13 September
The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 on 13 September 2026 — the same day as NDA 2 — for 451 vacancies across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). Unlike NDA, CDS is for graduates seeking entry as commissioned officers, making it the graduate-level pathway into the Armed Forces.
Selected candidates will join courses commencing in July 2027 (IMA/INA/AFA) or October 2027 (OTA). With the exam under three weeks away, candidates should be in final revision mode.
Key Details at a Glance
| Notification Released | 20 May 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) |
| Exam Mode | Offline, OMR-based, black ball pen only |
| Application Fee | ₹200 |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 (IMA/INA/AFA), October 2027 (OTA) |
Eligibility by Academy
- IMA & INA: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university
- AFA (Air Force Academy): Bachelor's degree with Physics and Mathematics at Class 12 level, or a BE/BTech degree
- OTA (Officers' Training Academy): Bachelor's degree in any discipline — open to both men and women
- Physical and medical standards apply separately per academy — covering height, weight, vision, and general fitness
Exam Pattern
Papers vary slightly by target academy, but generally include:
- English: Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, sentence correction, spotting errors, fill in the blanks, sentence ordering
- General Knowledge: Current events, Indian history, geography, economics, polity, general science and technology
- Elementary Mathematics: Required for IMA, INA, and AFA — not required for OTA
There is negative marking for wrong answers — avoid random guessing. Exact fractions are specified in the official notification's Appendix II.
Join CDS 2 2026 Groups
📘 English & GK Final Revision
Current affairs coverage, grammar practice, and comprehension drills.
JOIN NOW📐 Elementary Mathematics Prep
Formula revision and speed-solving practice for IMA/INA/AFA aspirants.
JOIN NOW🎖️ SSB Interview & OTA Prep
Psychological tests, group tasks, and interview guidance for the stage after the written exam.
JOIN NOWAfter the Written Exam
- Answer Key Representation: Open for 5 days starting from the 3rd day after the exam until 6 PM of the 7th day — only accepted through the UPSC website, no email/post/hand submissions
- Written Result: Determines who advances to SSB Interview
- SSB Interview: Two-stage process testing intelligence and personality, same as NDA
- Final Merit List: Combines written and SSB scores
⚠️ Rely Only on Official UPSC Sources
Download admit cards, submit answer key representations, and check results only through upsc.gov.in. Be cautious of anyone offering paid "SSB guarantee" coaching or claiming insider selection influence — none of this is legitimate.
Disclaimer: We are an independent informational directory and are not affiliated with UPSC or the Indian Armed Forces. Always verify exam details, admit card, and results on the official UPSC website. Group links are community submitted.