SSC Havaldar Cut Off 2025: Shortlisting and Qualifying Marks

The SSC Havaldar cut off works at two levels. First, you must clear minimum qualifying marks in both sessions of the computer based examination. Second, you must score above a CCA-wise and category-wise Session-II cut-off to be shortlisted for the Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test (PET/PST). This page covers the 2025 cycle, using the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) result notice dated 3 August 2026.

The final cut-off for the Havaldar post, after PET/PST, will come with the first round of tentative allocation, which had not been announced when this page was written. Treat the figures below as the latest official benchmark and not as the final cut-off.

Qualifying Marks

Qualifying marks apply separately to Session-I and Session-II. Session-II is checked only if you clear Session-I.

Shortlisting for PET/PST in the 2025 Cycle

SSC shortlisted Havaldar candidates in the ratio of 1:7 (vacancies to candidates) on normalised Session-II marks. The notice lists these counts by category.

The UR figure includes candidates from reserved categories who qualified at the UR cut-off. Horizontal categories such as ESM and PwBD are counted within the main categories.

What the Session-II Cut-Offs Looked Like

Annexure I of the notice gives the cut-off for each CCA and category, with the marks in Session-II, in General Awareness, in Session-I, and the date of birth of the last shortlisted candidate. Session-II is out of 150 marks, and the cut-offs are normalised marks.

• Unreserved rows: In the rows we reviewed, UR cut-offs ranged from about 108 to about 142 marks in Session-II, depending on the CCA.

• Reserved categories: OBC, SC, ST and EWS cut-offs were usually lower than the UR figure in the same CCA, and the gap varied by CCA and category.

• Horizontal categories: ESM and Other PwBD cut-offs were far lower in several CCAs, in the range of roughly 40 to 95 marks.

• Tie breaks: The notice records the General Awareness marks and the date of birth at the cut-off because ties are resolved by General Awareness marks, then Session-I marks, then older age.

These figures vary widely because each CCA has its own vacancies and applicant pool. Open the SSC result notice to read the row for your category and CCA.

What Affects the Cut-Off

• Vacancies in the CCA: A CCA with few vacancies shortlists fewer candidates, which can raise its cut-off.

• Applicants and preferences: More competition for popular CCAs and cities pushes cut-offs higher.

• Paper difficulty and normalisation: The exam ran over many shifts, and SSC normalises marks to keep the shifts comparable.

• Negative marking in Session-II: Wrong answers lower raw scores, so accuracy affects where you land.

How to Set Your Target

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

• Clear Session-I with room to spare: Aim well above the 36 of 120 marks that a UR candidate needs, so that one bad shift does not end your chances.

• Set a Session-II target: Work towards a mock score comfortably above the CCA cut-off for your category, rather than the lowest figure you see.

• Protect General Awareness marks: It is the first tie-breaker, so a strong score there helps in close contests.

• List more CCA preferences: SSC advises giving the maximum number of preferences to improve the chance of selection, because you are considered only for the CCAs you list.

Cut-off is only one part of selection. Remember that qualifying the PET/PST is mandatory for the Havaldar post.