UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2026: Apply Online for 451 Vacancies Before Deadline
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the CDS 2 Notification 2026, inviting applications for 451 vacancies across the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Interested candidates must submit their applications via the official UPSC website by the deadline of 9 June 2026. The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has published the CDS 2 Notification 2026 on its official portal, detailing 451 job openings for premier defence academies. The final date to register online is today, 9 June 2026. Mark your calendars for the upcoming examination, which will be held on 13 September 2026.
In this guide, we provide comprehensive insights into the CDS 2 Notification 2026, covering vacancy details, eligibility requirements, direct application links, the selection process, exam pattern, and other essential information.
CDS 2 Notification 2026 Out
The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II is organized under the CDS 2 Notification 2026. This recruitment cycle offers 451 vacancies across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), open to both eligible male and female candidates.
Before initiating your application, ensure you thoroughly review the official notification to confirm you meet all age, physical, and educational eligibility criteria. Access the official PDF download link below.
CDS 2 Recruitment: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name |
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II 2026
|
| Conducting Body |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
|
| Exam Notice No. | 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | 20th May to 9th June 2026 (by 6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | 13th September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (General/OBC Male); Nil for Female/SC/ST |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
CDS 2 Vacancy 2026
A total of 451 vacancies have been announced across five distinct courses within the three branches of the Armed Forces. The breakdown of vacancies per academy is listed below:
| S. No. | Course | Vacancies |
| 1 | Indian Military Academy: 163rd (DE) Course (July 2027) |
100 (including 13 for NCC ‘C’ Army Wing holders)
|
| 2 | Indian Naval Academy: Executive Branch (Gen Service/Hydro) (July 2027) |
26 (including 06 for NCC ‘C’ Naval Wing + 01 Hydro)
|
| 3 | Air Force Academy: 222 F(P) Course (July 2027) |
32 (including 03 for NCC ‘C’ Air Wing holders)
|
| 4 | Officers Training Academy: 126th SSC Men (NT) (UPSC) Course (Oct 2027) | 275 |
| 5 | Officers Training Academy: 126th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course (Oct 2027) | 18 |
| Total | 451 | |
CDS 2 Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online |
9th June 2026 (6:00 PM)
|
| Date of Examination |
13th September 2026
|
| Representation Window on Answer Keys |
3rd day to 7th day after exam (till 6:00 PM)
|
| CDS 2 Written Result | Expected in October 2026 |
| SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA) |
February-March 2027
|
| SSB Interview (OTA) | April-June 2027 |
| Course Commencement (IMA/INA) | July 2027 |
| Course Commencement (OTA) | October 2027 |
CDS 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026
Aspirants aiming to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force should carefully examine the eligibility standards defined in the CDS 2 Notification 2026, including nationality, age limits, marital status, and educational qualifications.
Nationality
Applicants must be citizens of India, subjects of Nepal, or persons of Indian origin who have migrated from designated countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Burma with the intent to settle permanently in India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from providing an eligibility certificate.
Age Limit and Gender
| Academy | Age Limit |
Gender & Marital Status
|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19-24 years (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19-24 years (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20-24 years as on 01 Jul 2027 (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2007); up to 26 years with valid DGCA CPL |
Unmarried candidates below 25 years; married candidates aged 25+ eligible but no married accommodation during training
|
| Officers Training Academy (OTA Men) | 19-25 years (born between 01 Jul 2002 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Officers Training Academy (OTA Women) | 19-25 years (born between 01 Jul 2002 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried women, issueless widows (not remarried), and issueless divorcees (not remarried)
|
Educational Qualifications
| Academy |
Required Qualification
|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Officers Training Academy (OTA) |
Degree from a recognised university or equivalent
|
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) |
Engineering degree or B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level)
|
| Air Force Academy (AFA) |
Degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering degree
|
CDS 2 Notification 2026: Apply Online Link
The application portal for CDS 2 2026 is live. Eligible candidates must submit their online applications via the UPSC website before 6:00 PM today, 9 June 2026. We have included the direct application link below for your convenience.
How to Apply for CDS 2 2026?
Follow these steps to complete your registration for the CDS 2 exam:
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC portal at www.upsconline.nic.in.
Step 2: Register to generate your Universal Registration Number (URN), which serves as your unique ID for all UPSC exams.
Step 3: Fill out the Common Application Form (CAF) with your personal, academic, and photo ID details.
Step 4: Select your preferred academy and exam center, then upload necessary documents.
Step 5: Pay the required application fee using secure online payment methods.
Step 6: Review and submit your application, and save the generated Application Number for your records.
CDS 2 Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee |
| General/OBC (Male) | ₹200/- |
| SC/ST Candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
| All Female Candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
CDS 2 Selection Process 2026
Selection is based on a rigorous three-stage process:
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test)
- Medical Examination
CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The written examination consists of multiple-choice questions completed via OMR sheets. Papers for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are available in both Hindi and English. Detailed exam pattern structures are outlined below:
For IMA, INA, and AFA:
| Subject | Subject Code | Duration |
Maximum Marks
|
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 13 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Written Total | 300 | ||
| SSB Interview | 300 | ||
| Grand Total | 600 | ||
For OTA (Men and Women):
| Subject | Subject Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Written Total | 200 | ||
| SSB Interview | 200 | ||
| Grand Total | 400 | ||
Negative Marking
Be aware of the negative marking scheme: one-third (0.33) of the marks allocated to a question will be deducted for each incorrect answer. Unattempted questions incur no penalty.
