UPSC CDS 2 Examination 2026 – 451 Posts

Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi
Post Name	IMA (163rd DE Course), INA (Executive Branch/Hydro), Air Force Academy (222 F(P) Course), OTA Chennai (126th SSC Men & Women)
Total Vacancies	451 (subject to change by Services HQ)
Application Mode	Online
Job Location	Pan India
Last Updated	01 Jun 2026

Important Dates

Application Start Date	July 2027
Last Date to Apply	09-06-2026 (up to 6:00 PM)
Exam Date	13.09.2026
Interview Date	February – March 2027 (tentative)
Admit Card Date	Last working day of the preceding week of the examination date
Result Date	October 2026
Event	Date
Date Of Notification	20/05/2026
Opening Of Online Application	20-05-2026
Helpline Active Period	20-05-2026 to 09-06-2026 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days)
Representation Window For Answer Keys	3rd day to 7th day (up to 6:00 PM) after examination

Application Fee

General / UR

Rs. 200/- (Non-Refundable)

SC

NIL (Exempted)

Fee is payable through online mode only (Net Banking / Visa / Master / Rupay Credit / Debit Card / UPI). Payment through any other mode is not valid. Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances nor can it be held in reserve for any other examination. | Note: No fee exemption is available to OBC/EWS male candidates; they must pay the full prescribed fee.

Age Limit

Details	Age is calculated based on date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate only. No other document (horoscope, affidavit, birth extract, etc.) will be accepted. Once a date of birth is submitted, no change will be allowed subsequently. \| Note: Male divorcees/widowers cannot be treated as unmarried male and are not eligible for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses. Marriage is not permitted during training at any academy; a candidate who marries after applying will not be selected and a candidate marrying during training shall be discharged and liable to refund all expenditure incurred by the Government.

Details

Age is calculated based on date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate only. No other document (horoscope, affidavit, birth extract, etc.) will be accepted. Once a date of birth is submitted, no change will be allowed subsequently. | Note: Male divorcees/widowers cannot be treated as unmarried male and are not eligible for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses. Marriage is not permitted during training at any academy; a candidate who marries after applying will not be selected and a candidate marrying during training shall be discharged and liable to refund all expenditure incurred by the Government.

Qualification / Eligibility

Education Qualification	Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
Details	Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions before the date of application. Their admission at all stages is purely provisional subject to satisfying eligibility conditions. Verification of eligibility with reference to original documents will be taken up only after the candidate qualifies for SSB/Personality Test.
Matched Qualifications	ITI, B_Tech_BE, CA

Vacancy Details

Sr. No.	Total Posts
1	100
2	26
3	32
4	275
5	18
Total	451

Category-wise Vacancy

Category	Posts
Course	451

Salary & Pay Scale

Pay Scale	Rs. 56,100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10) for all academies

Selection Process

1Sl. Subject Code Duration Maximum Marks

21 English 11 2 Hours 100

32 General Knowledge 12 2 Hours 100

43 Elementary Mathematics 13 2 Hours 100

5Total (Written) 300

6SSB / Interview Marks 300

7Total (Written) 200

8SSB / Interview Marks 200

9Selection consists of a Written Examination conducted by UPSC followed by Intell

10and finally Medical Examination. Success at the written examination confers no r

11Stage 1 - Written Examination (Objective Type)

12For IMA

13INA

14and Air Force Academy:

15For Officers' Training Academy (OTA):

16All papers are objective type only. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics

17Stage 2 - SSB Intelligence & Personality Test

18Candidates who qualify the written examination will be called for SSB test by th

19Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception & Descri

20Group Testing Officer Tasks

21Psychology Tests

22and Conference - conducted over 4 days. The personality is assessed by the Inter

23Group Testing Officer (GTO)

24and Psychologist

25with equal weightage.

