⚠️ UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Application Last Date Extended

UPSC has extended the last date for submission of online applications for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), 2026. As per the official notice, candidates can now apply until 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM.
Candidates who have not yet completed their application process should utilize this extended opportunity.
⬇️ Scroll down to the Important Links section below where the direct link to the official extension notice has been provided.

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The Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026 represents one of the most direct gateways into the officer cadre of the Indian Armed Forces, feeding fighting leadership into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. These 451 vacancies carry immense strategic weight: every officer commissioned through this route will eventually command troops in forward areas, lead naval warships, or fly combat missions in some of the most demanding operational environments on the planet. The prestige attached to clearing CDS and the subsequent SSB is unmatched in the Indian recruitment ecosystem.

Key Details of the Vacancy

Parameter	Details
Awarding Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on behalf of Ministry of Defence
Official Designation(s)	Lieutenant (Army), Sub-Lieutenant (Navy), Flying Officer (Air Force), Short Service Commissioned Officer
Aggregated Vacancies	451 (IMA-100, INA-26, AFA-32, OTA Men-275, OTA Women-18)
Job Sector Classification	Permanent Commission (Army, Navy, Air Force) & Short Service Commission (Army)
Gateway Mode	Written Examination + SSB Interview + Medical Examination
Portal URL	https://upsconline.nic.in

Total Vacancies Breakdown & Job Profile 

The CDS-II 2026 examination offers 451 tentative vacancies across five distinct training courses. These numbers are subject to change based on organizational requirements at various selection stages.

Course/Academy	Commission Status Type	Vacancies	Special Allocations
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun - 163rd Direct Entry Course	Permanent Commission	100	13 reserved for NCC 'C' Certificate (Army Wing) holders
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala - Executive Branch (General Service/Hydro)	Permanent Commission	26	6 for NCC 'C' Certificate (Naval Wing) holders; 1 for Hydro cadre
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad - 222 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course	Permanent Commission	32	3 reserved for NCC 'C' Certificate (Air Wing) holders
Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai - 126th SSC (Men) (NT) Course	Short Service Commission	275	General allocation
Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai - 126th SSC Women (NT) Course	Short Service Commission	18	Female candidates only
Total		451

Understanding the Roles

• IMA (Indian Military Academy): Trains officers for Permanent Commission in the Indian Army. Graduates serve as leaders commanding infantry and other combat units.
• Indian Naval Academy (INA): Produces officers for the Executive Branch (General Service) and Hydrological specialization, serving on ships, submarines, and naval aviation units.
• Air Force Academy (AFA): Trains Flying Branch (Pilot) officers. Candidates must be medically fit for flying duties and undergo Computer Pilot Selection System (CPSS) testing. Those with valid Commercial Pilot Licenses (issued by DGCA India) receive age relaxation.
• Officers' Training Academy (OTA): Grants Short Service Commission (SSC) for 10 years (extendable by 4 years). Men and women SSC officers can apply for Permanent Commission in the 10th year, subject to eligibility.

Critical Note: Preparation of written results and final merit lists for SSC (NT) Men and SSC (NT) Women categories will be done separately in a gender-pure manner as per notified vacancies, despite a common written examination.

Eligibility Criteria & Training Benefits

Educational Qualifications

IMA & OTA: Degree from a recognized University or equivalent.

Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering OR B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from recognized University/Institution (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level).

Air Force Academy: Degree from recognized University (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level) OR Bachelor of Engineering.

Final Year Students: Candidates studying in final year/semester degree courses and awaiting final examination results may apply. However:

• They must submit a bonafide certificate from their University/College Principal at SSB interview confirming ability to submit degree proof by the specified deadline.

NCC 'C' Certificate Holders - Special Entry

Reserved vacancies exist for NCC 'C' Certificate holders:

• Must have served not less than 3 academic years in Senior Division Army Wing/Air Wing/Naval Wing of NCC.
• Should not have been discharged from NCC for more than 24 months on the last date of application receipt.
• Must submit proof of passing NCC 'C' Certificate examination by 13th May 2027.

Training Period, Bond Agreements & Stipend Details

Stipend During Training

All cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10) during training. On successful commissioning, this stipend converts to pay, but the training period is not counted as commissioned service for seniority or pension purposes.

