The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 notification on May 20, 2026, under Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II. A total of 451 vacancies are open across four defence academies for eligible graduate candidates who wish to join the Indian Armed Forces as commissioned officers. The online application window is active at upsconline.nic.in and closes on June 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Last verified on: 27 May 2026 (IST)
Key Highlights
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 |
| Notice Number | 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Total Vacancies | 451 (tentative) |
| Notification Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Window | 20 May 2026 – 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Written Exam Date | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (General/OBC/EWS male); NIL for Female/SC/ST |
| Apply Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Vacancy Details
UPSC has notified 451 vacancies across five courses under three defence services. The academy-wise distribution, as per the official notification, is as follows:
| Academy / Course | Vacancies | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) — 163rd Direct Entry Course | 100 | Male |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) — Ezhimala | 26 | Male |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) — Hyderabad | 32 | Male |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — SSC (Men) | 275 | Male |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — SSC (Women) | 18 | Female |
These figures are tentative. Services HQ may revise them at any stage of the selection process. NCC reserved seats are included within the academy totals, not in addition to them.
Eligibility
Nationality
Candidates must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries (Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, certain East African countries, or Vietnam) with the intention of permanently settling in India. A certificate of eligibility from the Government of India is required for most of these categories. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from producing this certificate.
Educational Qualification
| Academy | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA | Degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
| INA | BE/B.Tech degree, or B.Sc. with Physics as a subject |
| AFA | Degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a BE/B.Tech degree |
| OTA (Men & Women) | Degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
Final-year degree students may apply, subject to producing a bonafide certificate at the time of SSB and submitting proof of graduation before joining.
Age Limit (Academy-wise)
Age is reckoned from the date of course commencement — July 1, 2027 for IMA/INA/AFA, and October 1, 2027 for OTA. No general age relaxation applies for reserved categories.
| Academy | Age Range | Birth Date Range (CDS II 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 19–24 years | 02 Jan 2002 – 01 Jan 2007 |
| INA | 19–22 years | 02 Jan 2004 – 01 Jan 2007 |
| AFA | 19–23 years | 02 Jan 2003 – 01 Jan 2007 |
| OTA (Men & Women) | 19–25 years | 02 Jan 2001 – 01 Jan 2007 |
Special relaxation for AFA: Candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) are eligible up to 26 years of age.
Marital Status
Candidates applying for IMA, INA, and OTA (Men) must be unmarried at the time of application. For AFA, candidates below 25 must be unmarried; those aged 25 and above may be married but will not receive married accommodation during training. Women candidates applying for OTA may also be widows without children (not remarried) or divorcees (not remarried).
Salary and Pay
During the training period, cadets at all academies receive a monthly stipend of ₹56,100. On commissioning as a Lieutenant, the basic pay falls under Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix, in addition to a Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 per month. Combined with Dearness Allowance and other admissible allowances, the approximate in-hand salary for a freshly commissioned officer ranges between ₹80,000 and ₹1,10,000 per month depending on posting.
Other service benefits include Armed Forces Group Insurance (₹1.25 crore cover), free medical care for the officer and family, subsidised rations, CSD canteen access, official accommodation, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), and a pension/gratuity on retirement.
Selection Process
The selection is a two-stage process conducted by UPSC and Services HQ respectively.
Stage 1 — Written Examination (13 September 2026): The exam is conducted offline (pen and paper) at 41 centres across India. It consists of objective-type (MCQ) papers. For IMA, INA, and AFA candidates, there are three papers — English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks), and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks) — totalling 300 marks. OTA candidates appear in only two papers — English and General Knowledge (200 marks total). A negative marking of one-third of the marks assigned to the question applies for each wrong answer.
Stage 2 — SSB Interview / Personality Test: Candidates shortlisted after the written examination appear before a Services Selection Board (SSB). The SSB is a five-day process comprising psychological tests, group testing exercises, and a personal interview. It carries 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 marks for OTA.