26Candidates who qualify for IMA/INA/AFA (irrespective of OTA qualification) will

27Stage 3 - Medical Examination

28Final selection is subject to the candidate being declared medically fit as per

29Tie-Breaking Principles:

30For IMA/INA/AFA: candidates equal in aggregate (Final Marks) are ranked by writt

31by GK paper marks; if still equal

32by age (senior ranked higher). For OTA: same process but written total is Englis

Physical Eligibility / Standards

Details	The competition level for UPSC CDS II 2026 is expected to be very high. With only 451 vacancies - of which 275 are for OTA SSC Men (NT) alone - the exam is among the most competitive defence officer entry examinations in India. Lakhs of graduates appear for CDS every year, and the three-stage selection process (written exam, SSB, and medical) filters candidates rigorously at each stage. \| The written exam is of moderate to high difficulty at the graduate/matriculate level but negative marking makes accuracy critical. The SSB stage is the most challenging differentiator - only candidates with genuine officer-like qualities, communication skills, and psychological fitness progress. AFA vacancies (32 seats) are the most competitive due to additional CPSS/PABT screening. Candidates already registered on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in must ensure the same email ID is used for UPSC registration.

Details

The competition level for UPSC CDS II 2026 is expected to be very high. With only 451 vacancies - of which 275 are for OTA SSC Men (NT) alone - the exam is among the most competitive defence officer entry examinations in India. Lakhs of graduates appear for CDS every year, and the three-stage selection process (written exam, SSB, and medical) filters candidates rigorously at each stage. | The written exam is of moderate to high difficulty at the graduate/matriculate level but negative marking makes accuracy critical. The SSB stage is the most challenging differentiator - only candidates with genuine officer-like qualities, communication skills, and psychological fitness progress. AFA vacancies (32 seats) are the most competitive due to additional CPSS/PABT screening. Candidates already registered on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in must ensure the same email ID is used for UPSC registration.

How to Apply

1Candidates must apply online only through https://upsconline.nic.in. No other mode of application is accepted. The Online Application Portal has four modules: Account Creation, Universal Registration (URN - one-time for lifetime), Common Application Form (CAF), and Examination Specific Module. The URN generated is common for all UPSC examinations; the Application Number generated is examination-specific and must be retained.
2Candidates in Government Service / Armed Forces must inform their Head of Office / Commanding Officer in writing that they have applied. Armed Forces candidates must also submit NOC at the time of SSB interview. Candidates should also give their consent for the Pratibha Setu Portal (Public Disclosure Scheme) at the time of filling the Examination Specific Module if they wish their details to be shared with registered organisations for employment purposes after final result.
3Documents / Details Required While Applying:
4Date of Birth as per Matriculation / Secondary School Examination Certificate
5Educational qualification details and supporting documents
6Aadhaar Card (strongly advised as primary ID; other options: Voter Card/EPIC, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, or any Photo ID issued by State/Central Government)
7Passport-size photograph (uploaded) and live photograph captured via webcam
8Signature: signed three times (one below the other) on plain white paper with black ink, scanned and uploaded
9URN (Universal Registration Number) - generate once, valid for all UPSC exams for lifetime
10Fee payment via Net Banking / Debit / Credit / Rupay / UPI (Rs. 200/- for General/OBC/EWS Male; NIL for Female and SC/ST)
11Documents to be Kept Ready after Written Result (for SSB):
12Original Matriculation / Secondary School Examination Certificate showing date of birth
13Original Degree / Provisional Degree Certificate and mark sheets of all years/semesters
14Final year students: Bonafide certificate from Principal/College stating candidate will pass degree exam by specified date
15NCC 'C' Certificate (Army / Naval / Air Wing) for candidates applying under NCC reserved vacancies, to be submitted by 13-05-2027
16NOC from Commanding Officer (for Armed Forces candidates) to be submitted at SSB
17Apply Online at: https://upsconline.nic.in
18For queries: Call 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days, 20-05-2026 to 09-06-2026) or email [email protected]. All communications must include Name & Year of Exam, URN, Application Number, Roll Number (if received), full name, complete postal address, and registered email ID / mobile number.

