CDS Exam 2026: UPSC Notification, Exam Date, Vacancies & How to Apply
The CDS exam (Combined Defence Services Examination) is the UPSC’s entrance exam that recruits graduates as officers into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. The UPSC conducts it twice a year as CDS (I) and CDS (II). The current cycle, CDS (II) 2026, was notified on May 20, 2026, and the written exam is scheduled for September 13, 2026. This page provides the current status of that cycle: verified exam dates, vacancies, eligibility snapshots, and application steps so you know exactly what to do next.
Preparing for CDS? See our full CDS Coaching programme for detailed eligibility, syllabus and SSB guidance, or book a free demo class below.
CDS Exam at a Glance
Conducting Body
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Held
Twice a year — CDS (I) and CDS (II)
Next Exam
CDS (II) 2026 — 13 September 2026
Vacancies
451 (CDS (II) 2026, provisional)
CDS 2026 Notification Status: What's Confirmed Right Now
CDS (I) 2026 has already been conducted, with the written examination held on 12 April 2026 and the notification released in December 2025.
CDS (II) 2026 is the exam that concerns most candidates today. UPSC released its notification (Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II) on 20 May 2026. Online applications closed on 9 June 2026 (the window was extended to 11 June 2026). The window is now closed, and the written exam is confirmed for Sunday, 13 September 2026, in three shifts covering English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
If you missed applying for CDS (II) 2026, the next opportunity will be CDS (I) 2027. Going by UPSC’s usual annual calendar, that notification would typically be expected around December 2026, but UPSC has not released it yet, so treat any specific date you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until it appears on upsc.gov.in.
Already applied for CDS (II) 2026? Focus on your written-exam preparation now — the admit card and exam-day details are covered further down this page.
CDS (II) 2026 — Important Dates
| Activity | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 20 May 2026 |
| Online application window | 20 May 2026 – 9 June 2026 (extended to 11 June 2026) |
| Application status today | Closed |
| Written exam date | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| Admit card | Expected shortly before the exam — exact date on upsc.gov.in (see next section) |
| Total vacancies (provisional) | 451 — IMA, INA, AFA & OTA |
Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II and the official CDS (II) 2026 exam-day time-table published on upsc.gov.in. Verified 26 August 2026.
CDS (II) 2026 — Vacancy Breakdown
| 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 |
Vacancies are provisional and can be revised by the concerned Service HQ at any stage of the selection process, as stated in the official notification.
Who Can Apply — CDS Eligibility at a Glance
A quick snapshot of who qualifies. Requirements vary slightly by academy, so confirm the exact figures for your target academy before applying.
- Nationality: Indian citizen (with defined categories for Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan-refugee and certain overseas-origin applicants)
- Age: broadly 19–24 years for IMA/INA, 20–24 years for AFA, and 19–25 years for OTA (varies by academy)
- Qualification: a graduate degree for IMA/OTA; an Engineering degree for INA; a degree with Physics & Maths (10+2 level) or a B.E. for AFA
- Marital status: unmarried for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA (Men); OTA (Women — SSC Non-Technical) also allows issueless widowed or divorced candidates who have not remarried
- Final-year degree students can apply provisionally and submit proof of graduation before the SSB interview
CDS (II) 2026 Admit Card
UPSC typically issues the CDS e-admit card a short window before the written exam, and only through the official website — never by post or email. An exact release date for the CDS (II) 2026 admit card had not been confirmed by UPSC as of 26 August 2026, so check upsc.gov.in directly rather than relying on a fixed date from any third-party site.
- Visit the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in/) and open the "Admit Card" section
- Select the e-Admit Card link for Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
- Log in with your Registration ID / Roll Number and Date of Birth
- Download the admit card and take two printouts — one for the exam centre, one for your records
- Check your name, photograph, roll number and exam centre carefully, and report any discrepancy to UPSC before exam day
How the CDS Online Application Works
Applications for CDS (II) 2026 are closed, but the process below is the standard UPSC pathway you will follow for the next cycle.
Step 1: One-Time Registration (OTR)
Create your profile once on upsconline.nic.in using your basic details, photograph and signature. This registration is reused for future UPSC exams.
Step 2: Common Application Form (CAF)
Fill in your personal, educational and communication details in the CAF, which is shared across UPSC exams.
Step 3: Examination-specific module
Open the CDS-specific module, choose your preferred academies (IMA/INA/AFA/OTA) in order of preference, and select up to three exam-centre choices.
Step 4: Fee payment
Pay ₹200 online (net banking, debit/credit card or UPI) or offline via an SBI challan. Female, SC and ST candidates are exempt from the fee.
Step 5: Final submission
Review every section carefully — UPSC does not allow corrections after final submission — then submit and save your application/printout for reference.
Documents & Application Fee
Documents You'll Need
- Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
- Class 12 mark sheet
- Graduation mark sheets for all semesters (or provisional mark sheets up to the latest semester, for final-year candidates)
- A recent scanned photograph and signature, as per the specifications shown on the UPSC application portal at the time of applying
Application Fee
- General / OBC candidates: ₹200
- Female, SC and ST candidates: no fee
- Payment modes: online (net banking, debit/credit card, UPI) or offline (SBI challan/cash)
- The fee is non-refundable once paid
Preparing for CDS? Scholars SSC Academy Can Help
Scholars SSC Academy runs a dedicated Defence Exams coaching track covering NDA, CDS and SSB preparation, alongside SSC, Banking and Railway coaching, from 17 centres across Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Arunachal Pradesh.
CDS Coaching Track
Structured classes for the English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers, plus SSB guidance.
17 Centres, 9 States
Study at a nearby branch or check course options online before you commit.
Free Mock Tests
Practice under exam-like conditions before test day.
Free Demo Class
Sit in on a class and meet the faculty before you enrol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CDS (II) 2026 application still open?
No. The online application window closed on 9 June 2026 (extended to 11 June 2026). The next opportunity will be CDS (I) 2027, whose notification UPSC has not yet released.
How many times is the CDS exam held every year?
Twice a year — CDS (I), usually with an exam around April, and CDS (II), usually with an exam around September.
When will the CDS (II) 2026 admit card be released?
UPSC had not confirmed an exact date as of 26 August 2026. Admit cards are usually released a short window before the exam on upsc.gov.in — keep checking your login there rather than relying on a fixed date from a third-party site.
What is the CDS (II) 2026 application fee?
₹200 for General and OBC candidates. Female, SC and ST candidates do not pay a fee.
What is the CDS exam pattern?
A pen-and-paper objective test. IMA, INA and AFA candidates attempt English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks each); OTA candidates attempt English and General Knowledge only. See our CDS Coaching page for the full pattern and syllabus.
Does Scholars SSC Academy offer CDS coaching?
Yes — a dedicated CDS coaching track covering all three written papers and SSB preparation, with a free demo class before you enrol. Book your free demo class here.
Start Your CDS Exam Preparation Today
Book a free demo class, speak with our defence-exams counsellors, or call your nearest Scholars SSC Academy centre to begin your CDS preparation.