CDS Exam And Application
The CDS Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year for recruitment of officers into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). It is one of the most prestigious defence exams in India, offering a pathway to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Armed Forces.
CDS Exam 2026 – Official Information
The UPSC has released the official schedule for CDS Exam 2026. Here are the latest details as of February 2026:
CDS I 2026 (Applications Closed)
- Notification Release: 10 December 2025
- Application Period: 10 December 2025 to 30 December 2025 (6:00 PM)
- Written Exam Date: 12 April 2026 (Sunday)
- Timetable:
- English: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- General Knowledge: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- Elementary Mathematics: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (for IMA/INA/AFA candidates)
- Vacancies: 451 (approximate, subject to change)
- IMA: 100
- INA: 26
- AFA: 32
- OTA (Men): 275
- OTA (Women): 18
- Admit Card: Expected in the last week of March 2026 (download from upsconline.nic.in)
- Written Result: Expected late April / early May 2026
- SSB Interviews: May – July/August 2026 (tentative)
- Course Commencement: January/April 2027 (depending on academy)
CDS II 2026 (Applications Not Yet Open)
- Expected Notification: 20 May 2026
- Expected Application Period: 20 May 2026 – 9 June 2026
- Written Exam Date: 13 September 2026
- Vacancies: To be announced in the notification (typically 300–500)
Note: All dates and vacancies are based on the official UPSC notification and calendar. Always refer to upsc.gov.in for the latest updates.
Nationality
Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or certain categories of persons of Indian origin who have migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Age Limits (as on 1 January 2027 for CDS I 2026)
- IMA & INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2 January 2003 and not later than 1 January 2008 (19–24 years).
- AFA: 20–24 years — born not earlier than 2 January 2003 and not later than 1 January 2007. (Upper age relaxable to 26 years for candidates with valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA). Candidates below 25 years must be unmarried.
- OTA (Men): Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2 January 2002 and not later than 1 January 2008 (19–25 years).
- OTA (Women – Non-Technical): Unmarried women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees (who have not remarried) born not earlier than 2 January 2002 and not later than 1 January 2008 (19–25 years).
Educational Qualifications
- IMA & OTA: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
- INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution.
- AFA: Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology.
- Final-year students can apply if they produce proof of passing the degree exam by the course commencement date.
Marital Status
- IMA, INA, AFA: Unmarried (with exceptions for AFA as noted).
- OTA: Unmarried males; for females — unmarried, widows, or divorcees as specified.
Physical & Medical Standards
Candidates must be physically fit as per the standards prescribed in the official notification (height, weight, eyesight, chest expansion, etc.). Minimum height is generally 157.5 cm for Army, 162.5 cm for Navy & Air Force (with relaxations for certain categories). Detailed medical standards are given in Appendix-III of the notification. A medical examination by a Service Medical Board is mandatory after SSB.
CDS Exam Application Process (Online Only)
- One-Time Registration (OTR): New users must register on upsconline.nic.in with basic details.
- Fill Online Application: Login, select CDS I/II 2026, fill personal/academic details, choose exam centre and academy preferences.
- Upload Documents: Photo, signature, and photo ID (as per specifications).
- Pay Fee (if applicable) and submit.
- Print Confirmation Page.
Application Fee:
- ₹200 for General/OBC/EWS male candidates.
- Exempted for Females, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates. Payment can be made online (net banking/credit/debit card/UPI).
Important: No changes allowed after final submission (except limited correction window if provided). Keep printout for future reference.
Examination Pattern (Written Exam)
The CDS exam is offline (pen & paper), objective type (MCQs), bilingual (Hindi/English except English paper).
| Academy | Subjects | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA/INA/AFA | English General Knowledge Elementary Mathematics | 2 hrs each | 100 100 100 Total: 300 |
| OTA | English General Knowledge | 2 hrs each | 100 100 Total: 200 |
- Negative Marking: ⅓rd of marks deducted for wrong answers.
- Qualifying Marks: Minimum qualifying marks decided by UPSC in each subject and aggregate.
SSB Interview & Selection Procedure
- Written Exam → Shortlisting for SSB.
- SSB Interview (5 days): Stage I (OIR & PPDT), Stage II (Psychological Tests, Group Testing, Interview).
- Marks: 300 for IMA/INA/AFA
- Marks: 200 for OTA
- Medical Examination.
- Final Merit List: Written marks + SSB marks.
- Allotment to academies as per merit, preference, and vacancies.
CDS Exam Syllabus 2026 (Brief Overview)
English (100 marks) Spotting of errors, sentence improvement, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), idioms & phrases, comprehension passages, ordering of sentences/words, close test.
General Knowledge (100 marks)
- Current events (national & international)
- History of India & Freedom Movement
- Geography (physical, social, economic)
- Indian Polity & Constitution
- Economy
- General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology – Class X level)
- Defence & Armed Forces related topics
Elementary Mathematics (100 marks – only for IMA/INA/AFA)
- Arithmetic (number system, percentages, ratio, time & work, etc.)
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Geometry (2D & 3D)
- Mensuration
- Statistics (mean, median, etc.) Level: Class 10 (Matriculation standard).
Full detailed syllabus is available in the official notification PDF.
Important Notes for Candidates
- Applications for CDS I 2026 are closed. Focus on preparation for the 12 April 2026 CDS exam.
- No calculators allowed in the exam.
- E-Admit Card is mandatory; carry printed copy along with photo ID.
- Check UPSC website regularly for updates on results, SSB dates, and medical guidelines.
- Preparation Tip: NCERT books (Class 6–12) for GK & Maths; previous year papers and standard books (R.S. Aggarwal for Maths, Lucent for GK, Wren & Martin for English) are highly recommended.
Official Sources to Bookmark for CDS Exam and Application
- UPSC Official Website: https://upsc.gov.in
- Online Application Portal: https://upsconline.nic.in
- CDS I 2026 Notification PDF: Available on UPSC site (search “CDSE-I-2026”)
- Examination Calendar & Timetable: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations
For the most accurate and latest information, always refer to the official UPSC notification and website. Success in CDS requires consistent preparation, physical fitness, and strong personality traits tested in SSB.
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