UPSC CDS II 2026 Provisional Answer Key Out: English, GK and Elementary Maths Keys — Latest Update
Good news for everyone who wrote the CDS (II) 2026 exam on 13 September 2026! The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the provisional answer keys for all three papers, covering Test Booklet Series A, B, C and D. Match your answers with the key for your own series; a wrong answer costs one-third of that question’s marks.
| Paper | Questions | Scored After Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I — English | 120 | 120 (none dropped) |
| Paper II — General Knowledge | 120 | 119 (1 dropped) |
| Paper III — Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 (none dropped) |
The dropped GK question is marked “X” (Q. No. 84 in Series A). OTA candidates did not take the Maths paper. The notification’s 5-day representation window on these keys has closed, and no representation is accepted after it. Next comes the written result, then the SSB interview. See more on our answer keys page.
UPSC CDS (II) 2026: Last Date Was Extended to 11 June — Earlier Update
UPSC had extended the last date to apply online for CDS (II) 2026 from 9 June to 6:00 PM on 11 June 2026. That application window has now closed. Read the Last Date Extension Notice (PDF)
UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Notification: 451 Officer Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Complete Guide
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the CDS (II) 2026 notification (Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II) for 451 officer-cadet vacancies across the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy. Cadets get a stipend of ₹56,100 per month during training and Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) on commission. See more UPSC recruitment notifications here.
Online applications closed at 6:00 PM on 9 June 2026 11 June 2026 (Extended) and the written exam was held on 13 September 2026. The provisional answer keys are now out. This GovtJobsAlert.in guide covers vacancies, eligibility, pay and what the SSB stage will check.
What are the Key Highlights of UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Recruitment?
UPSC holds the Combined Defence Services Examination twice a year to select officer cadets for the Army, Navy, Air Force and OTA. It is one of the most popular defence sector jobs on our site.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Post Names | Officer Cadet — IMA, INA, AFA, OTA (SSC Men), OTA (SSC Women) |
| Total Vacancies | 451 (tentative) |
| Pay | Stipend ₹56,100/month in training; Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) + MSP ₹15,500 on commission |
| Job Location | All India (training at Dehradun, Ezhimala, Hyderabad, Chennai) |
| Application Window | 20 May 2026 to |
| Written Exam | 13 September 2026 — held |
| Current Stage | Provisional answer keys released |
How Many Vacancies are in UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
The NCC seats are part of each academy’s total, not extra vacancies. UPSC says the vacancy numbers are tentative and may be changed by Services HQ at any stage.
| Academy / Course | Vacancies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun — 163rd (DE) Course (July 2027) | 100 | Incl. 13 for NCC ‘C’ (Army Wing) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala — Executive (GS)/Hydro (July 2027) | 26 | Incl. 6 for NCC ‘C’ (Naval Wing) and 1 for Hydro |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad — 222 F(P) Course (July 2027) | 32 | Incl. 3 for NCC ‘C’ (Air Wing) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC Men (NT) (Oct 2027) | 275 | Short Service Commission |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC Women (NT) (Oct 2027) | 18 | Short Service Commission |
| Total | 451 | — |
What is the Eligibility for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
Each academy has its own age, marital and qualification rules, and they are checked again at the SSB. Graduates of any stream can also see our graduate government jobs page.
Educational Qualification
| Academy | Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
| INA, Ezhimala | Degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2) |
| AFA, Hyderabad | Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2), or Bachelor of Engineering |
| OTA, Chennai (Men & Women) | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
Final-year students must submit proof of passing the degree by the dates fixed in the notification, failing which their candidature will be cancelled.
