HowIndiaEarns

Government jobPay Level 1Group CNon‑gazetted

Havaldar (CBIC and CBN)

हवलदार (सीबीआईसी / सीबीएन)

Pay Level 1 uniformed post via SSC MTS in the GST, Customs and Narcotics departments — guard, escort and support duties.

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) · Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) · central government

In-hand pay at joining, per month

₹29,000–₹33,000

Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.

Exam
SSC MTS
Qualification
10th pass
Age limit
18–27 years
Transfers
Within your allotted zone/region
Work hours
Office hours in GST formations; shifts in Customs
Probation
2 years

Estimated in-hand / month

₹30,760

Gross ₹33,840 · CTC ≈ ₹4.5 lakh/yr

Level 1

Where are you posted?

Joining

Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.

New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.

What you will actually do

  • Guarding seized goods, godowns and office premises
  • Escorting officers, cash and seized material
  • Assisting officers during searches, checks and patrols
  • Carrying files and dak, and other office support work
  • Duty at ports, airports and check points in Customs formations

A typical day

In a GST office the job looks much like MTS work in uniform: moving files, delivering letters and manning the entrance. In Customs you may be on shift at a dock gate, a warehouse of seized goods or an airport, and you accompany officers on preventive duty. Shifts in Customs include nights. The work is mostly standing, guarding and assisting.

Stress2/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing2/5
LittleConstant
Field work3/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) (joining)

    Pay Level 1

    ₹29,000–₹33,000 in-hand

  2. Head Havaldar

    8–12 years · Level 2 · via dpc

    ₹32,000–₹37,000 in-hand

  3. Tax Assistant

    Through departmental exam or promotion quota, for those with the required qualification · Level 4 · via departmental exam

    ₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand

Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.

How to get in

SSC MTSOnce a year

Staff Selection Commission

  1. 1.Computer-based examination (two sessions)
  2. 2.Physical efficiency and physical standards test
  3. 3.Document verification

Eligibility: Class 10 (matriculation) pass from a recognised board. Age 18–27. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

Physical standards: Men: walk 1,600 m in 15 minutes; height 157.5 cm, chest 81 cm with 5 cm expansion. Women: walk 1 km in 20 minutes; height 152 cm, weight 48 kg. Relaxations for some categories.

The good

  • Uniformed central job after Class 10
  • Promotion path into the ministerial and executive cadres of CBIC
  • Zone-based posting

The hard parts

  • Level 1 pay
  • Guard duty and night shifts in Customs
  • Promotion beyond Head Havaldar needs exams and vacancies

Postings

Allotted to a CGST or Customs zone (called a Cadre Controlling Authority) on merit and preference, and you generally stay in that zone.

Central government job securityNPS with a 14% government contributionLeave Travel Concession (LTC)Medical cover (CGHS in covered cities)Uniform allowance

Questions people ask

What is the in-hand salary of Havaldar (CBIC and CBN)?+

Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) is a Pay Level 1 post with a starting basic pay of ₹18,000. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹29,000–₹33,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.

What is the qualification and age limit for Havaldar (CBIC and CBN)?+

Class 10 (matriculation) pass from a recognised board. Age: 18–27 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

Which exam do I need to clear for Havaldar (CBIC and CBN)?+

SSC MTS (Staff Selection Commission).

Is Havaldar better than MTS?+

Pay is the same. Havaldar has a physical test, a uniform and a promotion channel inside CBIC; MTS is general office support in any department.

Compare with similar posts

Havaldar vs Multi-Tasking StaffHavaldar vs Tax AssistantHavaldar vs Constable

Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS)

मल्टी टास्किंग स्टाफ

Pay Level 1

Pay Level 1 support post via SSC MTS in central offices — carrying files, upkeep of the office and general help.

₹29,000–₹33,000 in-handSSC MTS

Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)

टैक्स असिस्टेंट

Pay Level 4

Pay Level 4 desk job in the Income Tax or GST/Customs department via SSC CGL — mostly office work, steady hours.

₹42,000–₹50,000 in-handSSC CGL

Constable (General Duty), CAPF

कांस्टेबल (जीडी)

Pay Level 3

Pay Level 3 post via SSC GD — armed guard, patrol and security duty in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles.

₹36,000–₹43,000 in-handSSC GD

Books to prepare for SSC MTS

  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic

    Rajesh Verma (Arihant)

    Shorter and more shortcut-oriented than R.S. Aggarwal. Useful when time per question matters.

    See on Amazon

  • Lucent's General Knowledge

    Lucent Publications

    Compact static GK for history, polity, geography and science. It does not cover current affairs.

    See on Amazon

  • Lucent Samanya Gyan Hindi

    Lucent Publications

    The Hindi edition of Lucent's GK, widely used for SSC and railway exams.

    See on Amazon

All 7 books for SSC CHSL, MTS, GD, Stenographer and Delhi Police

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not affect which books we list.

Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.