UPSC CDS 2026: Eligibility, Age Limit, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, SSB and Vacancies

Overview

The Combined Defence Services Examination is a Union Public Service Commission examination for candidates targeting a specialised public-service, forest-service or defence career. This page brings together the exam purpose, eligibility, stages, preparation approach and official links.

At a glance

Item	Guide summary
Official name	Combined Defence Services Examination
Conducting body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Candidate profile	Verify education, age, nationality and medical requirements in the current notice
Selection	Written examination, SSB interview/assessment, medical examination and final merit. The examination has academy-specific written papers: IMA/INA/AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge.
Best starting point	Read the pattern, download the latest notice, then build a subject-wise plan

Recent official reference

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026; applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA (Men) 275 and OTA (Women) 18. The notice specifies the course, preference, age, education, medical and academy rules for each entry.

This guide is evergreen. The current notification controls dates, vacancies, age limits, reservations, fees, application steps, medical standards, paper instructions and course-specific rules.

Eligibility

Candidates need a recognised university degree or equivalent, subject to academy-specific conditions. Engineering degree is required for the Naval Academy; a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or a Bachelor of Engineering is required for Air Force Academy. Age, marital status, nationality, medical and physical standards differ by academy and course.

Selection journey

Written examination, SSB interview/assessment, medical examination and final merit. The examination has academy-specific written papers: IMA/INA/AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge.

How to prepare

Download and annotate the latest notification and syllabus.
Separate static subjects from current affairs and maintain an official-source revision file.
Solve recent UPSC papers before choosing books or test series.
Build a weekly plan with timed practice, revision and error analysis.
Prepare the qualifying, descriptive, physical, medical or interview components from the beginning; do not postpone them until after the written result.
Track application windows, admit-card notices, results, cut-offs and corrigenda from UPSC.

Who should choose this exam?

This exam is suitable for candidates who meet its specific academic and medical requirements and are comfortable with its selection stages. It should not be treated as a simple extension of CSE: Combined Defence Services (CDS) has its own paper mix, qualifying rules and final selection process.

Official links

Before applying

Check the latest official notification, advertisement, corrigendum and timetable. Do not rely on an old date, vacancy, fee, age limit, physical standard or paper pattern.

Search intent covered by this guide

This page is designed as a one-stop reference for candidates searching for UPSC CDS 2026 eligibility, age limit, 2026 notification, vacancies, application process, selection process, career options, preparation strategy and official links.

UPSC CDS (II) 2026 latest notification snapshot

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026. Applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA Men 275 and OTA Women 18. Course commencement dates, preferences and eligibility are specified separately for each academy.

The fee for candidates required to pay it is Rs. 200; female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempt under the notice.

Academy choice matters

IMA, INA and AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only. Women candidates are considered for the notified OTA entry, subject to the current rules.

Application process and document checklist

Create or update the UPSC online profile and Universal Registration Number where applicable.
Complete the Common Application Form and examination-specific module before the deadline.
Keep the Matriculation/Secondary certificate, degree or 10+2 proof, category certificate, photo ID, photograph and signature ready in the format requested.
Check the examination centre, fee exemption, force/academy preferences and declaration carefully.
Download the e-Admit Card from the UPSC portal; it is not normally sent by post.
Preserve the application number, URN, submitted form and payment receipt.

Career and selection perspective

The exam is not only a written test. Final selection can depend on written merit, interview/SSB, physical or medical fitness, preferences, vacancies and document verification. Candidates should understand the service or academy before choosing preferences.

A practical preparation plan

First phase: syllabus and fundamentals

Map every topic to the official syllabus, revise basic concepts and solve a small set of previous questions daily.

Second phase: exam-specific practice

Move from reading to timed papers, descriptive writing, mathematics, language practice, current affairs and specialist preparation required for this exam.

Third phase: selection-stage readiness

Maintain documents, fitness, medical readiness, interview communication and revision while continuing written practice.

UPSC CDS frequently asked questions

What is the CDS exam?

It is the UPSC examination for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

Is CDS only for engineering graduates?

No. A recognised degree is generally required; engineering is required for INA, while AFA has its specified Physics/Mathematics or engineering requirement.

Which CDS papers are required for OTA?

OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge. IMA, INA and AFA candidates also take Elementary Mathematics.

Does CDS have an SSB interview?

