Civil Services

CDS 2026

Combined Defence Services Examination

CDS is conducted by UPSC for admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. Written test followed by SSB Interview.

Official Website

Vacancies

451

Age Limit

19-25 years (IMA/OTA), 19-22 years (Naval Academy), 19-23 years (Air Force Academy). Unmarried.

Fee

₹200

Salary Range

₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500

Next Exam Date

13 Sept 2026

CDS 2 2026 — Exam in

144days

13hrs

46min

Pay Level

Pay Level 10

Salary Range (Monthly)

₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500

Key Posts

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Officers Training Academy (OTA)

National-level competitive examination for admission to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA)IMA (Indian Military Academy, Dehradun) & INA (Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala) & AFA (Air Force Academy, Dundigal) & OTA (Officers' Training Academy, Chennai) — Men & OTA (Officers' Training Academy, Chennai) — WomenCommissioned officers in Indian Army / Indian Navy / Indian Air Force — All India Service Liability

Pay Levels & Salary

Pay Level	Monthly Range
Level 10 (Lieutenant)	₹₹56,100 - ₹₹1,77,500
Level 10B (Captain)	₹₹61,300 - ₹₹1,93,900
Military Service Pay	₹15,500 per month additional

Application Fee

₹200

General/OBC

Free

SC/ST/Women

Free

PwBD/ESM

Tie-Breaking Rules

Higher marks in SSB Interview
Higher marks in Written Examination
Older candidate placed higher

Start Free Mock Test

Eligibility

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's degree for IMA/OTA; Bachelor's degree with Physics & Mathematics for Naval Academy/Air Force Academy.

Age Limit

19-25 years (IMA/OTA), 19-22 years (Naval Academy), 19-23 years (Air Force Academy). Unmarried.

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
General	No relaxation
SC/ST	+5 years
OBC (NCL)	+3 years
PwD	+10 years
Ex-Servicemen	+5 years

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male)	₹200
SC / ST / PwD / Ex-Servicemen	Free

Exam Pattern

Written Exam - English

120 Questions120 minsTotal Marks: 100-0.28 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
English	120	100	120 min

Written Exam - General Knowledge

120 Questions120 minsTotal Marks: 100-0.28 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
General Knowledge	120	100	120 min

Written Exam - Elementary Mathematics

100 Questions120 minsTotal Marks: 100-0.33 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
Elementary Mathematics	100	100	120 min

Syllabus

Reading Comprehension
Spotting Errors
Sentence Arrangement
Synonyms & Antonyms
Fill in the Blanks

Posts & Pay Levels

Vacancies

NaN

Tentative Total

Nationality & Citizenship

✓Citizen of India
✓Subject of Nepal
✓Subject of Bhutan
✓Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 with intention of permanently settling
✓Person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with intention of permanently settling in India

Educational Qualification

Age Limits & Relaxation

Age Bands

Age Band	DOB Not Earlier Than	DOB Not Later Than
IMA/AFA: 19-24 years (unmarried men only)
INA: 19-25 years (unmarried men only)
OTA: 19-25 years (men, unmarried)
OTA: 19-25 years (women, unmarried/divorcee/widow without children)

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years
PwBD (Unreserved/EWS)	10 years
PwBD (OBC)	13 years
PwBD (SC/ST)	15 years
Ex-Servicemen	3 years after deduction of military service from actual age (or as per rules)
Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and not remarried	Up to 35 years (UR), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST)

Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rules

Sons/Daughters/DependentsNot eligible

Non-Graduate ESM for Group BNot eligible

Category Certificate Rules

How to Apply

Apply viaOnline at https://upsconline.nic.in

Photo Rules

• Recent photograph
• Signature upload

Application Fee

₹200

General

Free

Women

Free

SC/ST

₹undefined

PwBD

₹undefined

ESM

Payment: SBI Challan / Net Banking / Visa/Master/RuPay Cards

Non-refundable

Correction Window

Opens

Closes

₹

1st Correction

₹

2nd Correction

Max corrections allowed. Latest corrected application treated as valid.

Admission Certificate & Exam Day

Admit CardDownload About 3 weeks before exam from UPSC website before exam

PrintoutRequired

Accepted Photo IDs

Aadhaar Card / printout of E-AadhaarVoter ID CardDriving LicensePAN CardPassportID Card issued by University/College/SchoolEmployer ID Card (Govt./PSU)Any other photo-bearing ID issued by Central/State Government

Written — English — English

100 Marks120 min

Objective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish

Written — General Knowledge — General Knowledge

100 Marks120 min

Objective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish and Hindi

Written — Elementary Mathematics — Elementary Mathematics

100 Marks120 min

Objective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish and Hindi

SSB Interview — Services Selection Board Interview

300 Marks

Personality Assessment

Answer Key Policy

Tentative KeyNot released

Fee RefundableNo

Normalization & Re-evaluation

Re-evaluationNot allowed

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Stage	UR	OBC/EWS	SC/ST/Others
ssb Stage I
ssb Overall
written Exam

Shortlisting & Merit Rules

Ssb Screening

Stage I screening at SSB — candidates who don't qualify are returned on Day 1/2

Written To SSB

Based on written exam marks. UPSC decides cut-off for each academy entry separately.

