CDS Exam 2026 Notification Out For 451 Post

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a very popular test in India. It is conducted by the UPSC. If you love your country and want to join the Indian Armed Forces as an Officer, this exam is for you.

Through this exam, you can join:

Indian Military Academy (IMA) – For the Army
Indian Naval Academy (INA) – For the Navy
Air Force Academy (AFA) – For the Air Force
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Short Service Commission

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2026 is one of India’s most prestigious national-level exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. It offers a remarkable opportunity for ambitious candidates who aspire to serve the nation as commissioned officers in the armed forces. Held twice a year, the CDS exam evaluates candidates on their knowledge, aptitude, and leadership potential. With a structured selection process involving a written exam followed by SSB interviews, CDS 2026 remains a gateway to a respected and challenging defence career.

Overview Of The Exam

UPSC CDS 1
Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Defence Service Examination (1) 2026
CDS 1 Vacancy	451
Level of Exam	National
Mode of Application	Online
Registration Dates	10th to 30th December 2025
Selection Process	Written Test- Interview- Medical Examination
Language of Written Exam	Bilingual
Mode of Examination	Offline
Type of Questions	Multiple-choice questions
Eligibility	Unmarried Males & Females
CDS Exam Duration	2 hours (each paper)
Marking Scheme	1/3 for each incorrect answer
Job Location	All Over India
Official Website	Click Here

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Came Out	10th December 2025
Application Starts	10th December 2025
Last Date to Apply	30th December 2025 (till 6:00 PM)
Exam Date	12th April 2026
Course Starts (IMA, INA, AFA)	January 2027
Course Starts (OTA)	April 2027

Vacancy Details

There are a total of 451 seats available this time. However, these numbers can change a little bit if the Army, Navy or air force

Academy	Course Name	Number of Seats
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	162nd Course (Jan 2027)	100 (Includes 13 for NCC 'C' Army holders)
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Executive Branch Course (Jan 2027)	26 (Includes 6 for NCC 'C' Navy holders)
Air Force Academy (AFA)	Pre-Flying Training Course (Jan 2027)	32 (Includes 3 for NCC 'C' Air Wing holders)
OTA Chennai (Men)	125th SSC Course (April 2027)	275
OTA Chennai (Women)	125th SSC Women Course (April 2027)	18
Total		451

Note: Vacancies are provisional and subject to change. Unfilled reserved vacancies for NCC certificate holders revert to unreserved status

Eligibility Criteria

Both CDS I and II 2025 share identical eligibility requirements regarding nationality, age, marital status, educational qualifications, and physical standards.

Nationality

A candidate must be:

A citizen of India, or
A subject of Nepal, or
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Educational Qualifications

IMA and OTA: A degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
INA: A degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution.
AFA: A degree from a recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering.
Candidates in their final year/semester can apply, provided they have no backlogs and submit proof of passing by the course commencement date:
Final Year Students: If you are in your final year of college, you can apply. However, you must pass your exams and show your degree proof by the deadlines (1st Jan 2027 for IMA/INA and 13th Nov 2026 for Air Force).

Age Limits

The age criteria vary by academy:

Minimum	20 Years
Maximum	24 Years

Application Process

Common Details

Fee: Rs. 200 (exempted for Female/SC/ST candidates), payable via cash at SBI branches, Visa/Master/Rupay cards, UPI, or internet banking.
Photo ID: Candidates must provide details of a valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, Voter Card, PAN) and upload a scanned copy.
Note: Applications cannot be withdrawn after submission.

Age Limit and Marital Status

You must be unmarried (except for some specific cases for OTA).

Academy	Who Can Apply?	Date of Birth Rules
IMA	Unmarried Men	Born between 2nd Jan 2003 and 1st Jan 2008.
INA	Unmarried Men	Born between 2nd Jan 2003 and 1st Jan 2008.
Air Force	Unmarried Men/Women	20 to 24 years old (Born between 2nd Jan 2003 and 1st Jan 2007).
OTA (Men)	Unmarried Men	Born between 2nd Jan 2002 and 1st Jan 2008.
OTA (Women)	Unmarried Women, Widows, Divorcees	Born between 2nd Jan 2002 and 1st Jan 2008.

Note for Pilots: If you have a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), you can apply for the Air Force up to the age of 26 years.

Application Fee

You have to apply online at upsconline.nic.in.

Fee: Rs. 200/-
Free: Women, SC, and ST candidates do not have to pay any fee.

How to Apply (Simple Steps)

Register: Go to the website and do the "One Time Registration" (OTR).
Form: Fill out the form for the CDS exam.
Upload: Upload your photo and signature. You will also need to take a live photo with your webcam/phone camera.
ID Proof: Use your Aadhaar Card details to make the process smoother.

Pay and Benefits

Officers for both CDS I and II 2025 receive identical pay and benefits:

Lieutenant: Rs. 56,100–1,77,500
Captain: Rs. 61,300–1,93,900
Major: Rs. 69,400–2,07,200
Lieutenant Colonel: Rs. 1,21,200–2,12,400
Colonel and above: Higher scales up to Rs. 2,25,000 for General
Additional Benefits: Dearness Allowance, Dress Allowance (Rs. 25,000/year), Transport Allowance, free rations.

Selection Process

Written Exam: You take a test with multiple-choice questions.
SSB Interview: If you pass the written exam, you go for a 5-day interview that tests your personality and intelligence.
Medical Test: Doctors check if you are physically fit.
Final List: They add your written exam marks and interview marks to make the final list.

