Candidates shortlisted for the Havaldar post under the SSC MTS Exam now have their physical-test dates. The Staff Selection Commission has confirmed that the Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test will be conducted from August 24 to August 31, 2026 at various Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs centres across the country. The official SSC notice, issued on August 20, also says admission certificates will be released by the respective Regional Offices before the PET/PST schedule begins. A total of 8,071 candidates have been provisionally shortlisted for this stage.

SSC MTS Exam PET/PST: What the Official Notice Says

SSC's latest notice refers candidates back to the result declared on August 3 for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar Examination 2025. It states that CBIC has informed the Commission that the PET/PST for the Havaldar post will take place between August 24 and August 31 at its centres nationwide. The Commission will not conduct the physical tests itself. Under the recruitment notice, PET/PST for Havaldar is conducted by CBIC/CBN at centres finalised by them, and candidates may be called to a centre anywhere in the country.

That makes the admission certificate particularly important because it will contain the candidate-specific date, venue and reporting instructions.

8,071 Candidates Shortlisted for Havaldar

SSC declared the Computer Based Examination result on August 3. The official result notice shows that 8,071 candidates were provisionally shortlisted for the Havaldar physical stage across different categories. The Commission used normalized marks from Session-II to prepare the shortlist, while candidates who failed to qualify Session-I were not eligible for Session-II evaluation. SSC had received more than 36.19 lakh applications for the examination, while 8,04,633 candidates actually appeared in the CBE held between February 4 and February 20, 2026. The physical stage applies specifically to candidates being considered for the Havaldar post. Candidates who fail PET/PST cannot be considered for Havaldar. However, SSC says a candidate who is also eligible and shortlisted for MTS can remain in contention for that post.

SSC MTS Exam Admit Card: Where Candidates Should Check

The SSC MTS exam admit card for the Havaldar PET/PST is technically described by SSC as an “Admission Certificate.” The August 20 notice says the respective Regional Offices will issue these certificates before the physical-test schedule. Candidates should therefore visit the SSC official website and then check the portal of the SSC region applicable to them.

Availability can differ by region. For example, SSC Western Region had already posted a call-letter link for the August 24-31 Havaldar PET/PST schedule. Candidates should use the details on their own admission certificate rather than relying on another candidate's venue or reporting time. The SSC MTS exam admit card or call letter should be checked carefully for the exact date, test centre and instructions on documents to carry.

What Is the Physical Efficiency Test?

The Physical Efficiency Test for Havaldar is a walking test. According to SSC's official 2025 recruitment notice, male candidates must walk 1,600 metres in 15 minutes.

Female candidates must complete 1 kilometre in 20 minutes. This is important because some older recruitment guides still mention cycling standards. The current official notice lists walking as the PET requirement. The Physical Efficiency Test is qualifying in nature. Candidates must meet the prescribed standard to remain eligible for Havaldar selection.

What Are the Havaldar Physical Standards?

The Physical Standard Test measures prescribed physical parameters. For male candidates, the standard height is 157.5 cm and the chest must measure 81 cm when fully expanded, with a minimum expansion of 5 cm. For female candidates, the standard height is 152 cm and weight is 48 kg. SSC provides specified relaxations for eligible Garhwali, Assamese, Gorkha and Scheduled Tribe candidates. Certain PwBD candidates may also receive exemptions from particular PET/PST requirements subject to the conditions in the recruitment notice. Candidates seeking any permitted relaxation must carry the required supporting documents when appearing for the physical tests.

This Is the 2025 Examination, Even Though Tests Are in 2026

There is a naming issue candidates should understand. News reports frequently use phrases such as “SSC MTS Exam 2026” because the CBE result and physical tests are happening this year. However, SSC officially calls this recruitment the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination, 2025. The original recruitment notice was issued on June 26, 2025, while the CBE itself was conducted in February 2026. That distinction can help candidates avoid accidentally opening notices belonging to a different recruitment cycle on the SSC official website.

What Candidates Should Do Before August 24

With the Physical Efficiency Test beginning on August 24, shortlisted candidates should now focus on their own regional admission certificate and test instructions. Check the relevant SSC Regional Office regularly, verify the reporting date and centre as soon as the certificate becomes available, and keep the documents required for PET/PST ready.

The national testing window is fixed: August 24 to August 31. For the 8,071 shortlisted Havaldar candidates, the remaining details will come through their respective regional SSC offices—and those details, rather than unofficial social-media posts, should determine where and when they report.