NEELGYAN EXAM GUIDE
UPSC CDS Examination Guide
Combined Defence Services Examination, including OTA
2026 examination cycle · Union Public Service Commission
Written and source-checked by NeelGyan Team · Last verified 2 August 2026
Checked against the official sources linked below
Current cycle
CDS II 2026
Current status
Applications closed
Next key date
13 September 2026
Tentative vacancies
451
Conducting body
Union Public Service Commission
Selection route
Written exam → SSB/AFSB → medical → merit
2026 cycle tracker
- Notification20 May
- ApplicationsClosed 11 June
- Written examination13 SeptemberYou are here
- Written resultAwaited
- SSB/AFSBService call-up
- Final resultAwaited
On This Page
Exam Resources
Conducting body
Union Public Service Commission
Student level
Graduate officer recruitment
About CDS
What is CDS?
The Combined Defence Services Examination is UPSC's graduate-entry examination for admission to notified courses at the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers' Training Academy. CDS I and CDS II are two cycles of the same examination, not separate career routes.
The academy selected changes both eligibility and the written pattern. Candidates for IMA, INA and AFA take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, while OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only. Educational, age, sex and marital-status rules must therefore be checked academy by academy.
Written qualifiers proceed to service selection-board assessment and medical examination. Final admission depends on written and SSB marks, medical fitness, eligibility, stated preferences and the vacancies available for the relevant course.
Latest UPSC CDS Updates
Verified updates, newest first
UPSC CDS Highlights
Key verified exam details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Exam name | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Current cycle | CDS II 2026 |
| Exam date | 13 September 2026 |
| Vacancies | 451 tentative |
| Application status | Closed |
| IMA/INA/AFA papers | English, GK and Elementary Mathematics |
| OTA papers | English and GK; no Mathematics paper |
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks assigned to a wrong answer |
| SSB structure | Stage I screening followed by Stage II assessment |
| Final selection | Written + SSB merit, medical fitness and vacancies |
UPSC CDS Vacancy Trend
Vacancy trend · official figures
These are original-notification vacancy totals for CDS II cycles, not final intake or appointments. UPSC describes the notified counts as approximate or tentative and Service Headquarters may change them. The 2023 figure is omitted because its academy and OTA components were verified across separate official releases rather than one directly citable notification source.
UPSC CDS 2026 Important Dates
Official notification and exam timeline
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CDS II 2026 notification | Published | |
| CDS II 2026 application deadline | Closed | |
| CDS II 2026 written examination | Upcoming as of 2 August 2026 |
Date note: The live examination page and notification archive record 11 June 2026; the original notice PDF stated 9 June 2026.
UPSC CDS Application Process and Fees
Official application route and fee details
The CDS II 2026 application window is closed. Future applicants should open the newest notification and live UPSC examination page rather than reuse the dates, vacancies or eligibility windows from this cycle.
The current UPSC flow uses Account Creation, Universal Registration, the Common Application Form and an examination-specific module. Complete the requested identity, education, photograph, live-photograph and signature steps only through the official portal.
Choose academy preferences only after checking each route's qualification, age and medical rules. The CDS II 2026 notice requires AFA to be the first preference for candidates seeking that academy and includes separate preference instructions for OTA.
Review every field before submission and retain both the Universal Registration Number and the examination-specific application number. Admission remains provisional until documentary eligibility is verified.
| Candidate category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General, EWS and OBC male candidates | ₹200 |
| Female candidates | Exempt |
| SC and ST male candidates | Exempt |
- The notice does not provide an OBC or EWS fee exemption.
- Fee and accepted payment methods must be checked again in the notification for each new cycle.
UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria
Qualification, age and other requirements
Indian Military Academy
19–24 years
- CDS II 2026 requires a degree from a recognised university or equivalent.
- The current notice permits unmarried male candidates born from 1 July 2003 through 1 July 2008.
- The IMA written route includes English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Indian Naval Academy
19–24 years
- For CDS II 2026, the qualification is an engineering degree, or a BSc with Physics as a core or elective subject plus Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
- The current notice permits unmarried male candidates born from 1 July 2003 through 1 July 2008.
- INA qualification wording has changed across notices, so an older engineering-only summary should not be reused.
Air Force Academy
20–24 years*
- A recognised university degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering degree, is required.
