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UPSC CDS 2 Examination 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 451 Combined Defence Services 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 |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in / https://upsconline.nic.in |
451 (subject to change by Services HQ)
Vacancies
09-06-2026 (up to 6:00 PM)
Last Date
Online
Apply Mode
Pan India
Location
UPSC is conducting CDS Examination II, 2026 for 451 vacancies across IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA courses, with last date 09 June 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 |
| 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)
Female
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. |
|---|
Qualification / Eligibility
| Education Qualification | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent. |
|---|---|
| Matched Qualifications | ITI, B_Tech_BE, CA |
| 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. |
Vacancy Details
| Sr. | 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
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. |
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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
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.