Stage 3 — Medical Examination: SSB-recommended candidates undergo a thorough medical examination against prescribed physical and medical standards for the respective service.
Final merit and allocation are based on combined performance in the written exam and SSB, subject to medical fitness.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 20 May 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Written Examination | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| e-Admit Card Release | Last working day of the week preceding the exam (exact date not yet announced) |
| Course Commencement — IMA/INA/AFA | July 2027 (tentative) |
| Course Commencement — OTA | October 2027 (tentative) |
No late applications are accepted. No correction or alteration in any field of the submitted application form is permitted after the final submission. The e-Admit Card will not be sent by post or email; candidates must download it from the UPSC website.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹200 |
| SC / ST (All genders) | Nil (fully exempted) |
| Female (All categories) | Nil (fully exempted) |
The fee is payable online. Once paid, it is non-refundable under any circumstances and cannot be transferred to any other examination.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Visit the UPSC online application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process if not already done — this creates a Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Log in with your URN credentials and select the “CDS (II) 2026 Examination” link from the active examinations list.
- Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details, date of birth, educational qualification, and service/academy preference.
- Upload scanned copies of the required photograph and signature as per the specified dimensions and file size.
- Pay the application fee online (where applicable) using net banking, UPI, or debit/credit card.
- Review all entries carefully before final submission — no changes are permitted after submission.
- Save and print the confirmation page / payment receipt for future reference.
For technical assistance during the application window (20 May – 9 June 2026), contact UPSC at 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 or email [email protected] between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM on working days.
Documents Required
These documents are not uploaded at the time of application but must be produced in original at the time of the SSB interview:
- Matriculation / Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Degree certificate or provisional pass certificate with mark sheets
- Bonafide certificate from the institution (for final-year students)
- Valid photo identity proof (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC), if applicable
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate, if applying under NCC quota (original must reach respective HQ by 13 May 2027)
- Valid CPL issued by DGCA, if claiming AFA age relaxation
- Any other documents specified in the SSB call letter
Offer and Notice Verification — Scam Warning
UPSC does not issue appointment letters, admit cards, or selection lists through WhatsApp, Telegram, or unofficial websites. All official communications — including the notification PDF, e-Admit Card, and result — are published only on upsc.gov.in. Any corrigendum or revision to the notification is also hosted exclusively on this website.
If you receive a message claiming you have been selected or shortlisted before the SSB and medical stages are complete, it is fraudulent. UPSC does not appoint agents or intermediaries for any part of the recruitment process. Candidates who encounter any such communication should report it to UPSC directly. Do not pay any money to any person or agency claiming to facilitate CDS selection.
Official Links
- UPSC Official Website — upsc.gov.in
- Apply Online Portal — upsconline.nic.in
- UPSC Active Examinations Page (Notification PDF available here)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When is the last date to apply for UPSC CDS 2 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is June 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM. No application is accepted after this deadline, and no correction in a submitted form is permitted.
Q2. Can female candidates apply for all academies in CDS 2 2026?
No. Female candidates are eligible to apply only for OTA (Women), which offers 18 vacancies. IMA, INA, and AFA are currently open to male candidates only.
Q3. Is there a limit on the number of attempts for CDS?
There is no fixed attempt limit. Candidates can apply as long as they meet the age and eligibility criteria applicable to their chosen academy at the time of each examination.
Q4. What subjects are tested in the CDS 2 written examination?
IMA, INA, and AFA candidates are tested in three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (total 300 marks). OTA candidates appear in only English and General Knowledge (total 200 marks). All papers are objective type with negative marking.
Q5. Is the application fee refundable if I withdraw my application?
No. The official notification states that the application fee, once paid, is non-refundable under any circumstances and cannot be credited toward any other examination.
Q6. What is the stipend paid to cadets during training?
As per information consistent with the official notification, cadets receive a monthly stipend of ₹56,100 during the training period at their respective academies.