- For CDS II 2026, candidates must be born from 1 July 2003 through 1 July 2007. The upper limit is relaxed to 26 for holders of a valid current DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence, with the notice's stated birth window.
- Flying aptitude history, academy preference and Air Force medical conditions also apply; candidates seeking AFA must place it first under the current notice.
OTA SSC Men
19–25 years
- A degree from a recognised university or equivalent is required.
- CDS II 2026 permits unmarried male candidates born from 1 July 2002 through 1 July 2008.
- OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge; there is no Elementary Mathematics paper.
OTA SSC Women
19–25 years
- A degree from a recognised university or equivalent is required.
- CDS II 2026 permits candidates born from 1 July 2002 through 1 July 2008 who meet its unmarried, issueless-widow or issueless-divorcee conditions.
- The women's OTA course is a separately notified Short Service Commission entry.
Final-year and medical conditions
Proof required
- Eligible final-year or final-semester degree students may apply subject to producing proof by the academy-specific deadline in the notice.
- Candidates must be physically fit under the service and academy standards in the current notification.
- Do not reduce medical eligibility to one height or eyesight number; standards and permissible conditions vary by service and role.
CDS II 2026 Admit Card
No exact release date should be predicted
Current status: No CDS II 2026 e-admit card was listed on the official examination page as of 2 August 2026.
UPSC will publish the e-admit card through its official route. Download it only after an official link appears and verify the roll number, photograph, examination venue, reporting instructions and permitted identity document.
The notification states that no admit card is sent by post or email. A coaching-site countdown or expected date is not an official release.
- Use only the UPSC examination page or application portal.
- Read the venue-entry, face-authentication and prohibited-item instructions.
- Carry the photo identity document specified for the application and examination.
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Stages, papers and qualifying rules
- Written exam200 marks for OTA · 300 for IMA/INA/AFA
- SSB Stage IOIR tests + PP&DT screening
- SSB Stage IIInterview, GTO tasks, psychology tests and conference
- Medical and meritFitness, route-wise total, preferences and vacancies
IMA, INA and AFA Written Pattern
| Paper | Duration | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 |
- All papers are objective type.
- General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics question booklets are set in Hindi and English.
- One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for a wrong answer; a blank response has no penalty.
OTA Written Pattern
| Paper | Duration | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
- OTA candidates do not take Elementary Mathematics.
- Both papers are objective type.
- The same one-third negative-marking rule applies.
SSB Marks and Route-wise Final Total
| Route | Written maximum | SSB maximum | Combined maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| INA | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| AFA | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| OTA | 200 | 200 | 400 |
- Candidates must qualify separately in the written examination and SSB standards fixed by the competent authorities.
- Final admission also requires medical fitness and remains subject to academy preferences and vacancies.
UPSC CDS Syllabus Overview
Subjects and stages in the official syllabus
- English tests understanding of English and effective use of words. Use official previous papers to identify the recurring comprehension, grammar, usage and vocabulary demands.
- General Knowledge includes current events, everyday observation and scientific aspects, History of India and Geography at the level described in the official syllabus.
- Elementary Mathematics covers arithmetic, elementary number theory, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration and statistics. It is approximately matriculation level and applies to IMA, INA and AFA, not OTA.
- The English and General Knowledge papers are approximately at the level expected of a graduate of an Indian university.
- SSB Stage I uses Officer Intelligence Rating tests and Picture Perception and Description Test. Stage II includes interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, psychology tests and conference.
English
Understanding, comprehension and effective use of English; compulsory for every CDS academy route.
General Knowledge
Current events, everyday science, History of India and Geography; compulsory for every route.
Elementary Mathematics
Arithmetic, number theory, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration and statistics at matriculation level; not taken by OTA candidates.
SSB and AFSB assessment
Stage I OIR and PP&DT screening, followed by Stage II interview, group tasks, psychology tests and conference.
CDS II 2026 Answer Key Status
The written examination has not yet been held
Current status: No official CDS II 2026 answer key was published as of 2 August 2026.
The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026, so any key circulated before the papers are held is not an official CDS II 2026 answer key.
After the examination, use UPSC's official publication and representation channels. Coaching keys may support informal review but should not be presented as UPSC's answer key.