Important Instructions

Applications once submitted cannot be withdrawn. No correction/alteration/modification in any field of the application is allowed after submission under any circumstances. The URN Profile provides a one-time edit facility; changes to URN profile do not reflect in applications already submitted and apply only to future applications. Candidates must indicate course preferences carefully; no addition/alteration in preferences is entertained after submission. When first choice is offered and a candidate declines, candidature is cancelled for all other choices for regular commission. AFA must compulsorily be indicated as first choice if the candidate wishes to join the Air Force Academy; choice for AFA as second/third etc. is invalid. OTA must always be the last preference for male candidates competing for both Permanent Commission (IMA/INA/AFA) and Short Service Commission (OTA) courses. e-Admit Cards are available only on the Commission's website for download. No admit card is sent by post or email. Candidates must enter the venue at least 30 minutes before commencement; entry is closed 30 minutes prior. Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue for all candidates. Use Black Ball Pen only for all writing/marking in OMR sheets. Any omission/mistake in encoding Roll Number or Test Booklet Series Code will render the answer sheet liable for rejection. Negative marking applies: 1/3rd of marks deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer is also treated as wrong. Mobile phones, smart/digital watches, pagers, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and any electronic equipment are strictly banned inside the examination premises even in switched-off mode. Infringement entails disciplinary action including permanent/specified-period ban from UPSC examinations. Candidates who qualify at the written exam and have Army (IMA/OTA) as first choice must register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in to receive SSB call-up information. The email ID used there must be the same as registered with UPSC. Candidates will appear for SSB at their own risk and are not entitled to compensation for any injury sustained during SSB tests. Candidates who were previously removed from any Service Academy on disciplinary grounds or for lack of officer-like qualities are not eligible to apply. Marriage subsequent to the date of application will disqualify the candidate even if successful in the examination. A candidate who marries during training will be discharged and must refund all expenditure incurred by the Government. After admission to IMA / INA / AFA, candidates will not be considered for any other commission and will not be permitted to appear for any other interview or examination. Representations on question papers and provisional answer keys can be submitted only through the Commission's website within 5 days of the examination (Day 3 to Day 7 up to 6:00 PM). No representation by email/post/hand or any other mode is accepted. All revisions/corrigendum (if any) will be hosted on the UPSC website only - candidates should visit regularly. Government strives to have a workforce that reflects gender balance; women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Important Links

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FAQs

Q1. Is UPSC CDS 2 2026 a good option for final year students?

Yes, CDS 2 2026 is ideal for final year students who can obtain their degree by the prescribed dates for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA, as mentioned in the notification. They must carry a bonafide certificate at SSB and submit final proof before joining.

Q2. How many times can I attempt the UPSC CDS exam?

There is no fixed attempt limit for CDS as long as you are within the eligible age and marital status criteria for your chosen academy. Candidates can appear multiple times up to the age cap for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA.

Q3. Is there any reservation policy in UPSC CDS 2 2026?

CDS vacancies are not reserved by caste categories in the same way as many civilian exams; selection is largely on merit and SSB performance. However, NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders have specified reserved seats in IMA, INA, and AFA.

Q4. Can a candidate prepare for CDS while working a full-time job?

Yes, many candidates prepare for CDS alongside jobs by following a disciplined schedule focusing on English, GK, and Maths basics plus regular mock tests. The key is consistent 2–3 hours daily study and weekend full-length practice papers.

Q5. Is coaching mandatory to clear UPSC CDS 2 2026?

Coaching is not mandatory; plenty of candidates clear CDS through self-study using standard books, past papers, and online resources. Coaching mainly helps with discipline, doubt-solving, and SSB guidance for those who need structured support.

Q6. What are the long-term benefits of a career through CDS?

Long-term benefits include job security, pension (for Permanent Commission), canteen facilities, medical care for family, and post-retirement opportunities in government and corporate roles due to leadership and organisational experience. The career also offers high respect and prestige in society.

Q7. Is CDS job suitable for candidates who prefer desk-only roles?

While there are staff and desk roles, CDS officers are primarily field leaders, especially in early years. Those seeking purely desk-based work may find the physical demands, outdoor tasks, and frequent postings challenging compared to typical office jobs.

Q8. What happens if I clear the written exam but fail in SSB?

If you fail SSB, you are not selected for that CDS cycle, even with a good written score. You can re‑attempt CDS in future notifications as long as you still meet age, marital status, and educational criteria.

Is UPSC CDS 2 2026 a good option for final year students?