UPSC CDS-II 2026 - Apply Online
Brief Information
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II, 2026 for admission to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). Total 451 vacancies are notified. Graduates and final year students can apply online from 20 May 2026 to 09 June 2026. Read the notification carefully for eligibility, syllabus, selection process, and other details.
Overview
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II, 2026 |
| Vacancies | 451 (Tentative) |
| Qualification | Graduate / Final Year Students (Physics & Maths for INA/AFA) |
| Age Limit | 19-25 years (Varies by Course, see details) |
| Apply Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date | 09 June 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (No fee for Female/SC/ST) |
| Salary (During Training) | ₹56,100/- per month stipend |
| Job Location | All India (IMA Dehradun, INA Ezhimala, AFA Hyderabad, OTA Chennai) |
| Apply Mode | Online at upsconline.nic.in |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
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Important Dates
| Notification Date | 20 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Apply Start | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 09 June 2026 (upto 6:00 PM) |
| Last Date to Pay Fees Online | 09 June 2026 (upto 6:00 PM) |
| Correction Date | No correction allowed after submission (One-time edit only for URN profile) |
| Admit Card Release Date | Last working day of the week preceding the exam |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
Age Limit, Marital Status & Course Details
| Course | Age Limit (as on 01 July 2027) | Born Between | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA (Indian Military Academy) | 19-24 years | 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2008 | Unmarried Male |
| INA (Indian Naval Academy) | 19-24 years | 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2008 | Unmarried Male |
| AFA (Air Force Academy) | 20-24 years (26 for CPL holders) | 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2007 (CPL: 01 July 2001 to 01 July 2007) | Below 25: Unmarried |
| OTA (Men) | 19-25 years | 01 July 2002 to 01 July 2008 | Unmarried Male |
| OTA (Women) | 19-25 years | 01 July 2002 to 01 July 2008 | Unmarried / Issueless widow/divorcee (not remarried) |
Qualification Details
| Course | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA & OTA | Degree from recognised university or equivalent |
| INA | Degree in Engineering OR B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective (with Physics & Maths in 10+2) |
| AFA | Degree from recognised university (with Physics & Maths at 10+2 level) OR Bachelor of Engineering |
Note: Final year degree students can also apply. Proof of passing required by: IMA/INA - 01 July 2027, AFA - 13 May 2027, OTA - 01 October 2027.
Vacancy Details (Total: 451)
| S.No. | Course Name | Vacancies | Special Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IMA, Dehradun - 163rd (DE) Course (July 2027) | 100 | 13 for NCC 'C' Certificate (Army Wing) |
| 2 | INA, Ezhimala - Executive Branch (July 2027) | 26 | 06 for NCC 'C' (Naval Wing) + 01 for Hydro |
| 3 | AFA, Hyderabad - 222 F(P) Course (July 2027) | 32 | 03 for NCC 'C' (Air Wing) through NCC Special Entry |
| 4 | OTA Chennai - 126th SSC (Men) (NT) (Oct 2027) | 275 | - |
| 5 | OTA Chennai - 126th SSC Women (NT) (Oct 2027) | 18 | - |
Examination Scheme & Syllabus
| For IMA/INA/AFA | Subjects | Duration | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English (Code 11) | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper II | General Knowledge (Code 12) | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper III | Elementary Mathematics (Code 13) | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | 300 | ||
| For OTA (Men & Women) | Subjects | Duration | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English (Code 11) | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper II | General Knowledge (Code 12) | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | 200 | ||
Syllabus Highlights: English (Comprehension, grammar), GK (Current events, History, Geography, Science), Elementary Maths (Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics - Matriculation level).
Selection Process
- Written Examination (Objective Type – OMR based)
- SSB Interview (Stage I: OIR + PP&DT, Stage II: Psychology, GTO, Interview, Conference)
- Medical Examination as per Armed Forces standards
- Final Merit List based on Written + SSB marks (equal weightage)
Application Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male) – ₹200/-
Female / SC / ST – No Fee
Payment Mode: Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI.
Physical Standards & Tattoo Rules
Candidates must be medically fit as per "Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces".
Tattoos: Only permitted on inner forearm (elbow to wrist) and reverse side of palm. Tribal tattoos on case-to-case basis.
Salary & Allowances
| Rank | Pay Level | Pay (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 - 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | 61,300 - 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400 - 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | 1,21,200 - 2,12,400 |
Stipend during training: ₹56,100/- per month. Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500/- pm (Lt to Brigadier). Other allowances: DA, Dress Allowance (₹20,000/year), TPTA, Children Education Allowance (₹2,250/month).
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer.
- Use only Black Ball Pen to darken circles on OMR sheet.
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices strictly banned.
- Entry closes 30 minutes before exam commencement.
- No withdrawal or correction of application after submission.
- Candidates must have valid email ID and mobile number.
- Preference order for courses must be filled carefully (AFA as first choice, OTA as last for male PC aspirants).
- Final year students must submit degree proof by specified dates.
Exam Centres (Partial List - 84 Centres)
Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Visakhapatnam, and more. Allotment on first-apply-first-allot basis.
Training Duration
- IMA: 18 months
- INA: Approx 18 months (including Naval Orientation + Sea Training)
- AFA: 74 weeks (Flying branch)
- OTA: 49 weeks
📢 Ongoing Vacancies You May Like
Apply Process (Online Mode Only)
- Visit UPSC Online Portal: https://upsconline.nic.in
- Create account → Get Universal Registration Number (URN)
- Fill Common Application Form (CAF) with photo, live photo capture, signature
- Fill Examination Specific Module (preferences, centre, fee)
- Pay fee online (if applicable)
- Submit and take printout of final form
Important Links
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Apply Here (upsconline.nic.in) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
| SSB Information (Army) | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| SSB Information (Navy) | joinindiannavy.gov.in |
| Helpline | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 | upscsoap@nic.in |
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