Final Merit Basis

Written Examination + SSB Interview combined marks. Separate merit lists for each academy.

Medical After SSB

Only candidates recommended by SSB undergo medical examination

Scribe & Compensatory Time

Extra Time20 minutes per hour of examination for eligible candidates

Own ScribeAllowed

Opt-inMust opt during application form

Auto-eligible for Scribe

✓PwBD blindness
✓PwBD locomotor disability (both arms affected-BA)
✓PwBD cerebral palsy

Scribe Requirements

• Scribe must not be a candidate of the same examination
• Scribe qualification must be one step below the qualification prescribed for the post
• Scribe cannot assist more than one candidate in the same examination
• Candidate must opt for scribe in the application form
• Scribe arrangement at own expense if own scribe opted

Additional Rules

• Even eligible candidates not availing scribe still get compensatory time
• No attendant other than scribe allowed inside examination hall

Document Verification

Conducted BySSB / Training Academy at the time of SSB and joining

Required Documents

Matriculation/Secondary Certificate (for DOB proof)
Educational Qualification Certificate(s) as prescribed
Caste/Category Certificate if applicable (in prescribed format)
PwBD Certificate if applicable
EWS Certificate if applicable (valid for relevant financial year)
Ex-Servicemen Certificate/Discharge Certificate if applicable
NOC from present employer if already in Government service
Experience Certificate if applicable
Name change documents if applicable (Gazette notification, marriage certificate etc.)
Two recent passport-size colour photographs
Any other document as specified in the call letter

Tie-Breaking Rules

1Higher marks in SSB Interview
2Higher marks in Written Examination
3Older candidate placed higher

Misconduct & Debarment

Post-exam Analysis Methods

Log analysisPhotograph verificationBiometric verificationCCTV review

Offense	Debarment
Using unfair means of any kind — copying, electronic devices, written material on body/paper	Permanent debarment / 3-7 years
Impersonation / procuring impersonation by any person	7 years / permanent
Possession of mobile phone, bluetooth devices, wireless devices, spy cameras, electronic gadgets inside exam hall	3-5 years
Taking away exam material (rough sheets, question paper) from exam hall	1-3 years
Leaving examination venue before completion of due exit procedure	1-2 years
Misbehaving, intimidating or threatening exam functionaries	2-3 years
Obstructing conduct of examination / instigating others not to take examination	3 years
False statements / fabricated documents / suppressing material information	1-5 years
Appearing in exam with forged admit card / identity proof	3-5 years
Possession of firearms/weapons or threatening exam functionaries with force	7 years
Taking snapshots, making videos of question papers or exam material	7 years
Sharing exam terminal through remote desktop / LAN / VAN	7 years
Attempt to hack or manipulate examination servers / data / systems	7-10 years
Candidate acting as scribe in same examination or providing false scribe declaration	3-5 years

⚠ Cases may be referred to police or investigating agencies.

Public Disclosure Policy

Disqualification Rule

Candidates must be unmarried. Those married before or during training will be removed. Candidates found submitting false information at any stage will be removed from service.

Important Warnings

⚠CDS is held twice a year (CDS-I and CDS-II). Apply for each cycle separately.

⚠Only unmarried candidates are eligible. Marriage during training leads to removal.

⚠SSB Interview is a 5-day rigorous assessment — no coaching can replicate it.

⚠OTA candidates write only English + GK (no Mathematics paper).

⚠Medical standards are strict — eyesight, hearing, physical fitness standards must be met.

⚠Women candidates are eligible only for OTA entry.

⚠NCC 'C' certificate holders may get direct entry to SSB bypassing written exam (for IMA/INA/AFA).

⚠Candidates must be medically fit as per prescribed standards — no relaxation in medical standards.

⚠Mere passing does not guarantee admission to academy — depends on merit and vacancies.

2026 Cycle — Complete Timeline

Year2026

Notification2025-12-01

Registration Start2025-12-01

Registration End2025-12-22

⚠ All dates are tentative and subject to change.

Vacancies

Total459

Per-post breakdown not yet published.

Previous Year Cut-Offs

No cut-off data available yet.

Important Dates — 2026

Event	Date	Status
CDS 1 2026 — Notification	10 Dec 2025	Completed
CDS 1 2026 — Exam	12 Apr 2026	Completed
CDS 2 2026 — Exam	13 Sept 2026	Upcoming