| Condition | Result |
|---|---|
| Debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any commission | Not eligible; candidature cancelled if admitted |
| Removed from an earlier NDA, IMA, AFA, INA or OTA course on disciplinary grounds | Not considered for IMA, INA, AFA or SSC (Army) |
| Withdrawn from IMA, or from the NCC and Graduates’ course, for lack of officer-like qualities | Not admitted to IMA |
| Withdrawn from IMA, OTA, NCC or Graduate course for lack of officer-like qualities | Not considered for SSC in the Army |
| Special Entry Naval Cadet withdrawn from NDA/naval training for lack of officer-like qualities | Not eligible for the Indian Navy |
| NCC cadet more than 12 months after leaving Senior Division, Naval Wing | Not eligible to apply under Naval NCC entry |
| Marries after the date of application | Not selected for training |
| Marries during training | Discharged and must refund all expenditure |
| Degree proof not submitted by the notified date | Candidature cancelled |
Age Limit
| Academy / Course | Age and Status | Born Between |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | 19 to 24 years, unmarried male | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008 |
| INA, Ezhimala | 19 to 24 years, unmarried male | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008 |
| AFA, Hyderabad | 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 (up to 26 for valid DGCA CPL holders); below 25 must be unmarried | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007 (CPL: from 1 July 2001) |
| OTA Chennai — SSC Men | 19 to 25 years, unmarried male | 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008 |
| OTA Chennai — SSC Women | 19 to 25 years; unmarried women, or issueless widows/divorcees who have not remarried | 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008 |
The notification fixes a date-of-birth window for each academy; the only extension it names is the CPL one for AFA.
What is the Salary for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
Cadets get a stipend throughout training and move into Level 10 as Lieutenants on commission.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Training Stipend | ₹56,100 per month (starting pay in Level 10) |
| Pay on Commission (Lieutenant) | Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | ₹15,500 per month (fixed) |
Army officer cadets receiving the stipend are insured for ₹1.25 crore under the Army Group Insurance Fund, for a monthly subscription paid in advance. The notification also lists free medical aid, concessional accommodation and canteen facilities among officers’ privileges.
What is the Selection Process for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
Selection has three stages: a Written Examination by UPSC, the SSB Interview (intelligence and personality test), and a Medical Examination.
Stage 1: Written Examination (UPSC)
| Paper | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA |
|---|---|---|
| English (Code 11) | 100 marks, 2 hours | 100 marks, 2 hours |
| General Knowledge (Code 12) | 100 marks, 2 hours | 100 marks, 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics (Code 13) | 100 marks, 2 hours | Not applicable |
All papers are objective. The GK and Maths booklets are bilingual (Hindi and English). One-third of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer. Maths is of Matriculation level; the other papers are of graduate level. For topic-wise detail, see our exam syllabus pages.
Stage 2: SSB Interview and Medical
The SSB carries the same maximum marks as the written test — 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 for OTA. Stage I is the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT); only those who clear it move to Stage II — Interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference, spread over 4 days. Candidates who do not carry their original certificates to the Services Selection Centre will not be allowed to appear for the SSB. Recommended candidates then face the medical examination.
If a candidate declines a first choice that is offered, the candidature is cancelled for all other choices for regular Commission.
How to Apply Online for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
The window closed on 11 June 2026; these steps on UPSC’s online portal are kept for reference.
- Visit the official UPSC online application portal.
- Create an account and complete Universal Registration (URN), or sign in if already registered.
- Fill the Common Application Form and the exam module, and upload your photograph, signature and photo ID.
- Pay the ₹200 fee online, unless exempted.
- Submit and download the confirmation page.
Applications could not be withdrawn after submission, and no field could be corrected after submission.
What are the Important Dates for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | |
| Written Exam Date | 13 September 2026 (held) |
| Provisional Answer Keys | Released (English, GK, Elementary Maths) |
| Representation Window on Keys | 5 days from the 3rd day after the exam — closed |
| IMA / INA / AFA Course Start | July 2027 |
| OTA Course Start | October 2027 |
For the full UPSC schedule, check our exam calendar page.
What was the Application Fee for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹200 |
| SC / ST | Exempted |
| All Female Candidates | Exempted |
The fee was payable through net banking of any bank, or Visa/Master/RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI. It is not refundable.
Essential Links — UPSC CDS (II) 2026
- Download UPSC CDS II 2026 Provisional Answer Key (UPSC answer key page)
- Provisional Answer Key PDF — English Paper, CDS (II) 2026
- Provisional Answer Key PDF — General Knowledge Paper, CDS (II) 2026
- Provisional Answer Key PDF — Elementary Mathematics Paper, CDS (II) 2026
- Download Official CDS (II) 2026 Notification PDF
- Download Last Date Extension Notice PDF (NDA & NA II / CDS II 2026)
- Visit UPSC CDS II Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you wrote CDS (II) 2026, check the key for your series and estimate your score honestly. Whatever the number, begin SSB preparation now — the written result will come soon. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the CDS (II) 2026 result and more defence recruitment updates.