The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS-II) 2026. This exam is conducted for admission to prestigious academies like IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA for recruitment of officers into the Indian Armed Forces.
📌 Key Highlights
Notification Date: 20 May 2026
Application Start Date: 20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply: 9 June 2026 (6:00 PM)
Exam Date: 13 September 2026
Mode of Application: Online via UPSC Portal
Total Vacancies: 451
📊 Course-wise Vacancies
S. No. | Course | Vacancies |
1 | Indian Military Academy, Dehradun – 163rd (DE) Course (July 2027) | 100 (incl. 13 NCC Army Wing) |
2 | Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala – Executive Branch/ Hydro (July 2027) | 26 (incl. 6 NCC Naval Wing + 1 Hydro) |
3 | Air Force Academy, Hyderabad – 222 F(P) Course (July 2027) | 32 (incl. 3 NCC Air Wing) |
4 | Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai – 126th SSC (Men) (NT) (Oct 2027) | 275 |
5 | Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai – 126th SSC (Women) (NT) (Oct 2027) | 18 |
Total | – | 451 |
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Academy | Age Limit | Marital Status | Educational Qualification |
IMA | 19–24 yrs | Unmarried male | Graduate degree |
INA | 19–24 yrs | Unmarried male | Engineering degree |
AFA | 20–24 yrs (CPL holders up to 26 yrs) | Unmarried <25 yrs | Graduate with Physics & Maths OR Engineering |
OTA (Men) | 19–25 yrs | Unmarried male | Graduate degree |
OTA (Women) | 19–25 yrs | Unmarried/issueless widows/divorcees | Graduate degree |
📝 Exam Centres
The CDS II 2026 exam will be conducted across 84 centres including major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur, Pune, and more. Allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
⚖️ Selection Process
Written Examination (Objective type, negative marking applicable)
SSB Interview/Personality Test
Medical Examination
Final Merit List based on written + SSB performance
📥 Official Links
Download Official Notification (PDF): UPSC CDS II Notification 2026
Apply Online: UPSC Application Portal
🛠️ Helpful Tools for Candidates
Age Calculator: Check Age Eligibility
Date Calculator: Calculate Dates
Photo Resizer/Editor: Resize Photos for Application
✨ Final Note
The UPSC CDS II 2026 offers 451 vacancies across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and OTA. With structured training and prestigious postings, this is a golden opportunity for graduates to serve the nation as commissioned officers.
