The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially released the CDS 2 Notification 2026, aiming to fill 451 vacancies, on 20th May 2026 through its official website at www.upsc.gov.in. The online application window is currently open, from 20th May to 9th June, 2026. The written examination is scheduled for 13th September 2026.
In this article, we provide complete details on the CDS 2 Notification, including the vacancy distribution, eligibility criteria, direct link to apply online, how to apply, selection process, exam pattern, and much more.
CDS 2 Notification 2026 Out
The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II is being conducted under the CDS 2 Notification 2026. A total of 451 vacancies have been announced across five courses: the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) for both men and women. Interested candidates are advised to go through the detailed notification and check the detailed eligibility criteria before applying. The official notification PDF has been provided below.
CDS 2 Recruitment: Overview
The CDS 2 Notification 2026 was officially released by UPSC on 20th May 2026. Candidates can refer to the table below for key updates and information:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name |
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II 2026
|
| Conducting Body |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
|
| Exam Notice No. | 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Notification Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9th June 2026 (by 6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | 13th September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (General/OBC Male); Nil for Female/SC/ST |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
CDS 2 Vacancy 2026
A total of 451 vacancies have been notified for five courses across the three defence services. The academy-wise vacancy distribution is as follows:
| S. No. | Course | Vacancies |
| 1 | Indian Military Academy: 163rd (DE) Course (July 2027) |
100 (including 13 for NCC ‘C’ Army Wing holders)
|
| 2 | Indian Naval Academy: Executive Branch (Gen Service/Hydro) (July 2027) |
26 (including 06 for NCC ‘C’ Naval Wing + 01 Hydro)
|
| 3 | Air Force Academy: 222 F(P) Course (July 2027) |
32 (including 03 for NCC ‘C’ Air Wing holders)
|
| 4 | Officers Training Academy: 126th SSC Men (NT) (UPSC) Course (Oct 2027) | 275 |
| 5 | Officers Training Academy: 126th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course (Oct 2027) | 18 |
| Total | 451 |
CDS 2 Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online |
9th June 2026 (6:00 PM)
|
| Date of Examination |
13th September 2026
|
| Representation Window on Answer Keys |
3rd day to 7th day after exam (till 6:00 PM)
|
| CDS 2 Written Result | Expected in October 2026 |
| SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA) |
February-March 2027
|
| SSB Interview (OTA) | April-June 2027 |
| Course Commencement (IMA/INA) | July 2027 |
| Course Commencement (OTA) | October 2027 |
CDS 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates aspiring to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as commissioned officers must carefully go through the detailed eligibility criteria, as specified in the CDS 2 Notification 2026, across nationality, age limit, gender, and educational qualifications.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, certain East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are not required to produce a certificate of eligibility.
Age Limit and Gender
| Academy | Age Limit |
Gender & Marital Status
|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19-24 years (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19-24 years (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20-24 years as on 01 Jul 2027 (born between 01 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2007); up to 26 years with valid DGCA CPL |
Unmarried candidates below 25 years; married candidates aged 25+ eligible but no married accommodation during training
|
| Officers Training Academy (OTA Men) | 19-25 years (born between 01 Jul 2002 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried males only
|
| Officers Training Academy (OTA Women) | 19-25 years (born between 01 Jul 2002 to 01 Jul 2008) |
Unmarried women, issueless widows (not remarried), and issueless divorcees (not remarried)
|
Educational Qualifications
| Academy |
Required Qualification
|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Officers Training Academy (OTA) |
Degree from a recognised university or equivalent
|
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) |
Engineering degree or B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level)
|
| Air Force Academy (AFA) |
Degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering degree
|
CDS 2 Notification 2026: Apply Online Link
The online application process for CDS 2 2026 has started from 20th May 2026. Interested and eligible candidates can apply through the UPSC online portal till 9th June 2026 by 6:00 PM. For the ease of candidates, we have provided the direct link to apply online:
How to Apply for CDS 2 2026?
Candidates can follow these simple steps to apply for this opportunity:
Step 1: Visit the UPSC Online Application Portal at www.upsconline.nic.in.
Step 2: Complete Account Creation and Universal Registration to obtain a Universal Registration Number (URN). The URN is lifetime-valid and common across all UPSC examinations.
Step 3: Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal, educational, and photo ID details.
Step 4: Complete the Examination Specific Module, selecting academy preferences, exam centre, and uploading required documents.
Step 5: Pay the application fee (if applicable) using any of the prescribed online payment modes.
Step 6: Submit the form and note the Application Number generated upon submission.