Training Duration

Academy	Training Period
IMA (Dehradun)	Approximately 18 months
Indian Naval Academy	44 weeks (Naval Orientation) + 6 months (Sea Training) + 6 months (Sub-Lt Afloat) + 33 weeks (Technical Course) + 6-9 months (Watch-keeping Certificate) = ~18 months total
Air Force Academy	74 weeks (~17-18 months) for Flying Branch (Pilot)
OTA Chennai (SSC)	49 weeks (~11 months)

Bond Agreement: Candidates and their parents/guardians must execute a bond before joining training.

Marital Status Requirements

Candidates applying for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA must strictly adhere to the following marital status conditions before entry and during the training period:

• Candidates Below 25 Years: Must be completely unmarried at the time of entry and during the training period.
• Candidates Aged 25 Years or Above: 
• Married candidates may apply but are ineligible for family accommodation or living off-campus during training.
• Discharge & Penalty: Marriage during training results in discharge and a mandatory refund of all expenses. Male divorcees and widowers are ineligible.
• Women Candidates (OTA): Only unmarried women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees with legal documentation may apply.

Age Criteria & Cut-off Dates

The age eligibility criteria for all candidates will be calculated as of 01 July 2026.

Course	Minimum Age	Maximum Age	Date of Birth Range
IMA / Indian Naval Academy	19 years	24 years	Born between 01.07.2003 and 01.07.2008
Air Force Academy	20 years	24 years	Born between 01.07.2003 and 01.07.2007
Air Force Academy (CPL holders)	20 years	26 years	Born between 01.07.2001 and 01.07.2007
OTA (SSC Men)/ OTA (SSC Women)	19 years	25 years	Born between 01.07.2002 and 01.07.2008

Application Fees & Payment Method

Category	Fee Amount
General/OBC/EWS Male Candidates	Rs. 200/-
Female Candidates (All Categories)/SC/ST Male Candidates/PwBD Candidates	NIL (Exempted)

Note: Payment can be made only through net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card or UPI. The fee is non-refundable. Keep the transaction receipt.

Complete Online Application Process

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Documents to Keep Ready

Recruitment Scheme & Comprehensive Test Syllabus

The CDS-II 2026 selection has two stages:

Stage 1: Written Examination (Objective Type)

For IMA/INA/AFA:

Paper	Subject Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
Paper-I	11	2 hours	100
Paper-II	12	2 hours	100
Paper-III	13	2 hours	100
Total Written Marks			300

For OTA (SSC Men & Women):

Paper	Subject Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
Paper-I	11	2 hours	100
Paper-II	12	2 hours	100
Total Written Marks			200

• All papers consist of objective-type questions only.
• Question papers (Test Booklets) for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be bilingual (Hindi & English).
• Candidates must use black ball pen only to mark answers.
• Negative Marking: For every wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks will be deducted.

Stage 2: Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview & Personality Test

Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by SSB undergo medical examination as per "Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition)" (available at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in).

Permanent Body Tattoos: Permitted only on inner forearm (inside elbow to wrist) and back (dorsal) side of hand. Tattoos elsewhere lead to disqualification, except for tribal customs.

Final Merit & Selection

For IMA/INA/AFA:

• Final merit based on Written (300) + SSB (300) = 600 marks.

For OTA:

• Final merit based on Written (200) + SSB (200) = 400 marks.

Detailed Syllabus

English (Code 11):

General Knowledge (Code 12):

Elementary Mathematics (Code 13) - Matriculation Level

Candidate Decision Corner: Career Analysis

Is CDS-II 2026 Right for You?

Before applying, assess whether a career in the Armed Forces aligns with your long-term goals, personal circumstances, and values.

You Should Apply If:

You possess a strong sense of national service, discipline, and commitment.

You are physically fit, mentally strong, and ready to face challenges.

You seek a career with job security and structured growth

You are prepared for frequent postings, transfers, and separation from family.

You value leadership, teamwork, and responsibility.

You are comfortable with hierarchical structures and military protocol.

Reconsider If:

You prioritize location stability and work-life balance over duty.

You cannot meet strict physical/medical standards.

You are seeking high financial returns in early career years (private sector may offer more initially).

You are unwilling to follow strict discipline and lifestyle restrictions.

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Work Culture, Salary Structure, and Career Path

Salary & Allowances (as of Notification Date)

During Training:

Stipend: Rs. 56,100/- per month (Level 10 starting pay).

