UPSC CDS 2 2026 451 Vacancies | Apply Now
Last Updated: 20 May 2026 | The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC CDS II 2026 Notification on 20 May 2026 for 451 vacancies across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Online applications are open from 20 May to 9 June 2026 at upsconline.nic.in. The written exam is scheduled for 13 September 2026. CDS is one of the most respected pathways for graduates to join India’s Armed Forces as commissioned officers — both men (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) and women (OTA only through UPSC CDS) are eligible.
📌 Key Highlights: Total Vacancies: 451 | Apply: 20 May – 9 June 2026 | Exam: 13 September 2026 | Fee: ₹200 (General/OBC/EWS) | Nil (SC/ST/Female) | Salary: ₹56,100/month
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Complete Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination II, 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 Posts |
| Application Start | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) ⚠️ |
| Written Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Fee – General/OBC/EWS | ₹200/- |
| Fee – SC/ST/Female | Nil |
| Age Limit | 20–24 years (as on 1 July 2027) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates – UPSC CDS II 2026
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Opens | 20 May 2026 ✅ |
| Last Date to Apply | 9 June 2026 ⚠️ |
| Admit Card | To be announced |
| Written Exam | 13 September 2026 |
| SSB Interview | After written result |
| Course Commencement | Approx. July 2027 |
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Vacancy Details
| Academy | Vacancies | Gender |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 100 | Male only |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | 26 | Male only |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 32 | Male only |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – SSC (Men) | 169 | Male |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – SSC (Women) | 124 | Female |
| Total | 451 | — |
Eligibility Criteria – UPSC CDS II 2026
| Academy | Qualification | Age |
| IMA | Degree from a recognised university | 20–24 yrs |
| INA | Engineering degree from a recognised university/institution | 20–24 yrs |
| AFA | Degree with Physics & Maths at 10+2 level, OR Engineering degree | 20–24 yrs |
| OTA (Men & Women) | Degree from a recognised university (any stream) | 20–25 yrs |
CDS II 2026 – Exam Pattern
| Subject | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA | Duration |
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hrs |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hrs |
| Mathematics | 100 marks | Not applicable | 2 hrs |
| Total | 300 marks | 200 marks | — |
Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer | Mode: Offline (OMR) | Language: Hindi & English
UPSC CDS Previous Year Cut Off – Reference
| Exam | IMA (Written) | OTA (Written) | AFA (Written) | INA (Written) |
| CDS II 2024 | ~123 | ~86 | ~119 | ~104 |
| CDS I 2024 | ~119 | ~88 | ~121 | ~110 |
| CDS II 2023 | ~115 | ~82 | ~112 | ~98 |
| Expected CDS II 2026 | ~119–131 | ~80–95 | ~115–125 | ~104–121 |
CDS vs NDA – Which Should You Choose?
| Feature | CDS | NDA |
| Minimum Qualification | Graduation (Degree) | Class 12 pass/appearing |
| Age | 20–25 years | 16.5–19.5 years |
| Commission Type | PC (IMA/INA/AFA) + SSC (OTA) | PC after training |
| Training Duration | ~18 months (IMA) | 3 years NDA + 1 year service academy |
| Female Eligibility | Yes (OTA only) | Yes (limited seats) |
How to Apply – UPSC CDS II 2026
- Visit upsconline.nic.in and click “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC”
- Complete Part-I Registration — fill personal, educational details
- Note your Registration ID and complete Part-II Registration — upload photo, signature, pay fee
- Select preferred exam centre city
- Submit and download the confirmation page
Salary After CDS Selection
| Rank | Basic Pay | In-Hand (Approx.) |
| Lieutenant (on joining) | ₹56,100/month | ~₹80,000–1,00,000/month |
| Captain | ₹61,300/month | ~₹90,000+ |
| Major | ₹69,400/month | ~₹1,00,000+ |
| MSP (Military Service Pay) | ₹15,500 extra/month | All ranks |
| Perks | Free accommodation, ration, ECHS medical, CSD canteen, 60 days EL | |
Important Links – UPSC CDS II 2026
| Apply Online ✅ | upsconline.nic.in |
| Official Notification PDF | Download CDS II 2026 Notification |
| UPSC Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
| UPSC CDS I Result 2026 | UPSC CDS I Result 2026 – 8826 Qualified |
| UPSC NDA II 2026 | UPSC NDA II 2026 – 394 Vacancies |
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Eligibility Criteria in Detail
To apply for UPSC CDS II 2026, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility conditions. Eligibility differs for each academy:
| Academy | Educational Qualification | Age Limit | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Graduation in any discipline | 19–24 years | Male only |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | BE/BTech in Engineering (specific branches) | 19–24 years | Male only |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Graduation with Physics and Maths at 10+2 OR BE/BTech | 20–24 years | Male only |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) – SSC Men | Graduation in any discipline | 19–25 years | Male only |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) – SSC Women | Graduation in any discipline | 19–25 years | Female only |
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Selection Process Explained
The selection process for UPSC CDS II 2026 has three stages. Candidates must clear all stages to receive a final merit ranking:
- Stage 1 – Written Examination (13 September 2026): Objective-type papers in English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Mathematics not required for OTA). Total 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 marks for OTA.