Yes. Written-qualified candidates undergo the Services Selection Board process, followed by medical and final merit procedures.

Can final-year students apply for CDS?

Final-year candidates may be eligible under the conditions and proof deadlines in the notification.

Related UPSC resources

UPSC CDS 2026 Syllabus

Syllabus

This page is a structured preparation map. Always compare it with the latest official notification because UPSC can revise wording, paper rules, optional subjects or qualifying conditions.

Syllabus at a glance

English covers comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and usage. General Knowledge covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, science and defence awareness. Elementary Mathematics is matriculation-level arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration and statistics.

Detailed preparation buckets

General awareness and current affairs

Follow national and international events, government schemes, constitutional and institutional developments, economy, science and technology, environment, disaster management, internal security and defence-related developments as relevant to the exam. Use primary government and institutional sources wherever possible.

Language and comprehension

Practise reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, précis, structured answers and time-bound writing whenever the examination includes English, Hindi or descriptive papers. Maintain an error log rather than only collecting notes.

Quantitative and analytical ability

Build fundamentals first, then practise mixed timed sets. Focus on accuracy, estimation, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data interpretation, reasoning and decision-making according to the exam’s paper list.

Subject-specialist preparation

For IFoS, cover the chosen optional subjects at the required depth. For NDA and CDS, give mathematics the level and daily practice it needs. For CAPF, connect general studies with internal security, governance, constitutional structure and contemporary national issues.

Study workflow

Foundation: complete one reliable source per subject and make short revision notes.
Integration: map current affairs to the syllabus and solve topic-wise questions.
Testing: take full-length papers under the official time limit.
Revision: revisit mistakes, facts, formulas, vocabulary and weak topics on a fixed cycle.
Written/SSB/physical readiness: add the non-written stages early where applicable.

What not to do

Do not prepare from an old syllabus alone, ignore qualifying papers, assume CSE preparation covers every paper, or wait for the written result before starting the next stage.

Recent official reference

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026; applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA (Men) 275 and OTA (Women) 18. The notice specifies the course, preference, age, education, medical and academy rules for each entry.

This guide is evergreen. The current notification controls dates, vacancies, age limits, reservations, fees, application steps, medical standards, paper instructions and course-specific rules.

Official links

Before applying

Check the latest official notification, advertisement, corrigendum and timetable. Do not rely on an old date, vacancy, fee, age limit, physical standard or paper pattern.

Search intent covered by this syllabus page

This page targets searches for UPSC CDS 2026 syllabus, subject-wise syllabus, paper-wise topics, what to study, books and resources, previous-year questions and preparation strategy.

UPSC CDS (II) 2026 latest notification snapshot

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026. Applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA Men 275 and OTA Women 18. Course commencement dates, preferences and eligibility are specified separately for each academy.

The fee for candidates required to pay it is Rs. 200; female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempt under the notice.

Academy choice matters

IMA, INA and AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only. Women candidates are considered for the notified OTA entry, subject to the current rules.

Subject-wise study checklist

Static foundation

Use the official syllabus as the master checklist for history, geography, polity, economy, science, environment, current affairs, language, mathematics, reasoning, security or specialist papers applicable to the exam.

Current affairs

Maintain separate notes for national events, government schemes, defence and security, environment, international relations, science and technology, economy, awards, reports and important institutions. Every note should answer: what happened, why it matters, the institution involved and the likely syllabus connection.

Previous-year paper method

Download official papers from UPSC.
Classify each question by syllabus topic.
Record the recurring concepts and question style.
Re-solve the paper without notes.
Convert mistakes into a short revision list.

Answer and language practice

Where the exam includes descriptive writing, essay, précis, comprehension or a written SSB-related assessment, practise structure, clarity, grammar, word control and time management every week.

Resource strategy

Start with the official syllabus and notification, then use one standard source per subject, official government reports and recent UPSC papers. Avoid collecting multiple books before completing revision and testing.

Common syllabus mistakes

Preparing CSE alone for an exam with a different paper mix.
Ignoring qualifying papers or specialist optional subjects.
Reading current affairs without mapping them to the syllabus.
Postponing mathematics, essay, language, physical or SSB preparation.
Treating an old notification as the current rulebook.

UPSC CDS frequently asked questions

What is the CDS exam?

It is the UPSC examination for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

Is CDS only for engineering graduates?

