UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Notification: 451 Officer Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Complete Guide
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has 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. This is one of the most prestigious gateways into the armed forces for graduates, with a starting stipend of Rs 56,100 per month during training and Pay Level 10 (Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500) on commission. Don’t miss this great chance among all UPSC recruitment notifications this year.
The online application window is open till 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) and the written exam will be held on 13 September 2026. If you are an unmarried graduate (men and unmarried women for OTA SSC), this can be your direct route to becoming an officer. We at GovtJobsAlert.in have prepared this complete guide covering vacancies, age, qualification, fee, syllabus and the step-by-step application process. Read it carefully so you don’t miss any detail.
Key Highlights — UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Recruitment
The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined Defence Services Examination twice every year to recruit officer cadets for the Army, Navy, Air Force and OTA. The CDS (II) 2026 written exam will be held on Sunday, 13 September 2026 and successful candidates will join the 163rd Direct Entry course at IMA (Jul 2027), INA Ezhimala, AFA Hyderabad or OTA Chennai. This is one of the most popular defence sector jobs on GovtJobsAlert.in.
- Post Names: Officer Cadet — IMA, INA, AFA, OTA (SSC Men), OTA (SSC Women)
- Total Vacancies: 451 posts
- Salary / Pay Level: Training stipend Rs 56,100/m; on commission Pay Level 10 (Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500) + MSP Rs 15,500
- Job Location: All India (training at Dehradun, Ezhimala, Hyderabad, Chennai)
- Application Start Date: 20 May 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM)
Vacancy Breakdown — UPSC CDS (II) 2026
The 451 vacancies are split across four academies. The NCC reserved seats are part of the academy totals — they are not extra vacancies. Note the Indian Naval Academy seats include 1 Hydro post under the NCC Naval Wing quota.
| Academy / Course | Vacancies | Commission / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun — 163rd DE Course (Jul 2027) | 100 | Permanent Commission (incl. 13 NCC reserved) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala — Executive (GS) | 26 | Permanent Commission (incl. 6 NCC Naval + 1 Hydro) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad — Flying (Pre-Flying) Course | 32 | Permanent Commission (incl. 3 NCC Air) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — SSC Men | 275 | Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — SSC Women | 18 | Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) |
| Total | 451 | — |
Eligibility Criteria — UPSC CDS (II) 2026
UPSC has separate age, marital and qualification rules for each academy. Read this section carefully — even one missed condition can lead to rejection at the SSB stage. Graduates of any stream should also check our graduate government jobs page for more openings.
Educational Qualification
- IMA, Dehradun — Graduate degree (any discipline) from a recognised university, or equivalent.
- INA, Ezhimala — Degree in Engineering from a recognised university.
- AFA, Hyderabad — Graduate (any discipline) with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, OR Bachelor of Engineering / Technology.
- OTA, Chennai (Men & Women — SSC) — Graduate degree (any discipline) from a recognised university.
Final-year students may also apply, but they must produce proof of passing the qualifying degree by the date of commencement of the SSB interview.
Age Limit (as on relevant date in the notification)
| Academy / Course | Age Limit | Date of Birth (between) |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | 19 to 24 years (Unmarried Male) | 02 July 2003 – 01 July 2008 |
| INA, Ezhimala | 19 to 24 years (Unmarried Male) | 02 July 2003 – 01 July 2008 |
| AFA, Hyderabad | 20 to 24 years (Unmarried) | 02 July 2003 – 01 July 2007 |
| OTA Chennai — SSC Men | 19 to 25 years | 02 July 2002 – 01 July 2008 |
| OTA Chennai — SSC Women (Non-Tech) | 19 to 25 years | 02 July 2002 – 01 July 2008 |
There is no age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC under this examination — UPSC follows fixed age windows by academy.
What is the Salary for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
The CDS recruitment offers one of the most respected career packages in India. During training at IMA / INA / AFA / OTA, cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs 56,100 per month — same as the starting pay of a Lieutenant. On commissioning, officers enter Pay Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission.
- Training Stipend: Rs 56,100/month (entire training period)
- Pay Level on Commission: Level 10 (Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500)
- Military Service Pay (MSP): Rs 15,500/month (fixed for officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier)
- Dearness Allowance (DA): As per current Central Government rate
- Other Allowances: HRA, Transport Allowance, Field Area Allowance, Ration Allowance
With basic pay, MSP, DA and other allowances combined, the approximate in-hand salary for a freshly commissioned Lieutenant ranges from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,10,000 per month, depending on posting and unit.
Beyond pay, officers and cadets also get Army/Navy/Air Force Group Insurance of Rs 1.25 crore, free medical care for self and family, subsidised ration, CSD canteen facility, official accommodation, leave travel concession (LTC), and a pension/gratuity package on retirement.
What is the Selection Process for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
The selection is a two-stage process — a Written Examination by UPSC followed by the SSB Interview at a Services Selection Centre.
Stage 1: Written Examination (UPSC)
For IMA / INA / AFA, the written exam carries 300 marks across three papers:
- Paper I — English (Code 11): 100 marks, 2 hours
- Paper II — General Knowledge (Code 12): 100 marks, 2 hours
- Paper III — Elementary Mathematics (Code 13): 100 marks, 2 hours
For OTA Chennai (Men & Women), the written exam carries 200 marks across two papers:
- Paper I — English (Code 11): 100 marks, 2 hours
- Paper II — General Knowledge (Code 12): 100 marks, 2 hours
All papers are objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers are bilingual (English + Hindi). Negative marking of 0.33 (one-third) applies for every wrong answer. Mathematics is of Matriculation level; English and GK are at graduate level. For a topic-wise breakdown, see our exam syllabus pages.
Stage 2: SSB Interview (300 marks)
Candidates who clear the written cut-off are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview worth 300 marks, conducted over 5 days in two stages:
- Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) + Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)
- Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks, Psychology Tests and Conference
The final merit list is prepared by combining Written + SSB marks, followed by medical examination and document verification.
How to Apply Online for UPSC CDS (II) 2026?
Before starting, keep your scanned photograph, signature, photo ID proof, matriculation certificate and degree mark sheets ready. The application is done in two parts (Part-I and Part-II) on the UPSC One-Time Registration portal.
- Visit the official UPSC online application portal (direct link in Essential Links below).
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if not already registered.
- Open the CDS (II) 2026 notification and click on Part-I registration.
- Fill in personal details, academic qualification and academy preferences.
- Upload your photograph, signature and photo ID proof in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee of Rs 200 online through net banking / debit card / UPI.
- Submit the form, take a printout of the final confirmation page and save your Registration ID.
Edit window will be available between 10 to 16 June 2026 as per the notification.
UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Application Edit Window | 10 – 16 June 2026 |
| Written Exam Date | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| IMA 163rd DE Course Commencement | July 2027 |
For the full year-wise UPSC schedule, do check our exam calendar page.
UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Application Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC (Male) | Rs 200 |
| SC / ST | No Fee (Exempted) |
| All Female Candidates | No Fee (Exempted) |
Payment can be made via SBI Net Banking, Visa / Master / RuPay Credit or Debit Card, UPI, or SBI Branch deposit through the e-pay challan.
Essential Links — UPSC CDS (II) 2026
- Download Official CDS (II) 2026 Notification PDF
- Apply Online for UPSC CDS (II) 2026
- Visit UPSC Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
The UPSC CDS (II) 2026 is a golden window for every graduate who dreams of wearing the uniform — don’t let the 9 June 2026 deadline pass quietly. Start your application today, prepare seriously for the 13 September written exam, and trust your effort. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the latest defence recruitment updates and answer key, admit card and result alerts.