Tie-Breaking Rules
In the event of a tie in final scores, the following tie-breaking criteria will apply:
- Higher marks in the written examination total are considered first.
- If still tied, higher marks in General Knowledge (Paper II) are taken.
- If still tied, the older candidate is ranked higher.
- If still tied, the Commission resolves it at its discretion.
CDS 2 Exam Centre List 2026
The CDS 2 examination will be held at 84 centers across India, including key cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
| No. | City | No. | City |
| 1 | AGARTALA | 22 | DHARAMSHALA |
| 2 | AGRA | 23 | DHARWAD |
| 3 | AHMEDABAD | 24 | DISPUR |
| 4 | AIZAWL | 25 | FARIDABAD |
| 5 | AJMER | 26 | GANGTOK |
| 6 | ALIGARH | 27 | GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR |
| 7 | ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) | 28 | GAYA |
| 8 | ALWAR | 29 | GHAZIABAD |
| 9 | ANANTHAPURAMU (ANDHRA PRADESH) | 30 | GORAKHPUR |
| 10 | CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR [AURANGABAD (MAHARASHTRA)] | 31 | GURUGRAM |
| 11 | BAREILLY | 32 | GWALIOR |
| 12 | BENGALURU | 33 | HYDERABAD |
| 13 | BHOPAL | 34 | IMPHAL |
| 14 | BHUBANESWAR | 35 | INDORE |
| 15 | BILASPUR (CHHATTISGARH) | 36 | ITANAGAR |
| 16 | CHANDIGARH | 37 | JABALPUR |
| 17 | CHENNAI | 38 | JAIPUR |
| 18 | COIMBATORE | 39 | JAMMU |
| 19 | CUTTACK | 40 | JODHPUR |
| 20 | DEHRADUN | 41 | JORHAT |
| 21 | DELHI | 42 | KANPUR |
| 43 | KARGIL | 64 | PUNE |
| 44 | KOCHI | 65 | RAIPUR |
| 45 | KOHIMA | 66 | RAJKOT |
| 46 | KOLKATA | 67 | RANCHI |
| 47 | KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) | 68 | SAMBALPUR |
| 48 | LEH | 69 | SHILLONG |
| 49 | LUCKNOW | 70 | SHIMLA |
| 50 | LUDHIANA | 71 | SILIGURI |
| 51 | MADURAI | 72 | SRINAGAR |
| 52 | MANDI (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | 73 | SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
| 53 | MEERUT | 74 | SURAT |
| 54 | MUMBAI | 75 | THANE |
| 55 | MYSURU | 76 | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
| 56 | NAGPUR | 77 | TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
| 57 | NASIK | 78 | TIRUPATI |
| 58 | NAVI MUMBAI | 79 | UDAIPUR |
| 59 | PANAJI (GOA) | 80 | VARANASI |
| 60 | PATNA | 81 | VELLORE |
| 61 | SRI VIJAYA PURAM (PORT BLAIR) | 82 | VIJAYAWADA |
| 62 | PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) | 83 | VISAKHAPATNAM |
| 63 | PUDUCHERRY | 84 | HANUMAKONDA (WARANGAL URBAN) |
CDS 2 Admit Card 2026
Admit cards for the CDS 2 exam will be available for download exactly 7 days before the exam date. UPSC will not issue physical admit cards. Candidates must carry a valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar) alongside their printed admit card on the day of the exam.
CDS 2 Salary 2026
Officers receive a competitive salary package as per the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) guidelines.
| Rank | Level | Pay (₹) |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 |
56,100 – 1,77,500
|
| Captain | Level 10 B |
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
|
| Major General | Level 14 |
1,44,200 – 2,18,200
|
| Lieutenant General (HAG Scale) | Level 15 |
1,82,200 – 2,24,100
|
| HAG+ Scale | Level 16 |
2,05,400 – 2,24,400
|
| VCOAS/Army Commander/Lieutenant General | Level 17 | 2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS | Level 18 | 2,50,000 (fixed) |
FAQs
The UPSC has officially published the CDS 2 Notification 2026.
Of the 451 total vacancies, the allocation is: 100 for IMA, 26 for INA, 32 for AFA, 275 for OTA (Men), and 18 for OTA (Women).
The deadline for online application submission is today, 9 June 2026, by 6:00 PM.
The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
Candidates must be unmarried Indian citizens aged between 19 and 25 years (criteria vary by academy). Women are eligible to apply specifically for the OTA programs.
Educational requirements include a degree for IMA and OTA. INA candidates need an Engineering degree or a B.Sc. with Physics. AFA candidates require graduation with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
Yes, there is negative marking. Each incorrect answer results in a deduction of 0.33 marks. There is no penalty for questions left unattempted.
For technical assistance, contact the UPSC helpdesk at 011-24041001 or 011-40303444, or email [email protected] during working hours (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM) until the application deadline.