Training period not counted as commissioned service.

Post-Commissioning Pay Levels:

Rank	Level	Pay Range (Rs.)
Lieutenant	Level 10	56,100 - 1,77,500
Captain	Level 10B	61,300 - 1,93,900
Major	Level 11	69,400 - 2,07,200
Lieutenant Colonel	Level 12A	1,21,200 - 2,12,400
Colonel	Level 13	1,30,600 - 2,15,900
Brigadier	Level 13A	1,39,600 - 2,17,600

Approximate In-Hand: Rs. 85,000 - 95,000/- per month (varies based on posting, allowances, deductions).

Promotion Timeline (Time Scale)

Rank	Time to Promotion
Lieutenant	On Commissioning
Captain	2 years of service
Major	6 years of service
Lieutenant Colonel	13 years of service
Colonel (Time Scale)	26 years of service
Colonel/Brigadier/Higher Ranks	Selection-based

Work Culture

Common Application Errors to Avoid

Incorrect Date of Birth Entry:

Verify your DOB from Matriculation certificate before entering. Even a single digit error can lead to permanent rejection. DOB once entered cannot be changed.

Poor Quality Photograph/Signature Upload:

Ensure your photograph is recent (within 3 months). Signature must be legible, scanned properly (three signatures on white paper, black ink).

Blurred/unclear uploads lead to application rejection.

Wrong Test Booklet Series or Roll Number Encoding on OMR:

On exam day, carefully encode Test Booklet Series (A/B/C/D), Subject Code, and Roll Number in OMR circles using black ball pen. Mismatch leads to answer sheet invalid.

Incorrect Course Preference Indication:

Male candidates applying for AFA must indicate it as first choice only. Second/third choice for AFA is invalid. If applying for OTA along with IMA/INA/AFA, OTA must be last preference (or deemed last). Female candidates can choose OTA only. No request for changing preferences entertained after submission.

Missing Centre Allocation Due to Delay:

Centres allocated on first-come-first-serve basis. Apply early to get preferred centre. 

Not Carrying Original Certificates to SSB Interview:

Candidates qualifying written exam must carry original educational certificates to SSB. Final year students must carry bonafide certificate from Principal. Failure to produce originals means no SSB interview.

Not Registering on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in (for Army first choice candidates):

Candidates with IMA/OTA as first choice must register on Recruiting Directorate website to receive SSB call-up information. Email ID on UPSC form and Army website must match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is there an option to modify or edit data after submitting the final fee?

No. Once the application is submitted and fee paid, no changes are allowed in any field. The one-time URN profile edit does not reflect in already submitted applications.

Q2. What is the exact estimated in-hand monthly salary after accounting for standard allowances?

During training: approximately Rs. 56,100. After commissioning in peace station: Rs. 78,000-85,000. In field/high altitude areas it crosses Rs. 1,00,000 easily with risk and hardship pay.

Q3. Is this a permanent state/central government establishment post or a contractual position?

IMA, INA and AFA lead to Permanent Commission. OTA leads to Short Service Commission of 14 years (10+4). SSC officers can apply for Permanent Commission after 5 years subject to vacancies and performance.

Q4. Are age limits relaxed for SC/ST/OBC candidates?

No relaxation in upper age limit is provided for defence services entries through CDS. The age limits are uniform.

Q5. How are tie-breaking scores handled if two candidates finish equal?

For IMA/INA/AFA: Higher marks in Elementary Mathematics, then General Knowledge, then age. For OTA: Higher marks in General Knowledge, then age. Final discretion rests with UPSC.

Q6. Can a candidate who has been recommended in previous SSB but failed medical re-appear?

Yes, provided they meet all eligibility criteria afresh. Previous medical unfitness may require fresh appeal or waiver depending on the defect.

Q7. Does having a tattoo automatically disqualify a candidate?

Only if it is on prohibited areas (face, neck, hands except inner forearm and reverse palm). Small permissible tattoos are accepted case-by-case.

Q8. Can serving government employees apply?

Yes, but they must inform their department and submit NOC at appropriate stage. Applications without proper intimation are liable for rejection.

Q9. What happens if I miss the SSB call-up letter due to postal delay?

You must contact the respective service headquarters immediately. Non-receipt of call letter is the candidate’s responsibility after a certain date.