POST DETAILS :
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released a notification for the post of UPSC CDS 2 Examination 2026 . Interested candidates must fulfill all the eligibility criteria and apply online. Before applying online, candidates are advised to carefully read the full notification, recruitment eligibility, age limit, post-wise eligibility, selection procedure, syllabus, admit card, answer key, and all other relevant details. Read the official advertisement thoroughly before submitting the application.
OVERVIEW AND DATE :
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
UPSC CDS 2 Examination 2026
Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II
IMPORTANT DATES
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 20/05/2026 |
| Opening of Online Application | 20-05-2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 09-06-2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Helpline Active Period | 20-05-2026 to 09-06-2026 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days) |
| e-Admit Card Download | Last working day of the preceding week of the examination date |
| Date of Written Examination | 13-09-2026 |
| Representation Window for Answer Keys | 3rd day to 7th day (up to 6:00 PM) after examination |
| Written Result (Tentative) | October 2026 |
| SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA candidates) | February – March 2027 (tentative) |
| SSB Interview (OTA candidates) | April – June 2027 (tentative) |
| Course Commencement (IMA / INA / AFA) | July 2027 |
| Course Commencement (OTA) | October 2027 |
FEES DETAILS
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | Rs. 200/- (Non-Refundable) |
| Female Candidates (All categories) | NIL (Exempted) |
| SC / ST Candidates | NIL (Exempted) |
AGE DETAILS :
Age Limit
| Course | Age Limit | Gender & Marital Status | Date of Birth Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried Male only | Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried Male only | Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20 to 24 years (as on 01-07-2027) | Male; below 25 years must be unmarried; married candidates aged 25+ eligible but no married accommodation during training | Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2007; CPL holders: up to 26 years (born not earlier than 01-07-2001) |
| OTA – SSC Men (NT) | 19 to 25 years | Unmarried Male only | Born between 02-07-2002 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) |
| OTA – SSC Women (NT) | 19 to 25 years | Unmarried women, issueless widows (not remarried), issueless divorcees with divorce documents (not remarried) | Born between 02-07-2002 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) |
POST DETAILS, ELIGIBILITY and QUALIFICATION:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of India / Subject of Nepal / Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam – with eligibility certificate from Govt. of India where applicable. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need such certificate. |
| Educational Qualification – IMA & OTA | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent. |
| Educational Qualification – Indian Naval Academy | Degree in Engineering OR B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level). |
| Educational Qualification – Air Force Academy | Degree of a recognised University with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, OR Bachelor of Engineering. |
| Final Year Students | Candidates in the final year/semester of their Degree course may apply but must submit proof of passing the degree examination by the prescribed date (IMA/INA by 01-07-2027; AFA by 13-05-2027; OTA by 01-10-2027). A bonafide certificate from College/University is required at the time of SSB interview. |
| Physical Standards | Candidates must be physically fit as per the “Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition)” available at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Permanent body tattoos allowed only on inner forearm (inside elbow to wrist) and back of palm; not permitted on any other body part. |
| Debarment | Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services are not eligible. |
VACANCY DETAILS : Total Post
| S. No. | Course | Academy | Commencement | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 163rd (DE) Course | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | July 2027 | 100 |
| 2 | Executive Branch (General Service) / Hydro | Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | July 2027 | 26 |
| 3 | 222 F(P) Course (Pre-Flying Training) | Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | July 2027 | 32 |
| 4 | 126th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course | Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai | October 2027 | 275 |
| 5 | 126th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course | Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai | October 2027 | 18 |
| Total | 451 | |||
Selection Process :
Stage 1 – Written Examination (Objective Type)
For IMA, INA, and Air Force Academy:
| Sl. | Subject | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 13 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total (Written) | 300 | |||
| SSB / Interview Marks | 300 | |||
For Officers’ Training Academy (OTA):
| Sl. | Subject | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total (Written) | 200 | |||
| SSB / Interview Marks | 200 | |||
All papers are objective type only. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers are set bilingually in Hindi and English. Negative marking applies: 1/3 (0.33) marks deducted for each wrong answer. Calculators are not permitted. Candidates must use Black Ball Pen only for writing and marking in OMR Answer Sheet. Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue.
Stage 2 – SSB Intelligence & Personality Test:
- Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I are admitted to Stage II.
- Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference – conducted over 4 days. The personality is assessed by the Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist, with equal weightage.
Stage 3 – Medical Examination
Tie-Breaking Principles:
For IMA/INA/AFA: candidates equal in aggregate (Final Marks) are ranked by written total; if still equal, by GK paper marks; if still equal, by age (senior ranked higher). For OTA: same process but written total is English + GK only. Any remaining tie is resolved at the Commission’s discretion.
Scheme of Examination & Syllabus (Brief)
| Subject | Standard | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| English | Graduate level | Understanding of English and workmanlike use of words |
| General Knowledge | Graduate level | Current events, everyday science, History of India, Geography |
| Elementary Mathematics | Matriculation (Class X) | Arithmetic (Number System, fractions, percentages, ratio, S.I./C.I.), Algebra (polynomials, quadratic equations, simultaneous equations), Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics |
UPSC CDS 2 2026 – Exam Centres
The examination will be held across 84 cities in India. Allotment of centres (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Nagpur) is on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis with a ceiling on candidates per centre. Once a centre reaches capacity, it is frozen. Candidates are advised to apply early to secure their preferred centre. No request for change of examination centre will be entertained after allotment. Key centres include Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Ajmer, Aligarh, Almora, Alwar, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kanpur, Kargil, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Mysuru, Nagpur, Patna, Prayagraj, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and others.
HOW TO APPLY
- Candidate must be submitted Application online only through the official website by clicking on the “Apply Online” Provided Link In “IMPORTANT LINK” Section Below.
- Candidate Read the Notification Before Apply the Recruitment Application Form.
- Kindly Check and Collect the All Document – Eligibility, ID Proof, Address Details, Basic Details.
- Kindly Ready Scan Document Related to Admission Entrance Form – Photo, Sign, ID Proof, Etc.
- Before Submit the Application Form Must Check the Preview and All Column Carefully.
- Take A Print Out of Final Submitted Form.
IMPORTANT LINK :-
इच्छुक उम्मीदवार अधिक जानकारी के लिए पूर्ण Notification पढ़ सकते हैं |
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IMPORTANT LINKS
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
UPSC CDS 2 Examination Apply Online | UPSC CDS 2 Examination Official Website | UPSC CDS 2 Examination Direct Link | UPSC CDS 2 Examination Selection Process | UPSC CDS 2 Examination eligibility criteria | UPSC CDS 2 Examination notification PDF
FAQs :
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.
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.
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