UPSC Combined Defense Services (CDS) II 2026 examination

May 24, 2026

UPSC Combined Defense Services (CDS) II 2026 examination,

📢 UPSC CDS II 2026: Overview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the Combined Defense Services Examination II (CDS II) 2026. This exam serves as a direct pathway for unmarried graduates to join the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) as Commissioned Officers.

Organizing Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Total Vacancies: 451 Posts
Application Mode: Online via UPSC Official Website

Key Dates to Remember

Missing a deadline means waiting another six months. Keep these crucial dates marked on your calendar:

Event	Date
Notification & Application Start	May 20, 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	June 9, 2026
UPSC CDS II Written Exam Date	September 13, 2026

📊 Vacancy Breakdown (Total: 451)

Vacancies are distributed across different training academies depending on the branch of the military:

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: 100 posts
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men): 275 posts
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women): 18 posts
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: 32 posts
Indian Naval Academy (INA), : 26 posts

Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualifications

The academic requirements vary slightly depending on the academy you are targeting:

IMA & OTA: A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
Indian Naval Academy (INA): A Degree in Engineering OR a B.Sc. degree with Physics & Mathematics at the 10+2 level.
Air Force Academy (AFA): A Bachelor's Degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level OR a Bachelor of Engineering/Technology.

2. Age Limits & Marital Status

Note: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of application and course commencement (special exemptions apply to specific categories for OTA Women).

IMA & INA: 19–24 years
Air Force Academy (AFA): 20–24 years (Relaxable up to 26 years for valid Commercial Pilot License holders)
OTA (Men & Women): 19–25 years

Selection Process & Exam Scheme

Getting selected requires clearing a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process designed to test both intellectual and psychological capabilities.

The 4 Pillars of Selection:

Written Examination: Objective-type multiple-choice questions.
SSB Interview: A 5-day intelligence and personality test assessing officer-like qualities (OLQs).
Document Verification: Checking original credentials.
Medical Examination: Stringent physical standards check by military medical boards.

Written Exam Pattern:

For IMA, INA, and AFA: Candidates must take 3 papers—English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks each, 2 hours per paper).
For OTA: Candidates only take 2 papers—English and General Knowledge (100 marks each, 2 hours per paper). Mathematics is excluded for OTA candidates.