UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026: Complete Exam Guide

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 [Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II] for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).

As of September 11, 2026, the examination is in the admit card stage. The UPSC released the e-Admit Cards on September 3, 2026, and the nationwide offline written examination is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026.

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1. CDS II 2026 Key Highlights & Schedule

Feature	Official Details
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 (CDS II 2026)
Conducting Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Notification Notice No.	11/2026-CDS-II
Notification Release Date	May 20, 2026
Online Application Window	May 20, 2026 to June 9, 2026 (6:00 PM)
Application Correction Window	June 10, 2026 to June 16, 2026
e-Admit Card Release Date	September 3, 2026
Written Examination Date	September 13, 2026 (Sunday)
Examination Mode	Offline (Pen & Paper / OMR Sheet)
Current Stage / Status	Admit Card Live (Exam in 2 Days)
Official Portals	upsc.gov.in & upsconline.nic.in

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2. Academy-Wise Vacancies & Course Intake

The tentative distribution of vacancies across the defence training academies for the courses commencing in 2027 is as follows:

Academy / Course	Vacancies (Approx.)	Course Commencing
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun	100	July 2027 [150th (DE) Course]
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala	32	July 2027 [Executive Branch/Hydro]
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad	32	July 2027 [No. 222 F(P) Course]
Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men)	275	October 2027 [126th SSC Men (NT)]
Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women)	20	October 2027 [40th SSC Women (NT)]
Total Vacancies	459

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3. Academy-Wise Eligibility & Age Limits

Candidates must satisfy the specific academic, age, and marital conditions prescribed for each academy as of July 1, 2027:

A. Educational Qualifications

• For IMA & Officers' Training Academy (OTA): Degree of a recognised University or equivalent from a recognized institution.
• For Indian Naval Academy (INA): Degree in Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) from a recognised University / Institution.
• For Air Force Academy (AFA): Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) OR Bachelor of Engineering.
• Note for Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in the final year degree examination are eligible to apply provisionally, subject to producing passing proof by the prescribed deadline.

B. Age Limits & Marital Status

• IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2003 and not later than July 1, 2008 (Age: 19–24 years).
• INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2003 and not later than July 1, 2008 (Age: 19–24 years).
• AFA: 20 to 24 years as on July 1, 2027 (born not earlier than July 2, 2003 and not later than July 1, 2007). Upper age limit is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA (India).
• OTA (SSC Men - Non-Technical): Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2008 (Age: 19–25 years).
• OTA (SSC Women - Non-Technical): Unmarried women, issueless widows, and divorcees who have not remarried, born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2008 (Age: 19–25 years).

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4. Exam Pattern & 3-Shift Timings (September 13, 2026)

The written examination is conducted on a single day across 3 separate sessions.

A. For IMA, INA, and AFA (Total: 300 Marks)

Shift	Subject	Timing	Duration	Questions	Marks
Shift 1	English (Subject Code: 01)	09:00 AM – 11:00 AM	2 Hours	120 MCQs	100
Shift 2	General Knowledge (Subject Code: 02)	12:30 PM – 02:30 PM	2 Hours	120 MCQs	100
Shift 3	Elementary Mathematics (Subject Code: 03)	04:00 PM – 06:00 PM	2 Hours	100 MCQs	100

B. For Officers' Training Academy (OTA) (Total: 200 Marks)

Shift	Subject	Timing	Duration	Questions	Marks
Shift 1	English (Subject Code: 01)	09:00 AM – 11:00 AM	2 Hours	120 MCQs	100
Shift 2	General Knowledge (Subject Code: 02)	12:30 PM – 02:30 PM	2 Hours	120 MCQs	100

Note: OTA candidates do not appear for Elementary Mathematics.

C. Marking Scheme & Negative Marking

• Penalty for Wrong Answers: UPSC enforces negative marking in all objective question papers. For every incorrect answer, one-third (⅓) of the marks assigned to that question are deducted as penalty. Specifically, this translates to approximately 0.27 marks per incorrect answer in English and General Knowledge (where each question carries ~0.83 marks), and 0.33 marks per incorrect answer in Elementary Mathematics (where each question carries 1.0 mark).
• Unattempted Questions: Zero marks are deducted for questions left blank.
• Standard of Examination: Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation standard. English and General Knowledge are of Graduate degree standard.

