UPSC CDS 2 2026 — 451 Vacancies for Army, Navy & Air Force Officers, Apply Online by 9 June, Exam on 13 September

The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the UPSC CDS 2 2026 notification under Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II on 20 May 2026. A total of 451 vacancies have been announced for commissioning as Officers in the Indian Army (IMA), Indian Navy (INA), Indian Air Force (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA — both men and women).

If becoming a commissioned officer in the Indian Armed Forces is your goal, this is one of the most prestigious routes available. The CDS exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year — this is your second chance in 2026. The written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026 and the application window closes on 9 June 2026.

This guide explains everything in simple language — who can apply, age limits, qualification requirements, exam pattern, SSB interview, salary after commissioning, and how to apply step by step.

1. What is UPSC CDS?

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice every year. It is one of the most sought-after pathways to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Armed Forces.

Through CDS, selected candidates join one of four prestigious defence academies for training:

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun — for Army officers (Permanent Commission)
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala — for Navy officers (Permanent Commission)
• Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad — for Air Force officers including pilots (Permanent Commission)
• Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — for Army Short Service Commission officers (Men and Women)

CDS 2 2026 successful candidates who join IMA, INA, and AFA will do so for courses commencing in July 2027. OTA candidates will join courses commencing in October 2027.

2. Important Dates

3. Vacancy Breakdown — Academy Wise

UPSC has announced a total of 451 tentative vacancies for CDS 2 2026. These are subject to revision by Services HQ at any stage.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

The candidate must be one of the following:

• A citizen of India
• A subject of Bhutan or Nepal
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with intention of permanently settling in India
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from certain specified countries with intention to permanently settle in India

Marital Status

5. Age Limit — Academy Wise

Age is calculated as on 1 January 2027 (the commencement date of training for IMA, INA, AFA).

6. Educational Qualification

7. Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The CDS 2 2026 written exam is an offline pen-and-paper test conducted on OMR sheets using a black ball pen only. The pattern differs for IMA/INA/AFA and OTA candidates.

For IMA, INA, and AFA Candidates — 3 Papers

For OTA Candidates — 2 Papers Only

Key Syllabus Areas

• English: Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, fill in the blanks
• General Knowledge: Current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, science and technology, defence and security
• Elementary Mathematics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics — all at Class 10 standard

8. Selection Process

The CDS selection process has three stages. All stages are elimination rounds.

1. Stage 1 — Written Examination
   Offline OMR-based objective test on 13 September 2026 at 41 exam centres across India. Candidates who score above the UPSC cut-off marks are shortlisted for Stage 2. The written exam carries significant weightage in the final merit.
2. Stage 2 — SSB Interview (Services Selection Board)
   A rigorous 5-day residential assessment at SSB centres across India, conducted in two stages:
   
   Stage I (Day 1): Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test + Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Only candidates who clear Stage I proceed to Stage II.
   
   Stage II (Days 2–5): Interview, Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks, Psychology Tests (TAT, WAT, SRT, SDT), and final Conference.
   
   SSB carries 300 marks for IMA, INA, AFA and 200 marks for OTA in the final merit calculation.
3. Stage 3 — Medical Examination
   Candidates recommended by the SSB undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure they meet the required physical and medical standards for military service. Candidates found medically unfit may appeal before the Appellate Medical Board.

9. Salary and Pay Scale After Commission

Officers commissioned through CDS receive a competitive salary package under the 7th Central Pay Commission, with pay increasing significantly with rank and experience.

10. Application Fee

11. How to Apply Online — Step by Step

1. Visit the Official UPSC Online Portal
   Go to upsconline.nic.in. Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC.”
2. Register (One-Time Registration)
   If you are a first-time applicant, complete the One-Time Registration with your email ID and mobile number. Returning users can log in with existing credentials.
3. Fill Part I — Basic Details
   Enter your personal details, date of birth, educational qualification, and select the academy / academies you are applying for. You can apply for more than one academy if eligible.
4. Upload Photograph and Signature
   Upload your recent passport-size photograph (minimum 20 KB, maximum 300 KB) and signature (minimum 10 KB, maximum 40 KB) in JPEG format only.
5. Fill Part II — Exam Centre and Fee Payment
   Select your preferred examination centre from the 41 available centres. Pay the application fee of ₹200 online. Female and SC/ST candidates are exempted.
6. Submit and Save Confirmation
   Review all details carefully. Submit the application. Download and save the confirmation page — you will need your Registration ID and Roll Number for future correspondence and the admit card.

Frequently Asked Questions