was declared on 3 August 2026. Nothing on this page claims a 2026 figure.
SSC MTS Eligibility at a Glance (2025 Notice)
| Point | Rule (2025 notice, 26 June 2025) |
|---|---|
| Posts | Multi-Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) in ministries and departments; Havaldar in CBIC and CBN |
| Age group 1 | 18 to 25 years as on 1 August 2025 — most MTS posts |
| Age group 2 | 18 to 27 years as on 1 August 2025 — Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) and a few MTS posts |
| Education | Matriculation (Class 10) pass |
| Nationality | Citizen of India, or the standard SSC categories below |
| Selection | Two-session computer-based exam; Session I qualifying, merit on Session II only; Havaldar adds PET/PST |
| Pay level | Pay Level 1 (both MTS and Havaldar) |
| 2026 notice | Not published as of 7 November 2026 — re-check when it appears |
Sources: SSC notice for the MTS and Havaldar Examination 2025 (26 June 2025), as summarised in our SSC MTS syllabus 2026 note, which follows the same notice.
SSC MTS Age Limit: 18-25 and 18-27 Age Groups
The 2025 notice fixes two age groups, counted as on 1 August 2025. Which group applies depends on the post and state you choose, and the final allocation depends on your Session II marks, your post-cum-State/UT preferences and your age group — so choose your preferences knowing which group you fall in.
| Age group (as on 1 August 2025) | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 18 to 25 years | Most MTS (Non-Technical) posts |
| 18 to 27 years | Havaldar in CBIC and CBN, and a few MTS posts |
Worked checks (2025 cycle). If you were born on 2 August 2000, you were 24 on 1 August 2025 and fit both groups. If you were born on 15 July 1998, you were 27 on 1 August 2025: too old for the 18–25 group, but inside the 18–27 group for Havaldar. If you were born on 1 August 2007, you turned 18 on 1 August 2025 and were eligible by age; born a day later, on 2 August 2007, you were still 17 and were not.
A common mistake is applying the 18–27 limit to every MTS post. Most MTS posts cap at 25, and the 27-year limit covers Havaldar and only a few MTS posts. Check the age group printed against the post and state in the notice's vacancy tables before assuming you qualify.
SSC MTS Age Relaxation (2025 Notice)
The 2025 notice gives the usual SSC relaxations in the upper age limit. The table below gives the standard relaxations; the notice's full table also covers ex-servicemen, widows, divorced women, and other special categories, so check the notice itself if any of those applies to you.
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) | 10 years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD + SC / ST | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 3 years after deduction of military service from age, within the notice's conditions |
With relaxation, an OBC candidate in the 18–25 group can be up to 28 on 1 August 2025, and an SC/ST candidate up to 30. Relaxation applies to the upper age limit only — the lower limit of 18 stays the same for every category.
SSC MTS Educational Qualification: 10th Pass
The only educational requirement is a Matriculation (Class 10) pass from a recognised board. There is no percentage requirement, no stream requirement, and no higher qualification needed — a graduate is equally eligible, and no extra marks are given for higher education. Candidates appearing for Class 10 in the notice year should check the notice for the date by which the qualification must be acquired; do not assume a result awaited after that date counts. Keep your Class 10 certificate ready: it is the document used to prove both your age and your qualification at document verification.
SSC MTS Nationality and Other Conditions
The standard SSC nationality clause in the 2025 notice admits: a citizen of India; a subject of Nepal; a subject of Bhutan; a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of settling permanently; or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of settling permanently in India. Candidates in the last three categories need an eligibility certificate from the Government of India where the notice requires one. You must also meet the notice's conditions on character, and you must not have been debarred by SSC.
SSC MTS Havaldar: PET and PST Standards (2025 Notice)
Havaldar candidates shortlisted on Session II scores (at 1:7 against vacancies) must pass a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST). Failing PET/PST keeps you in the race for MTS posts, but removes you from Havaldar consideration.
| Test | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| PET — walking | 1,600 metres in 15 minutes | 1 km in 20 minutes |
| PST — height and chest | Measured against the notice's standards, with relaxations for specified categories | Measured against the notice's standards, with relaxations for specified categories |
Height is relaxed by 5 cm for male and 2.5 cm for female candidates, and female weight by 2 kg, for Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and Scheduled Tribe candidates, among the categories listed in the notice. The full height, chest and weight tables, including the regional relaxations, are in our SSC MTS syllabus 2026 note and in the notice itself — measure yourself against the notice's table, not against a summary.
SSC MTS Selection After Eligibility: Sessions and Merit
Eligibility gets you into the exam; the merit list is made only on Session II (General Awareness 25 questions and English 25 questions, 150 marks, with 1 mark deducted per wrong answer). Session I (Maths and Reasoning, 20 questions each, 120 marks, no negative marking) is qualifying only — you must clear its minimum qualifying marks, but its score does not count in the merit list. Minimum qualifying marks apply in both sessions, category-wise. Scores are normalised across shifts. Final allocation depends on Session II marks, preferences and age group, with separate cut-offs by category, State/UT and age group — see our SSC MTS cut off note for how those cut-offs work.
SSC MTS Eligibility FAQs
What is the age limit for SSC MTS?
Under the 2025 notice (26 June 2025), 18 to 25 years as on 1 August 2025 for most MTS posts, and 18 to 27 years for Havaldar posts in CBIC and CBN and a few MTS posts, with the usual relaxations (SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years). The 2026 notice had not been published as of 7 November 2026.
What qualification is required for SSC MTS?
A Matriculation (Class 10) pass from a recognised board. No percentage, stream or higher qualification is required.
Is there an 18-27 age limit for all MTS posts?
No. Most MTS posts cap at 25 years. The 27-year limit applies to Havaldar and only a few MTS posts. Check the age group against your chosen post and state in the notice.
Can a graduate apply for SSC MTS?
Yes. Graduation is not required, but graduates are fully eligible — the only educational bar is the Class 10 pass, and higher education earns no extra marks.
What happens if I fail the Havaldar PET/PST?
You stay in the race for MTS posts. PET/PST failure removes you only from Havaldar consideration; your Session II merit still counts for MTS allocation.