CDS 2026 Result Status
CDS I result published; CDS II result awaited
Current status: UPSC published the CDS I 2026 written result on 8 May and the name-wise result on 20 May; no CDS II 2026 result existed as of 2 August.
UPSC reported 8,826 candidates qualified in the CDS I 2026 written examination. Written qualification advances a candidate to service-specific SSB/AFSB processing; it is not final academy admission.
CDS II 2026 is still before the written stage. Its result date should remain unpublished until UPSC posts the result document.
UPSC CDS Cut-off Marks
Use historical cut-offs as context, not a prediction
Current status: Official CDS I or CDS II 2026 cut-off marks were not published as of 2 August 2026.
UPSC publishes academy-specific written and final cut-offs after the selection process. The threshold varies by academy, cycle, vacancies, paper difficulty and candidate performance.
In both historical tables below, UPSC applied a minimum of 20 percent in each written paper. Meeting that paper-wise minimum alone did not guarantee the academy-level written or final cut-off.
CDS I 2025 Cut-off Marks
| Academy or course | Written cut-off | Final cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 120 / 300 | 243 / 600 |
| INA | 104 / 300 | 230 / 600 |
| AFA | 128 / 300 | 253 / 600 |
| OTA Men | 81 / 200 | 163 / 400 |
| OTA Women | 81 / 200 | 171 / 400 |
- UPSC prescribed at least 20 percent in each written paper.
- Final totals combine the route's written maximum and equal SSB maximum.
Official sources for this table
CDS II 2024 Cut-off Marks
| Academy or course | Written cut-off | Final cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 117 / 300 | 241 / 600 |
| INA | 90 / 300 | 220 / 600 |
| AFA | 126 / 300 | 248 / 600 |
| OTA Men | 81 / 200 | 161 / 400 |
| OTA Women | 81 / 200 | 166 / 400 |
- UPSC prescribed at least 20 percent in each written paper.
- A previous-cycle score cannot establish the cut-off for CDS II 2026.
Official sources for this table
Academy Routes and Officer Pay
How academy choice changes the route, papers and notified pay
CDS is one examination feeding different academy and commission routes. Academy choice changes educational eligibility, written papers, service assessment and the form of commission or training outcome.
Pay figures below are basic notified amounts, not take-home salary. Allowances, deductions, posting, accommodation and prevailing service rules affect the amount received.
- Indian Military Academy — Army permanent commission route
- Indian Naval Academy — notified Indian Navy academy route
- Air Force Academy — Air Force pre-flying training route
- Officers' Training Academy — Army Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) men's and women's entries
CDS Academy Route Comparison
| Academy | Current-cycle qualification summary | Written papers | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | Recognised degree or equivalent | English · GK · Mathematics | Army permanent commission |
| INA | Engineering degree, or qualifying BSc Physics route | English · GK · Mathematics | Indian Navy academy route |
| AFA | Degree with 10+2 Physics and Mathematics, or BE | English · GK · Mathematics | Air Force pre-flying route |
| OTA | Recognised degree or equivalent | English · GK | Army Short Service Commission |
- Use the full eligibility cards and current notification before choosing preferences.
- The INA qualification shown is specific to the CDS II 2026 notice and must be refreshed for later cycles.
CDS Cadet Stipend and Officer Pay
| Stage or component | Notified amount |
|---|---|
| Cadet during training | ₹56,100 per month fixed stipend |
| Lieutenant basic pay | Level 10 · ₹56,100–₹1,77,500 per month |
| Military Service Pay | ₹15,500 per month fixed from Lieutenant to Brigadier |
- These are notified stipend, pay-matrix and MSP figures, not gross or in-hand salary.
- Allowances, deductions and conditions vary by service, posting, accommodation and the rules in force.
Official sources for this table
UPSC CDS Preparation Strategy
A syllabus-first preparation route
- Choose the academy route before building a study plan. OTA candidates should not spend preparation time on an Elementary Mathematics paper they will not take.
- Begin with an official previous paper under timed conditions. Record accuracy and weak topics separately for English, General Knowledge and, where applicable, Mathematics.
- Build Mathematics from Class VI–X fundamentals, then move to timed mixed sets. Because wrong answers lose marks, review calculation and selection errors rather than chasing attempt count alone.
- For English, combine reading and comprehension with regular grammar, usage and vocabulary practice based on the style of official CDS papers.
