Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II
451 Vacancies
Last Date: 09 June 2026
UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination II 2026 Online Form
Union Public Service Commission has released the Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026 notification for admission to IMA, INA, Air Force Academy and Officers' Training Academy courses commencing in 2027.
Recruitment Snapshot
UPSC CDS II 2026 Details
- UPSC CDS-II 2026 will be conducted on 13 September 2026 for admission to defence courses commencing in 2027.
- Total tentative vacancies are 451 across IMA, INA, AFA and OTA courses.
- Candidates must apply online only through https://upsconline.nic.in.
- Admission at every stage is provisional and subject to verification of eligibility documents after written qualification / SSB stage.
Important Dates
| Event | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 20-05-2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 09-06-2026 up to 06:00 PM |
| Application Withdrawal | Not allowed after submission |
| e-Admit Card | Last working day of the preceding week of examination date |
| Date of Examination | 13-09-2026 |
| Expected Written Result | Likely in October 2026 as per notice |
Note: Candidates should retain their Universal Registration Number (URN) and examination-specific Application Number for future communication.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹200/- | Net Banking / Visa / Master / RuPay Credit or Debit Card / UPI |
| Female Candidates | ₹0/- | Fee exempted |
| SC / ST Candidates | ₹0/- | Fee exempted |
No fee exemption is available to OBC/EWS candidates. Fee once paid will not be refunded.
Vacancy Details
Approximate vacancies notified by UPSC and subject to change.
IMA 100, INA 26 and Air Force Academy 32.
126th SSC Men (NT) Course commencing in October 2027.
126th SSC Women (NT) Course commencing in October 2027.
| Course / Academy | Course Details | Approx. Vacancy |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 163rd (DE) Course commencing in July 2027; includes 13 NCC ‘C’ Certificate Army Wing reserved vacancies | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | Executive Branch (General Service) / Hydro Course commencing in July 2027; includes 06 NCC Naval Wing and 01 Hydro vacancy | 26 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | Pre-Flying Training Course commencing in July 2027, 222 F(P) Course; includes 03 NCC Air Wing vacancies | 32 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai | 126th SSC (Men) (NT) UPSC Course commencing in October 2027 | 275 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai | 126th SSC Women (NT) UPSC Course commencing in October 2027 | 18 |
| Total | Approximate vacancies | 451 |
Eligibility, Age Limit & Marital Status
| Academy / Course | Age / DOB Range | Sex / Marital Status | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 to 24 years; born not earlier than 01-07-2003 and not later than 01-07-2008 | Unmarried male candidates | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19 to 24 years; born not earlier than 01-07-2003 and not later than 01-07-2008 | Unmarried male candidates | Engineering degree OR B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from recognised University/Institution with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20 to 24 years as on 01-07-2027; born not earlier than 01-07-2003 and not later than 01-07-2007. CPL holders: upper age relaxable up to 26 years as per notice | Candidate below 25 years must be unmarried. Married candidates aged 25 years or above may apply but training rules apply | Degree of a recognised University with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Bachelor of Engineering |
| OTA SSC Men | 19 to 25 years; born not earlier than 01-07-2002 and not later than 01-07-2008 | Unmarried male candidates | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
| OTA SSC Women | 19 to 25 years; born not earlier than 01-07-2002 and not later than 01-07-2008 | Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees with divorce documents who have not remarried | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
Final year / semester candidates may apply subject to submission of proof of passing degree by the prescribed dates mentioned in the notification.
Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA and Air Force Academy
| Subject | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 13 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total Written Marks | - | - | 300 |
For Officers’ Training Academy
| Subject | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total Written Marks | - | - | 200 |
Papers are objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers will be bilingual in Hindi and English. Negative marking is applicable for wrong answers.
Syllabus Overview
English
Questions will test understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
General Knowledge
Current events, everyday scientific observations, History of India and Geography of a level expected from an educated person.
Elementary Mathematics
Matriculation level Arithmetic, Elementary Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry and Statistics as per Appendix-I.
Selection Process
- 1
Online application through UPSC Online portal using URN, Common Application Form and Examination Specific Module.
- 2
Written examination consisting of objective type papers as per selected academy / course.
- 3
Qualified candidates will be called for Services Selection Board intelligence and personality test based on their preferences and service HQ procedure.
- 4
Final selection will be made in order of merit, subject to medical fitness, eligibility verification, suitability and number of vacancies available.
Examination Centres
UPSC has notified examination centres across India including Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Prayagraj, Varanasi and many other cities.
Centre Allotment Rule
Centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis, except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur where the ceiling rule mentioned in the notice applies differently. Candidates should apply early to get a preferred centre.
Documents & Application Instructions
- Candidate should keep details of one Photo ID Card such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, Passport, Driving Licence or other government-issued photo ID.
- Applicants are strongly advised to use Aadhaar for smooth ID verification and authentication.
- Live photograph capture is required while filling the Common Application Form.
- Signature must be uploaded as per UPSC instructions: three signatures one below another on plain white paper using black ink.
- No correction / alteration / modification is allowed in application fields after submission and closure of application window.
Important Instructions
- Use black ball pen only for writing and marking answers in the OMR sheet.
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, storage media and similar electronic items are banned in the examination hall.
- Entry into the examination venue will close 30 minutes before commencement of each session.
- Face authentication / identity verification and frisking will be mandatory at the examination venue.
- Question paper / provisional answer key representations can be submitted only through UPSC online representation window within the notified time frame.