UPSC CDS II 2026 Notification Out – 451 Vacancies, Eligibility, Syllabus & Application Guide

UPSC

451

Vacancies

9 Jun 2026

Last Date

21 May 2026

Published on

Apply Now Official Notification

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) invites applications for the Combined Defence Services Examination-II (CDS-II) 2026 to recruit 451 officers into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Candidates must hold a graduation degree or be in their final year to apply for these permanent and short-service commission roles. The application process closes on 9 June 2026, with the written examination scheduled for 13 September 2026.

Important Warning

Applications cannot be modified or withdrawn after submission. Ensure all details are correct before final submission.

Exam Pattern (IMA, INA, AFA)

Paper I: English (100 marks), Paper II: General Knowledge (100 marks), Paper III: Elementary Mathematics (100 marks). Total Written: 300, SSB: 300. Grand Total: 600.

Exam Pattern (OTA)

Paper I: English (100 marks), Paper II: General Knowledge (100 marks). Total Written: 200, SSB: 200. Grand Total: 400.

Important Dates

Event	Date	Note
Notification Released	20 May 2026	—
Application Opens	20 May 2026	—
Last Date to Apply	09 Jun 2026	6:00 PM
Date of Examination	13 Sep 2026	—
Expected Results	Oct 2026	—
SSB Interviews (IMA/Navy/AFA)	Feb 2027	to Mar 2027
SSB Interviews (OTA)	Apr 2027	to Jun 2027

Pay Scale

Commissioned Officer

As per 7th CPC Pay Matrix

Vacancy Details

CDS-II 2026 Vacancies

Course	Academy	Vacancies	Commission Type
163rd DE Course (July 2027)	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun	100	Permanent
Executive Branch – July 2027	Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala	26	Permanent
222 F(P) Course – July 2027	Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad	32	Permanent
126th SSC Men (NT) – Oct 2027	Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai	275	Short Service (14 yrs)
126th SSC Women (NT) – Oct 2027	Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai	18	Short Service (14 yrs)
Total	-	451	-

*IMA includes 13 for NCC Army 'C'.
*INA includes 6 NCC Naval 'C' + 1 Hydro.
*AFA includes 3 NCC Air 'C'.

Eligibility

Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

Nationality: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal, or person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries.
Education (IMA/OTA): Graduation degree from a recognised university.
Education (INA): Degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics; must have studied Physics and Maths at 10+2 level.
Education (AFA): Graduation with Physics and Maths at 10+2 level, or B.E./B.Tech degree.
Final year students are eligible provided they submit proof of passing by the specified course commencement date.

Age Limit

Age and Marital Status requirements:

IMA: 19–24 years (Born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008), Unmarried males only.
INA: 19–24 years (Born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008), Unmarried males only.
AFA: 20–24 years (Born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007), Unmarried below 25.
OTA (Men): 19–25 years (Born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008), Unmarried males only.
OTA (Women): 19–25 years (Born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008), Unmarried women, issueless widows, or issueless divorcees.

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male)	₹200
Female (all categories)	NIL
SC / ST (Male)	NIL

Selection Process

Written Exam

SSB Interview (Stage 1 & 2)

Medical Examination

Final Merit List

Training

How to Apply

1Visit the official website upsconline.nic.in.
2Create an account to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN).
3Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) and upload photo, live photo, and signature.
4Select course preferences, exam centre, and pay the application fee.
5Submit the application before 9 June 2026, 6:00 PM and print the confirmation.