Alerts and Updates for CDS

UPSC released the CDS (II) 2026 notification on May 20, 2026 for 451 vacancies: 100 at IMA, 26 at INA, 32 at AFA, 275 at OTA for men and 18 at OTA for women. The written examination is scheduled for September 13, 2026. Applications closed on June 11, 2026 after an extension.

The CDS (II) 2026 e-admit card is expected on upsc.gov.in in the first week of September 2026, tentatively around September 3, roughly ten days before the September 13 paper. No hard copy is posted; candidates must log in with their registration ID and print the e-admit card.

UPSC declared the CDS (I) 2026 written result on May 8, 2026 for the examination held on April 12, 2026. A total of 8,826 candidates qualified for the SSB interview stage for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. Marks are published only after the final result is announced.

As per the UPSC Annual Calendar 2027, the CDS (I) 2027 notification is due on December 2, 2026, applications close on December 22, 2026, and the written examination is scheduled for April 11, 2027. Aspirants missing CDS (II) 2026 should plan for this cycle.

CDS remains an offline pen-and-paper examination held at 41 centres across India, followed by the SSB interview, document verification and medical examination. The application fee is Rs 200 for general male candidates and nil for women, SC and ST candidates.

UPSC released the CDS 1 2026 written exam result on May 8, 2026 on upsc.gov.in. The written exam was held on April 12, 2026.

A total of 8,826 candidates have qualified for the SSB Interview round. Selection covers admission to IMA, INA, AFA and OTA against 451 vacancies notified under CDS 1 2026.

Qualified candidates will next appear for SSB interview, followed by medical examination and document verification by the Services Selection Board.

The CDS 2 2026 notification is expected in mid-2026 on upsc.gov.in per the UPSC annual calendar. CDS 2 written exam typically falls in the September quarter.

CDS (I) 2026 was conducted by UPSC on April 13, 2026; CDS (II) 2026 is scheduled for September 14, 2026 per the UPSC annual calendar. SSB interviews follow after the written result is declared.

Application forms, admit cards, results and the latest official notifications for CDS are released on the official portal. Candidates are advised to track the portal regularly and avoid third-party sources for date-sensitive updates.

The complete, syllabus-aligned topic list for CDS — including subject-wise weightage and the recommended preparation order — is maintained on ProSyllabus and updated each cycle. Use it to structure your study plan and revision schedule.

Free section-wise practice quizzes with detailed solutions for CDS are available on ProSyllabus. Use them for daily revision and to identify weak topics before the actual attempt.

Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year to select officers for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Candidates undergo service-specific training and are commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Refer to the latest information bulletin and previous year question papers to align your preparation with the current pattern.

Cut-off trends, marking scheme and stage-wise selection details for CDS change every cycle. Cross-check the latest official notification PDF against community discussions and previous year analyses before finalising your strategy.