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5. Two-Stage Selection Architecture

The CDS selection process is conducted in two primary stages followed by medical fitness clearance and final merit listing:

Stage	Selection Component	Marks Allocation	Nature & Outcome
Stage 1	UPSC Written Examination (OMR Based) • IMA, INA, AFA: English, GK, Mathematics • OTA: English, General Knowledge	300 Marks (IMA/INA/AFA) 200 Marks (OTA)	Merit-based qualifying round for SSB shortlisting
Stage 2	Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview • Stage I: Screening (OIR & PP&DT) • Stage II: Psychology Tests, GTO Tasks & Personal Interview (4 Days)	300 Marks (IMA/INA/AFA) 200 Marks (OTA)	Evaluates Officer Like Qualities (OLQs); Recommended / Not Recommended
Stage 3	Special Medical Examination Board (SMB) Comprehensive clinical, surgical, and physical fitness check	Qualifying	Declared Medically Fit by Military Medical Board
Final Merit	Final All-India Order of Merit Written Score + SSB Score aggregate	600 Marks (IMA/INA/AFA) 400 Marks (OTA)	Final admission based on rank, medical fitness, and vacancies

Sequential SSB Testing Flow

1. Day 1 (Screening - Stage I): Intelligence test consisting of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Only screened-in candidates stay for Stage II.
2. Days 2 to 5 (Stage II Testing): Comprehensive 4-day psychological assessment (TAT, WAT, SRT, SD), outdoor Group Testing Officer (GTO) obstacle courses, personal interview by the Board President/Deputy President, and the closing Board Conference.
3. Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by the SSB undergo thorough clinical examination at designated military service hospitals.

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6. Exam Day Guidelines for September 13, 2026

1. Mandatory Documents:
   • Printed copy of the e-Admit Card downloaded from upsconline.nic.in.
   • The Original Photo Identity Card (Aadhaar Card / Voter ID / Passport / Driving Licence / PAN Card) whose number is printed on your e-Admit Card.
   • Two identical passport-size photographs (in case the photograph on the admit card is blurred or missing).
2. Stationery: Carry only Black Ball Point Pens for darkening the circles on the OMR sheet. Pens of other colors, pencils, and gel pens are strictly prohibited.
3. Entry Deadlines: The entry gate closes 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement of each session (i.e. at 08:30 AM for Shift 1, 12:00 Noon for Shift 2, and 03:30 PM for Shift 3). No candidate is admitted after gate closure.
4. Prohibited Items: Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, bags, and study materials are strictly banned inside examination premises.

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7. Official Resources & Verified Links

Resource	Direct Official Link
Official Portal (UPSC)	upsc.gov.in
Online Application & e-Admit Card Portal	upsconline.nic.in
Download CDS II 2026 e-Admit Card	UPSC e-Admit Card Zone
Official CDS II 2026 Notification Notice	UPSC CDS II Examination Notice
Previous Years Question Papers	UPSC Previous Question Papers
UPSC Examination Calendar 2026	UPSC Programme of Examinations 2026

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (English & हिन्दी)

Q1. What is the exam date for CDS II 2026?

The UPSC CDS II 2026 examination will be conducted on Sunday, September 13, 2026 across three designated shifts.

Q2. How can I download the CDS 2 Admit Card 2026?

Visit upsconline.nic.in, click on e-Admit Cards for Various Examinations of UPSC, choose CDS (II) 2026, enter your Registration ID or Roll Number with Date of Birth, and download the hall ticket.

Q3. सीडीएस 2 2026 की परीक्षा कब आयोजित होगी?

यूपीएससी सीडीएस (II) 2026 की लिखित परीक्षा रविवार, 13 सितंबर 2026 को देश भर के विभिन्न परीक्षा केंद्रों पर 3 पालियों में आयोजित की जा रही है।

Q4. क्या ओटीए (OTA) उम्मीदवारों को गणित की परीक्षा देनी होती है?

नहीं, ऑफिसर्स ट्रेनिंग एकेडमी (OTA) के उम्मीदवारों को केवल अंग्रेजी और सामान्य ज्ञान (GK) की 2 पालियों में उपस्थित होना होता है। प्रारंभिक गणित की परीक्षा केवल IMA, INA और AFA उम्मीदवारों के लिए अनिवार्य है।

Q5. सीडीएस परीक्षा में निगेटिव मार्किंग कितनी होती है?

सीडीएस परीक्षा की ओएमआर शीट पर प्रत्येक गलत उत्तर के लिए उस प्रश्न के निर्धारित अंकों में से एक-तिहाई (1/3 या 0.33) अंक काटा जाता है।