- For General Knowledge, connect current affairs to compact foundations in history, geography and everyday science. Use one revision system instead of collecting overlapping compilations.
- Practise complete two-hour papers and review every wrong, guessed and skipped item. Accuracy under the negative-marking rule is a core exam skill.
- Prepare for SSB alongside written study through honest self-awareness, communication, observation, fitness and constructive group participation. Do not rely on memorised personality scripts.
CDS Books and Study Material
- Keep the official notification, syllabus and UPSC previous papers as the source-of-truth stack.
- Use NCERT Mathematics from Classes VI–X to repair Elementary Mathematics fundamentals before moving to timed CDS practice.
- Use selected NCERT Science, History and Geography texts for General Knowledge foundations, guided by official papers.
- Use one dependable English grammar and usage reference plus comprehension practice; several overlapping books are harder to revise.
- For SSB and service procedures, prefer the official Army, Navy and Air Force information pages over coaching claims.
UPSC CDS Previous Question Papers
Official question-paper resources
Official papers show the actual level, paper mix and time pressure. OTA candidates need English and General Knowledge papers; IMA, INA and AFA candidates should also attempt Elementary Mathematics.
Attempt a full paper first, classify mistakes by syllabus area, revise the weak areas and then retake an equivalent paper under the same two-hour limit.
UPSC CDS Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of CDS II 2026?
The application window is closed and the written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. No exact admit-card or written-result date should be shown until UPSC publishes it.
What is the CDS exam?
CDS is UPSC's graduate-entry examination for notified courses at IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. Selection includes objective written papers, SSB or AFSB assessment, medical examination and route-wise final merit.
Are CDS I and CDS II different exams?
They are two cycles of the same Combined Defence Services Examination. The dates, course numbers, vacancies and exact eligibility windows change, so candidates must use the notification for their own cycle.
Is Mathematics compulsory in CDS?
Elementary Mathematics is compulsory for IMA, INA and AFA candidates. OTA candidates take only English and General Knowledge.
Can final-year students apply for CDS?
Eligible final-year or final-semester students may apply where the notice permits, but they must produce proof of passing by the academy-specific deadline and meet the document conditions at SSB.
Are women eligible for CDS?
The CDS II 2026 notice considers women for the notified OTA Short Service Commission women's course, subject to its age, degree and marital-status conditions.
What qualification is required for CDS?
IMA and OTA require a recognised degree or equivalent. INA and AFA have additional degree or Physics–Mathematics requirements, so qualification must be checked academy by academy.
How many papers are there in CDS?
IMA, INA and AFA candidates take three two-hour papers worth 100 marks each. OTA candidates take two two-hour papers worth 100 marks each.
Is there negative marking in CDS?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for a wrong answer. A blank response carries no penalty.
What happens after the CDS written result?
Written-qualified candidates follow the relevant service's call-up or registration process for SSB or AFSB. Those who pass the two-stage assessment proceed through service medical and final merit requirements.
Does clearing the CDS written exam guarantee selection?
No. Candidates must separately meet the SSB standard, medical and documentary eligibility, and rank within the vacancies for the relevant academy and course.
What is the difference between IMA and OTA through CDS?
IMA is an Army permanent-commission route and its written exam includes Elementary Mathematics. OTA is an Army Short Service Commission route and its written exam has only English and General Knowledge.
Can a candidate choose more than one CDS academy?
A candidate may state multiple eligible preferences subject to the current notice's ordering rules. For CDS II 2026, candidates seeking AFA must place it first, and OTA has additional preference instructions.
What is a safe CDS cut-off score?
There is no fixed safe score. Written and final cut-offs vary by academy and cycle. Historical official cut-offs are useful context, but they do not predict CDS II 2026.
Are CDS medical standards the same for every academy?
No. Medical, visual and role-specific conditions vary by service and academy. Candidates should use the medical appendix in the current UPSC notice and the relevant service process page.
Official Information and Sources
Primary notice and authority links
- UPSC CDS II 2026 examination page
- UPSC CDS II 2026 notification
- UPSC CDS I 2026 examination page
- UPSC examination notification archive
- UPSC previous question papers archive
- UPSC cut-off marks archive
- UPSC online application portal
- Join Indian Army homepage
- Indian Navy selection procedure
- Indian Navy medical and physical standards
- Indian Air Force selection process
- Air Force Selection Board testing
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