Exam Pattern

The exam is different for OTA and the other academies.

Negative Marking: If you give a wrong answer, you lose 0.33 marks.
Question Type: All questions are objective (you tick the correct option).

For IMA, INA, and Air Force

Subject	Time	Marks
1. English	2 Hours	100
2. General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
3. Elementary Math	2 Hours	100
Total		300

For OTA (Officers' Training Academy)

Subject	Time	Marks
1. English	2 Hours	100
2. General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Total		200

Key Points:

Objective-type questions with negative marking (one-third mark deducted per wrong answer).
Calculators and electronic devices are prohibited.
Elementary Mathematics is at the Matriculation level, while other subjects align with graduate-level standards.

Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview

Candidates qualifying the written exam proceed to the SSB interview, which includes:

Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT).
Stage II: Psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews.
AFA candidates undergo additional tests like the Computer Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
SSB interviews are conducted at centers like Allahabad, Bhopal, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Nagpur. Candidates must carry original documents (e.g., Matriculation Certificate, Degree Certificate).
Note: Admission is provisional until eligibility is verified. The UPSC’s decision is final.

Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically and mentally fit, meeting stringent standards:

Height	Minimum 157 cm for males (relaxations for specific categories, e.g., 152 cm for Gorkhas) and 152 cm for females (148 cm for Gorkhas and certain hill tribes).
Weight	Proportionate to height and age (e.g., for 175 cm height, acceptable weight ranges from 55.1 kg to 76.6 kg depending on age).
Vision	Specific standards for uncorrected and corrected vision, color perception, and ocular muscle balance, particularly stringent for AFA candidates.
Medical Conditions	Candidates must be free from conditions like scoliosis, hearing impairments, chronic diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, diabetes), or deformities (e.g., cubitus valgus, knock knees). Specific conditions like severe pyorrhea, psychosis, or recurrent dislocations render candidates unfit.

Medical examinations are conducted by Special Medical Boards (SMBs). Candidates declared unfit can appeal for a Review Medical Board (RMB) within the stipulated period.

Syllabus

The syllabus for CDS I and II 2025 is identical, covering:

English	Tests understanding and usage, including grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and sentence structure.
General Knowledge	Includes current events, scientific observations, Indian History, and Geography, expected of an educated person without specialized study.
Elementary Mathematics (for IMA, INA, AFA)	Arithmetic: Number systems, percentages, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, time and work, time and distance. Algebra: Linear and quadratic equations, logarithms, set theory. Trigonometry: Sine, cosine, tangent, and their applications. Geometry: Properties of lines, angles, triangles, circles, parallelograms. Mensuration: Areas, surface areas, and volumes of various shapes. Statistics: Data representation, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, measures of central tendency.

Exam Centers and Instructions

Centers: Include Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, and others. Allocation is on a first-apply-first-allot basis, and centers may be frozen once capacity is reached.
Prohibited Items: Mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, and other electronic devices are banned.
Arrival: Candidates must arrive 30 minutes before the exam; late entry is not permitted.
Answer Sheet: Encode Test Booklet Series, Subject Code, and Roll Number using a black ball pen. Incorrect encoding may lead to rejection.

Training and Service Conditions

Successful candidates undergo training at their respective academies:

Common Training Details

IMA: Training costs are covered, but cadets bear pocket expenses (up to Rs. 20,000/month). Scholarships (e.g., Parshuram Bhau Patwardan, Colonel Kendal Frank Memorial) are available.
INA: Cadets deposit Rs. 20,000 for training costs. Training includes 33 weeks for technical courses.
AFA: Approximately 74 weeks of training with Rs. 1,25,00,000 insurance coverage.
OTA: 49-week course. SSC officers serve 10 years, extendable to 14, with reserve liability.

Result

The results for the Combined Defence Services Examination will be declared in stages. The final selection is based on the combined marks from the written examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. To check your results, follow these steps:

Visit the official UPSC website.
The Commission will prepare a list of candidates who qualify the written examination.
Successful candidates will then be called for an intelligence and personality test at a Service Selection Board (SSB).

Note: Candidates who qualify the written exam and have Army (IMA/OTA) as their first choice must register on the Recruiting Directorate website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in to receive their SSB interview call-up information.

A final merit list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in the written exam and the SSB tests. The final selection depends on this merit list, medical fitness, and the number of available vacancies.

Admit Card

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will issue an e-Admit Card to eligible candidates about a week before the examination date. You can download your e-Admit Card from the official UPSC website by following these steps:

Visit the official UPSC website at http://upsc.gov.in.
Navigate to the section for downloading the e-Admit Card.
Enter your details like Application ID, Date of Birth, or Roll Number to download the admit card.
Bring a printout of the e-Admit Card to the examination hall, along with the photo ID card you mentioned in your application.

No physical Admit Card will be sent by post. If you do not receive your e-Admit Card seven days before the exam, you should contact the Commission's Facilitation Counter immediately.

Preparation Tips

Understand the Syllabus: Focus on core topics in English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.
Practice Mock Tests: Familiarize yourself with the objective-type format and negative marking.
Physical Fitness: Maintain fitness to meet stringent medical standards.
SSB Preparation: Develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Stay Updated: Check https://upsc.gov.in for updates on admit cards and results.

Author

Sarita Prasad

My name is Sarita Prasad, I am hindi content writer from last 1.8 years, I am specialised in topics related to current affairs, foreign policy, educational news, jobs etc .

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