Download Mobile APP Updated June 10, 2026 1:00 PMJune 10, 2026 01:00 PM by Deepika B Google News Follow Us As Preferred Source Join us Add as a preferred source on Google The latest Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Recruitment 2026 has been announced for admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers' Training Academy posts! Published on 20-05-2026 at upsc.gov.in, this new recruitment drive offers 451 openings for eligible candidates. Applicants within the respective age limit range and possessing the required educational qualifications can apply online from 20-05-2026 to 11-06-2026 (Extended). Find all details about the UPSC CDS II 2026 new vacancy, including eligibility, online form, and notification PDF here. UPSC CDS 2 2026 Notification PDF Advertisement Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II dated 20/05/2026 for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 to be held on 13.09.2026. The notification includes complete details on course-wise vacancies, eligibility conditions, scheme of examination, syllabus, selection process, exam centres, application procedure, and service conditions for each academy. Candidates are strongly advised to read the full notification before applying. The notification is available on the official UPSC website. Download UPSC CDS 2 2026 Official Notification PDF Extended UPSC CDS 2 2026 Official Link UPSC CDS 2 2026 Overview UPSC is conducting CDS Examination II, 2026 for 451 vacancies across IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA courses, with last date 11 June 2026. Organization Name Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi Examination Name Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II dated 20/05/2026 Post / Course Name IMA (163rd DE Course), INA (Executive Branch/Hydro), Air Force Academy (222 F(P) Course), OTA Chennai (126th SSC Men & Women) Total Vacancies 451 (subject to change by Services HQ) Stipend During Training Rs. 56,100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10) for all academies Application Mode Online only via https://upsconline.nic.in Selection Mode Written Examination (Objective Type) + SSB Intelligence & Personality Test + Medical Examination Date of Examination 13.09.2026 Result of Written Exam (Tentative) October 2026 Official Website https://upsc.gov.in / https://upsconline.nic.in 🔔 Never Miss a Govt Job Again! ⚡ Get Custom Govt Job Alerts by Your Qualification (10TH | 12TH | Diploma | ITI | Graduate, Etc) Join Now UPSC CDS 2 2026 Important Dates Event Date Date of Notification 20/05/2026 Opening of Online Application 20-05-2026 Last Date for Online Application 09-06-2026 (up to 6:00 PM) Extended Last Date for Online Application 11-06-2026 Helpline Active Period 20-05-2026 to 11-06-2026 (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, working days) e-Admit Card Download Last working day of the preceding week of the examination date Date of Written Examination 13-09-2026 Representation Window for Answer Keys 3rd day to 7th day (up to 6:00 PM) after examination Written Result (Tentative) October 2026 SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA candidates) February – March 2027 (tentative) SSB Interview (OTA candidates) April – June 2027 (tentative) Course Commencement (IMA / INA / AFA) July 2027 Course Commencement (OTA) October 2027 UPSC CDS 2 2026 - Vacancy Details A total of 451 vacancies have been announced across 5 courses. The number of vacancies is tentative and may be changed at any stage of the selection process by Services HQ. NCC 'C' Certificate holders have reserved vacancies in IMA, INA, and AFA. Women candidates are eligible only for the OTA SSC Women (NT) course. S. No. Course Academy Commencement Total Vacancies 1 163rd (DE) Course Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun July 2027 100 2 Executive Branch (General Service) / Hydro Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala July 2027 26 3 222 F(P) Course (Pre-Flying Training) Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad July 2027 32 4 126th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai October 2027 275 5 126th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai October 2027 18 Total 451 Note: SSC(NT) Men and SSC(NT) Women are separate entries. Written result and final merit lists for SSC(NT) Men and SSC(NT) Women will be prepared separately as per vacancies notified. Left-over finally qualified IMA/INA/AFA candidates who could not be inducted due to lack of vacancies may be considered for SSC(NT) even without indicating that preference, subject to conditions. UPSC CDS 2 2026 - Eligibility Criteria Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions before the date of application. Their admission at all stages is purely provisional subject to satisfying eligibility conditions. Verification of eligibility with reference to original documents will be taken up only after the candidate qualifies for SSB/Personality Test. Criteria Details Nationality Citizen of India / Subject of Nepal / Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam - with eligibility certificate from Govt. of India where applicable. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need such certificate. Educational Qualification – IMA & OTA Degree of a recognised University or equivalent. Educational Qualification – Indian Naval Academy Degree in Engineering OR B.Sc. with Physics as core/elective subject from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level). Educational Qualification – Air Force Academy Degree of a recognised University with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, OR Bachelor of Engineering. Final Year Students Candidates in the final year/semester of their Degree course may apply but must submit proof of passing the degree examination by the prescribed date (IMA/INA by 01-07-2027; AFA by 13-05-2027; OTA by 01-10-2027). A bonafide certificate from College/University is required at the time of SSB interview. Physical Standards Candidates must be physically fit as per the "Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition)" available at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Permanent body tattoos allowed only on inner forearm (inside elbow to wrist) and back of palm; not permitted on any other body part. Debarment Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services are not eligible. UPSC CDS 2 2026 Application Form Date The online application process for UPSC CDS 2 2026 has officially started on 20 May 2026 and will remain open until 11 June 2026 (up to 6:00 PM). Candidates must submit their applications through the official UPSC online portal within this deadline, as no extensions are typically provided. Applicants are advised to complete the form well before the last date to avoid last-minute server issues. The application process includes registration, filling in personal and educational details, uploading required documents, and payment of the application fee (if applicable). Application Start Date: 20 May 2026 Last Date to Apply: 09 June 2026 (6:00 PM) Extended Last Date to Apply: 11 June 2026 Mode of Application: Online only Official Website: https://upsconline.nic.in UPSC CDS 2 2026 - Age Limit & Marital Status Age is calculated based on date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate only. No other document (horoscope, affidavit, birth extract, etc.) will be accepted. Once a date of birth is submitted, no change will be allowed subsequently. Course Age Limit Gender & Marital Status Date of Birth Range Indian Military Academy (IMA) 19 to 24 years Unmarried Male only Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) Indian Naval Academy (INA) 19 to 24 years Unmarried Male only Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) Air Force Academy (AFA) 20 to 24 years (as on 01-07-2027) Male; below 25 years must be unmarried; married candidates aged 25+ eligible but no married accommodation during training Born between 02-07-2003 and 01-07-2007; CPL holders: up to 26 years (born not earlier than 01-07-2001) OTA – SSC Men (NT) 19 to 25 years Unmarried Male only Born between 02-07-2002 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) OTA – SSC Women (NT) 19 to 25 years Unmarried women, issueless widows (not remarried), issueless divorcees with divorce documents (not remarried) Born between 02-07-2002 and 01-07-2008 (both inclusive) Note: Male divorcees/widowers cannot be treated as unmarried male and are not eligible for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses. Marriage is not permitted during training at any academy; a candidate who marries after applying will not be selected and a candidate marrying during training shall be discharged and liable to refund all expenditure incurred by the Government. UPSC CDS 2 2026 - Application Fee Fee is payable through online mode only (Net Banking / Visa / Master / Rupay Credit / Debit Card / UPI). Payment through any other mode is not valid. Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances nor can it be held in reserve for any other examination. Category Fee General / OBC / EWS (Male) Rs. 200/- (Non-Refundable) Female Candidates (All categories) NIL (Exempted) SC / ST Candidates NIL (Exempted) Note: No fee exemption is available to OBC/EWS male candidates; they must pay the full prescribed fee. UPSC CDS 2 2026 - Selection Process Selection consists of a Written Examination conducted by UPSC followed by Intelligence and Personality Test at the Services Selection Board (SSB), and finally Medical Examination. Success at the written examination confers no right of admission to any academy; final selection is made in order of merit subject to medical fitness and number of vacancies available. Stage 1 - Written Examination (Objective Type) For IMA, INA, and Air Force Academy: Sl. Subject Code Duration Maximum Marks 1 English 11 2 Hours 100 2 General

• Download UPSC CDS 2 2026 Official Notification PDF
• Extended UPSC CDS 2 2026 Official Link
• Application Start Date: 20 May 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 09 June 2026 (6:00 PM)
• Extended Last Date to Apply: 11 June 2026
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Official Website: https://upsconline.nic.in
• Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I are admitted to Stage II.
• Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference - conducted over 4 days. The personality is assessed by the Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist, with equal weightage.
• Candidates who do not hold or are not in the final year of a Degree programme from a recognised University - there is no provision for diploma or 10+2-only candidates.
• Candidates outside the age band for their chosen course - even a single day's deviation makes the candidate ineligible, with no relaxation available (unlike civil service exams).
• Married male candidates applying for IMA, INA, or AFA; and married male candidates under 25 years applying for AFA.
• Male divorcees and widowers; they cannot be treated as unmarried and are not eligible for any of the courses.
• Women candidates who wish to join IMA, INA, or AFA - women are eligible only for OTA SSC Women (NT) course.
• Candidates for INA who do not have Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a B.Sc. with Physics or an Engineering degree.
• Candidates for AFA who do not have Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or an Engineering degree; also those who habitually wear spectacles or have previously failed CPSS.
• Candidates who have been removed from any training academy (IMA/INA/AFA/NDA/OTA) on disciplinary grounds or for lack of officer-like qualities.
• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services.
• Candidates unable to meet the physical fitness standards required for reporting to IMA or OTA (e.g. 2.4 km run in 10:30 min for men, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups as specified).
• Candidates with permanent body tattoos anywhere on the body other than the inner forearm (inside elbow to wrist) or the back/dorsal of palm.