CDS 2 Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee |
| General/OBC (Male) | ₹200/- |
| SC/ST Candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
| All Female Candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
CDS 2 Selection Process 2026
Candidates are selected through a three-stage selection process:
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test)
- Medical Examination
CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The written examination consists of objective-type questions only, to be answered using a black ball pen on OMR sheets. The question papers for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are bilingual (Hindi and English). The detailed exam pattern has been provided below:
For IMA, INA, and AFA:
| Subject | Subject Code | Duration |
Maximum Marks
|
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 13 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Written Total | 300 | ||
| SSB Interview | 300 | ||
| Grand Total | 600 | ||
For OTA (Men and Women):
| Subject | Subject Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| English | 11 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Written Total | 200 | ||
| SSB Interview | 200 | ||
| Grand Total | 400 | ||
Negative Marking
There is a penalty for wrong answers. One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
Tie-Breaking Rules
If two or more candidates have equal final marks:
- Higher marks in the written examination total are considered first.
- If still tied, higher marks in General Knowledge (Paper II) are taken.
- If still tied, the older candidate is ranked higher.
- If still tied, the Commission resolves it at its discretion.
CDS 2 Exam Centre List 2026
The examination will be held at 84 centres across India, including major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, and many others.
| No. | City | No. | City |
| 1 | AGARTALA | 22 | DHARAMSHALA |
| 2 | AGRA | 23 | DHARWAD |
| 3 | AHMEDABAD | 24 | DISPUR |
| 4 | AIZAWL | 25 | FARIDABAD |
| 5 | AJMER | 26 | GANGTOK |
| 6 | ALIGARH | 27 | GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR |
| 7 | ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) | 28 | GAYA |
| 8 | ALWAR | 29 | GHAZIABAD |
| 9 | ANANTHAPURAMU (ANDHRA PRADESH) | 30 | GORAKHPUR |
| 10 | CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR [AURANGABAD (MAHARASHTRA)] | 31 | GURUGRAM |
| 11 | BAREILLY | 32 | GWALIOR |
| 12 | BENGALURU | 33 | HYDERABAD |
| 13 | BHOPAL | 34 | IMPHAL |
| 14 | BHUBANESWAR | 35 | INDORE |
| 15 | BILASPUR (CHHATTISGARH) | 36 | ITANAGAR |
| 16 | CHANDIGARH | 37 | JABALPUR |
| 17 | CHENNAI | 38 | JAIPUR |
| 18 | COIMBATORE | 39 | JAMMU |
| 19 | CUTTACK | 40 | JODHPUR |
| 20 | DEHRADUN | 41 | JORHAT |
| 21 | DELHI | 42 | KANPUR |
| 43 | KARGIL | 64 | PUNE |
| 44 | KOCHI | 65 | RAIPUR |
| 45 | KOHIMA | 66 | RAJKOT |
| 46 | KOLKATA | 67 | RANCHI |
| 47 | KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) | 68 | SAMBALPUR |
| 48 | LEH | 69 | SHILLONG |
| 49 | LUCKNOW | 70 | SHIMLA |
| 50 | LUDHIANA | 71 | SILIGURI |
| 51 | MADURAI | 72 | SRINAGAR |
| 52 | MANDI (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | 73 | SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
| 53 | MEERUT | 74 | SURAT |
| 54 | MUMBAI | 75 | THANE |
| 55 | MYSURU | 76 | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
| 56 | NAGPUR | 77 | TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
| 57 | NASIK | 78 | TIRUPATI |
| 58 | NAVI MUMBAI | 79 | UDAIPUR |
| 59 | PANAJI (GOA) | 80 | VARANASI |
| 60 | PATNA | 81 | VELLORE |
| 61 | SRI VIJAYA PURAM (PORT BLAIR) | 82 | VIJAYAWADA |
| 62 | PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) | 83 | VISAKHAPATNAM |
| 63 | PUDUCHERRY | 84 | HANUMAKONDA (WARANGAL URBAN) |
CDS 2 Admit Card 2026
As per the official notification, the CDS 2 admit card will be made available on the last working day of the
preceding week of the date of the examination, that is, 7 days before the exam date. No admit card will be sent by post or email. Candidates must carry a valid photo ID (preferably Aadhaar) along with the admit card on the exam day.
CDS 2 Salary 2026
Officers commissioned after completing training are entitled to the following pay structure (as per the 7th CPC):
| Rank | Level | Pay (₹) |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 |
56,100 – 1,77,500
|
| Captain | Level 10 B |
61,300 – 1,93,900
|
| Major | Level 11 |
69,400 – 2,07,200
|
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A |
1,21,200 – 2,12,400
|
| Colonel | Level 13 |
1,30,600 – 2,15,900
|
| Brigadier | Level 13A |
1,39,600 – 2,17,600
|
| Major General | Level 14 |
1,44,200 – 2,18,200
|
| Lieutenant General (HAG Scale) | Level 15 |
1,82,200 – 2,24,100
|
| HAG+ Scale | Level 16 |
2,05,400 – 2,24,400
|
| VCOAS/Army Commander/Lieutenant General | Level 17 | 2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS | Level 18 | 2,50,000 (fixed) |
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