Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination-II, 2026-Notification, Eligibility, Vacancy, Exam Date & Online Apply
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination-II, 2026. Through this examination, eligible candidates will be selected for admission into Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Interested candidates can apply online from here.
CDS-II EXAMINATION 2026 OVERVIEW
| Examination Name | Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Advertisement Number | 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Notification Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 09 June 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
CDS-II 2026 VACANCY DETAILS
A total of 451 vacancies have been announced under various defence academies and training courses.
| Academy/Course | Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | 26 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men) | 275 |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women) | 18 |
| Total | 451 |
IMPORTANT DATES
| Notification Release Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Starting Date of Online Application | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Application | 09 June 2026 |
| CDS-II 2026 Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Age Limit Details
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
- Age: 19 to 24 years
- Only unmarried male candidates born between 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2008 are eligible.
Indian Naval Academy (INA)
- Age: 19 to 24 years
- Only unmarried male candidates born between 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2008 are eligible.
Air Force Academy (AFA)
- Age: 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2027
- Candidates must be born between 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2007
- Upper age relaxation up to 26 years for candidates holding valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA.
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Men
- Age: 19 to 25 years
- Unmarried women, issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried are eligible.
- Birth date must be between 01 July 2002 to 01 July 2008.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
| Academy | Qualification |
| IMA & OTA | Graduation Degree from a recognized University |
| INA | Engineering Degree or B.Sc with Physics & Mathematics |
| AFA | Graduation with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level or Engineering Degree |
Candidates appearing in the final year/semester examination are also eligible to apply.
APPLICATION FEE
| Category | Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 200/- |
| Female / SC / ST | Nil |
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process includes:
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List
CDS -II 2026 EXAM PATTERN
1. For For IMA, INA & AFA
| Subject | Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Elementary Mathmatics | 100 | 2 Hours |
2. For For OTA
| Subject | Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
CDS-II 2026 EXAM CENTRES
The examination will be conducted across multiple cities including:
- Guwahati
- Jorhat
- Kolkata
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Mengaluru
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Patna
- Shillong
- Agartala
- Pune
- Ranchi
- Siliguri
- And many more
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Candidates should keep the following documents ready:
- Matriculation Certificate
- Graduation Marksheet / Degree Certificate
- Passport Size Photograph
- Signature
- Valid Photo ID Proof
HOW TO APPLY
Candiates can follow these steps:
- Visit the UPSC online portal
- Complete One Time Registration(OTR)
- Fill the CDS-ii 2026 application Form
- Uoload photograph & Signature
- Submit the application form & take printout
IMPORTANT LINKS TO APPLY
| Adverisement Details | Click Here |
| Visit Official Website | Click Here |
| Online Application Form | Click Here |
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Candidates applying for Air Force Academy must choose AFA as first preference.
- Female candidates can apply only for OTA.
- No correction facility will be available after final submission.
- Candidates must carry the same Photo ID used during application.
- Negative marking is applicable in objective papers.
- Candidates must carry the same Photo ID used during application.
