UPSC CDS I Examination 2026

Name of exam: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026

No of posts: 451 posts

Training Institute-wise vacancy:

# Indian Military Academy, Dehradun: 100
# Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala: 26
# Air Force Academy, Hyderabad: 32
# Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras), 125th SSC (Men) (NT): 275
# Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras), 125th SSC Women (NT): 18

Nationality: Candidate must be unmarried and must either be:
 

(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

# Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

# Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status:

# IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2003 and not later than 1st January, 2008 only are eligible.

# Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2003 and not later than 1st January, 2008 only are eligible.

# Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on 1st January, 2027 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2003 and not later than 1st January 2007. Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2007 only are eligible.

# Officers’ Training Academy: (SSC Course for men) Unmarried male candidate born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2008 only are eligible.

# Officers’ Training Academy: (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2008.

Educational Qualification:


# I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.

# Indian Naval Academy: 
Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution.

# Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.

Application Fee:


# Others: Rs. 200/-
# Female/ SC/ ST: NIL
# Payment mode: Online. Using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking facility of any Bank .


How to Apply:


Interested and eligible candidates may apply online for these vacancy through online mode by visiting official UPSC Recruitment Portal. 

Important Dates:


# Starting date of submission of online application: 10th December 2025

# Last date of submission of online application: 30th December 2025

# Release date of Admit Card: To be updated later
# Date of written exam: 12th April, 2026

Download Notification: Click Here

Apply Online: Click Here

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