No. A recognised degree is generally required; engineering is required for INA, while AFA has its specified Physics/Mathematics or engineering requirement.

Which CDS papers are required for OTA?

OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge. IMA, INA and AFA candidates also take Elementary Mathematics.

Does CDS have an SSB interview?

Yes. Written-qualified candidates undergo the Services Selection Board process, followed by medical and final merit procedures.

Can final-year students apply for CDS?

Final-year candidates may be eligible under the conditions and proof deadlines in the notification.

Related UPSC resources

UPSC CDS 2026 Exam Pattern

Exam Pattern

The pattern below explains the normal selection architecture and the current guide’s planning assumptions. The latest UPSC notice is authoritative for marks, time limits, negative marking, qualifying thresholds, languages, medical rules and academy/course-specific conditions.

Selection structure

Written examination, SSB interview/assessment, medical examination and final merit. The examination has academy-specific written papers: IMA/INA/AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge.

Written examination

For IMA, INA and AFA, the written examination totals 300 marks: English 100, General Knowledge 100 and Elementary Mathematics 100. For OTA, it totals 200 marks: English 100 and General Knowledge 100. Each paper is objective and generally two hours. SSB carries 200 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 marks for OTA; negative marking and standards are controlled by the current notice.

Merit and qualifying components

Separate qualifying components may include language, physical standards, medical fitness, SSB or interview thresholds. A candidate can be strong in the written paper and still be ineligible if a mandatory later-stage requirement is not met. Read every stage in the notification before applying.

Preparation implications

Use the official time limit for every full-paper practice session.
Check the negative-marking rule before attempting random guesses.
Practise the same answer format and language expected in the paper.
Keep documents, certificates, photographs, signatures and identity proof ready before the application window.
Treat physical fitness, medical readiness, descriptive writing and SSB preparation as parallel workstreams where applicable.

Recent official reference

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026; applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA (Men) 275 and OTA (Women) 18. The notice specifies the course, preference, age, education, medical and academy rules for each entry.

Official links

Before applying

Check the latest official notification, advertisement, corrigendum and timetable. Do not rely on an old date, vacancy, fee, age limit, physical standard or paper pattern.

Search intent covered by this exam-pattern page

This page targets searches for UPSC CDS 2026 exam pattern, papers and marks, time duration, negative marking, cut-off, qualifying papers, SSB/PET/PST, interview marks and final merit.

UPSC CDS (II) 2026 latest notification snapshot

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026. Applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA Men 275 and OTA Women 18. Course commencement dates, preferences and eligibility are specified separately for each academy.

The fee for candidates required to pay it is Rs. 200; female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempt under the notice.

Academy choice matters

IMA, INA and AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only. Women candidates are considered for the notified OTA entry, subject to the current rules.

How to read the pattern

Separate the examination into three buckets: papers that contribute to merit, papers or stages that are qualifying, and eligibility stages such as physical/medical fitness or document verification. A high written score alone does not replace a mandatory qualifying stage.

Negative marking and exam-day rules

Objective papers may carry negative marking. Use only the current notice for the exact penalty, question language, calculator permission, OMR instructions, paper sequence and allowed stationery. Read the special instructions before the examination day.

Cut-off and final merit

UPSC may prescribe minimum qualifying marks for individual papers and stages. Written cut-offs, interview/SSB performance, category, preferences, vacancies and medical fitness can all affect the final outcome. Previous cut-offs are useful for planning but cannot guarantee a future threshold.

Exam-day checklist

Download and check the e-Admit Card.
Carry the permitted photo ID and required stationery.
Reach the centre before the reporting time.
Fill roll number, test booklet series and other OMR fields exactly as instructed.
Do not carry a calculator or prohibited device when the notice disallows it.

UPSC CDS frequently asked questions

What is the CDS exam?

It is the UPSC examination for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

Is CDS only for engineering graduates?

No. A recognised degree is generally required; engineering is required for INA, while AFA has its specified Physics/Mathematics or engineering requirement.

Which CDS papers are required for OTA?

OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge. IMA, INA and AFA candidates also take Elementary Mathematics.

Does CDS have an SSB interview?

Yes. Written-qualified candidates undergo the Services Selection Board process, followed by medical and final merit procedures.

Can final-year students apply for CDS?

Final-year candidates may be eligible under the conditions and proof deadlines in the notification.