UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026 | 451 Apply Online

Organization: Union Public Service Commission | Post Date: 2026-06-08 | Last Date: 2026-06-09 | Total Vacancies: 451

Important Dates

Notification Release	20 May 2026
Application Start	20 May 2026
Last Date	09 June 2026
Fee Payment Last Date	09 June 2026
Exam Date	13 September 2026

Application Fee

General/OBC/EWS Candidates: Rs. 200/-

Female/SC/ST Candidates: Rs. 0/-

Mode: Online Payment.

Note: Fee once paid will not be refunded.

Age Limit

For IMA & Indian Naval Academy:

Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 24 Years

Born between 01.07.2003 and 01.07.2008

For Air Force Academy:

Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 24 Years

Born between 01.07.2003 and 01.07.2007.

Age Relaxation:

Relaxable up to 26 years for CPL holders.

For Officers' Training Academy (Men):

Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 25 Years

Born between 01.07.2002 and 01.07.2008

For Officers' Training Academy (Women):

Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 25 Years

Born between 01.07.2002 and 01.07.2008

Eligibilty Criteria

Nationality

A Citizen of India, or
A subject of Nepal, or
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries (Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia) or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status

For IMA: 19 to 24 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 01, 2003, and not later than July 01, 2008.
For Indian Naval Academy: 19 to 24 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 01, 2003, and not later than July 01, 2008.
For Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on July 01, 2027 (born not earlier than July 01, 2003, and not later than July 01, 2007). Upper age limit for CPL holders is relaxable up to 26 years.
For Officers' Training Academy (SSC Men): 19 to 25 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 01, 2002, and not later than July 01, 2008.
For Officers' Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical): 19 to 25 years. Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees who have not remarried, born not earlier than July 01, 2002, and not later than July 01, 2008.

Educational Qualifications

For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
For Indian Naval Academy: A degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics as core or elective subject from recognised University/Institution (with Physics and Mathematics in 10+2 level).
For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.

Note: Candidates in the final year of degree course are also eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of passing by the prescribed dates.

Vacancy Details 451 Posts

Total Vacancies: 451

Academy	Location	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	Dehradun	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Ezhimala	26
Air Force Academy (AFA)	Hyderabad	32
Officers' Training Academy (OTA) – SSC Men	Chennai	275
Officers' Training Academy (OTA) – SSC Women	Chennai	18
Total	—	451

Note: The number of vacancies is tentative and may be changed.

Selection Process

The selection process involves:

Written Examination
Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview)
Medical Examination

Candidates are selected based on their performance in the written examination and the SSB interview, followed by a medical examination. Final selection is made in order of merit.

Syllabus

The examination comprises a written test and an interview.

Written Examination:

For IMA, Indian Naval Academy & Air Force Academy: English (100 Marks), General Knowledge (100 Marks), Elementary Mathematics (100 Marks)
For Officers’ Training Academy: English (100 Marks), General Knowledge (100 Marks)

Interview:

Intelligence and Personality Test conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

Detailed syllabus for each subject is available in the official notification.

How To apply

Visit the official UPSC online application portal: https://upsconline.nic.in/.
Register yourself by creating an account or logging in if you already have a Universal Registration Number (URN).
Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details and other required information.
Complete the Examination Specific Module, including uploading your photograph, signature, and paying the application fee (if applicable).
Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature as per the specifications.
Review all the details carefully before final submission.
Submit the application form and take a printout for your records.

Required Document

Candidates are advised to keep ready the following documents in original along with their self-attested copies:

Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate or equivalent showing date of birth.
Degree/Provisional Degree Certificate/Marks sheet showing clearly having passed the degree examination.
Photographs and Signature (as per specifications for online upload).
Photo ID Card details (Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, etc.).
NCC 'C' Certificate (if claiming reservation).
Community Certificate (for SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories, if applicable).
Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates, if applicable).

Salary Criteria

The pay scale for officers starts at Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500) with Military Service Pay (MSP) and other allowances as per rules.

Stipend during Training: Rs. 56,100/- p.m.

Important Links

Apply Online Download Notification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the last date to apply for the CDS Examination-II, 2026?

A: The last date for filling up the online application form is June 09, 2026.

Q: What is the age limit for the CDS Examination-II, 2026?

A: The age limits vary for different courses. For IMA & Indian Naval Academy, it is 19-24 years. For Air Force Academy, it is 20-24 years (or up to 26 for CPL holders). For Officers\' Training Academy (Men), it is 19-25 years. For Officers\' Training Academy (Women), it is also 19-25 years.

Q: What is the application fee for the CDS Examination-II, 2026?

A: The application fee is Rs. 200/-. Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC/ST categories are exempted from paying the fee.

Q: When will the CDS Examination-II, 2026 be conducted?

A: The examination is scheduled to be conducted on September 13, 2026.

Q: What are the educational qualifications required for the CDS Examination-II, 2026?

A: For IMA & OTA, a degree from a recognized university or equivalent is required. For Indian Naval Academy, a degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics is needed. For Air Force Academy, a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or Bachelor of Engineering is required.

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