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Exam: 12 Apr 2026
Union Public Service Commission
Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026
CDS is for graduates who want to join the Indian Armed Forces as Commissioned Officers.
1. Exam Date
Scheduled for April 12, 2026 (Sunday).
2. Vacancies (Approx)
- IMA Dehradun: 100
- INA Ezhimala: 32
- AFA Hyderabad: 32
- OTA Chennai: 170+
3. Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Notification | View Notices |
| Apply Online | UPSC Portal |
| Syllabus | Refer Notification |
| Previous Papers | Download |
4. Preparation Guide
- English: Objective General English by SP Bakshi.
- GK: Read Manorama Yearbook + Lucent GK.
- Maths (For IMA/AFA): Playing with Numbers (Arihant) or Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal.
- Mocks: Major Kalshi Classes / Testbook CDS Series.
Important Dates
Exam Timeline
Notification Released10 December 2025
Application Starts10 December 2025
Application Ends30 December 2025
Exam Date12 April 2026
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
Age Criteria
19-25 Years (Varies by Academy)
Qualification
Education
Graduate (Engineering for Air Force/Navy)
Attempts
Limits
N/A
How to Apply
Follow this step-by-step guide to fill the UPSC CDS (I) 2026 application form correctly.
Documents Required
- Scanned Passport Size Photo (20-50kb, JPG)
- Scanned Signature (10-20kb, JPG)
- Class 10th & 12th Marksheets
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
Syllabus & Pattern
Download Official Syllabus
The detailed syllabus and exam pattern are available in the official notification PDF.
Download Notification PDF