- Stage 2 – SSB Interview: Candidates shortlisted from written exam appear for a 5-day Services Selection Board (SSB) interview at one of the designated SSB centres. SSB carries 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 marks for OTA.
- Stage 3 – Medical Examination: Final selected candidates must clear a medical fitness test conducted by a military medical board. Specific vision, height, and physical fitness standards apply.
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Exam Pattern
| Subject | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA (Men and Women) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 marks | Not applicable | 2 hours |
| Total | 300 marks | 200 marks | — |
Negative Marking: 0.33 marks deducted for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Attempt only those questions where you are reasonably confident.
UPSC CDS II 2026 – Salary and Pay Scale
After training and commissioning, UPSC CDS officers receive salaries under the 7th Pay Commission. Here is the pay structure for newly commissioned officers:
| Rank | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Basic Pay | Approx. In-Hand (Metro) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant (IMA/INA/AFA) | Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹80,000 – ₹1,00,000 |
| Captain | Level 10B | ₹61,300 | ₹90,000 – ₹1,10,000 |
| Major | Level 11 | ₹69,400 | ₹1,00,000 – ₹1,25,000 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | ₹1,21,200 | ₹1,50,000+ |
In addition to basic pay, CDS officers receive Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500/month, free accommodation or HRA, CGHS medical facilities, ration allowance, and other service-specific allowances. The total emoluments for a newly commissioned Lieutenant typically work out to ₹80,000–₹1,00,000 per month including all allowances.
UPSC CDS II 2026 – How to Apply
- Visit the official UPSC website: upsconline.nic.in
- Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC”
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number (One Time Registration)
- Fill in the CDS II 2026 application form with personal, educational, and academy preference details
- Upload photo (JPEG, 20–300 KB) and signature (JPEG, 20–300 KB)
- Pay the fee: ₹200 for General/OBC/EWS; NIL for SC/ST/Women candidates
- Submit the form and save the confirmation page before the deadline: 9 June 2026
Frequently Asked Questions – UPSC CDS II 2026
Q1. What is the total vacancy in UPSC CDS II 2026?
A total of 451 vacancies — IMA (100), INA (26), AFA (32), OTA Men (169), OTA Women (124).
Q2. Can girls apply for UPSC CDS II 2026?
Yes — female candidates can apply for the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai for Short Service Commission. There are 124 seats for women. IMA, INA, and AFA are for male candidates only through CDS.
Q3. What is the age limit for CDS II 2026?
Age limit is 20–24 years for IMA, INA, AFA. For OTA it is 20–25 years. Age is calculated as on 1 July 2027.
Q4. Is Mathematics compulsory for OTA in CDS?
No — for OTA, only English and General Knowledge papers are required (200 marks total). Mathematics paper is only for IMA, INA, and AFA candidates.
Q5. What is the difference between PC and SSC through CDS?
IMA, INA, and AFA lead to Permanent Commission (PC) — a career till retirement. OTA leads to Short Service Commission (SSC) for 10+4 years, with an option to apply for PC later based on performance and vacancies.
Q6. What is the expected cutoff for CDS II 2026 written exam?
Based on trends, the expected written cutoff is ~119–131 marks for IMA, ~80–95 for OTA, and ~104–121 for INA out of 300. Aim for 140+ in IMA to be safely above the cutoff.
Q7. What is the CDS II 2026 exam date?
The UPSC CDS II 2026 written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
Bookmark rozgarofficial.com for CDS II 2026 admit card, answer key, result, and cut off updates.
