Notification No. 11/2026-CDS-II released by UPSC on 20 May 2026. Both PDFs below are identical; pick whichever loads faster.
451 total vacancies across 5 courses. NCC 'C' Certificate holders have reserved sub-quotas in IMA, INA and AFA as noted below.
| Academy & Course | Commencing | Vacancies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | July 2027 | 100 | Includes 13 vacancies for NCC 'C' Certificate (Army Wing) holders |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | July 2027 | 26 | Includes 6 vacancies for NCC 'C' Certificate (Naval Wing) holders and 1 for Hydro |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | July 2027 | 32 | Includes 3 vacancies for NCC 'C' Certificate (Air Wing) holders via NCC Special Entry |
| Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai | October 2027 | 275 | Short Service Commission, Non-Technical |
| Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai | October 2027 | 18 | Short Service Commission, Non-Technical (Women entry) |
| TOTAL — 5 courses | — | 451 | — |
| Notification release | 20 May 2026 (released) |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 21 May 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 09 June 2026 (6 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 09 June 2026 (6 PM) |
| Application correction window | 10 June – 16 June 2026 (tentative) |
| e-Admit Card release | Approx. 3 weeks before exam |
| Date of Written Examination | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| Written result (tentative) | October – November 2026 |
| SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA) | February – March 2027 |
| SSB Interview (OTA only) | April – June 2027 |
| Course commencement | July 2027 (IMA/INA/AFA), October 2027 (OTA) |
Indian citizen, OR subject of Nepal, OR person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or specified East-African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with intent of permanently settling in India.
| IMA Dehradun (163 DE) | 19 to 24 years Born: 01-07-2003 to 01-07-2008 Unmarried male only |
|---|---|
| INA Ezhimala (Exec Branch GS) | 19 to 24 years Born: 01-07-2003 to 01-07-2008 Unmarried male only |
| AFA Hyderabad (F(P) Course) | 20 to 24 years Born: 01-07-2003 to 01-07-2007 Unmarried male (DGCA CPL holders relaxed to 26) |
| OTA Chennai (SSC Men NT) | 19 to 25 years Born: 01-07-2002 to 01-07-2008 Unmarried male only |
| OTA Chennai (SSC Women NT) | 19 to 25 years Born: 01-07-2002 to 01-07-2008 Unmarried / issueless widow / issueless divorcee |
| IMA Dehradun | Bachelor's degree from a recognised University, or equivalent. |
|---|---|
| INA Ezhimala | B.E. / B.Tech, OR B.Sc. with Physics as core or elective. Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 are mandatory. |
| AFA Hyderabad | Bachelor's degree with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level, OR B.E. / B.Tech. |
| OTA Chennai | Bachelor's degree from a recognised University, or equivalent. |
Final-year and final-semester students may apply, provided they submit proof of passing the degree before the SSB interview cut-off date specified for their academy.
Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards laid down in Appendix-III of the notification. Standards vary by service (Army, Navy, Air Force).
| Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I — English | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper-II — General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper-III — Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| Total Written — IMA / INA / AFA | 300 | 6 hours |
| Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I — English | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper-II — General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Total Written — OTA | 200 | 4 hours |
All papers are objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are set bilingually in English and Hindi. English paper is in English only. Negative marking: one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
| IMA / INA / AFA | 300 marks (equal to written) · Total course marks = 600 |
|---|---|
| OTA Chennai | 200 marks (equal to written) · Total course marks = 400 |
| Fee Payable | ₹200 (Rupees Two Hundred Only) |
|---|---|
| Exempt Categories | All female candidates, all SC and ST candidates |
| OBC & EWS | No fee exemption — must pay the full ₹200 |
| Payment Modes | Net Banking, Visa / Master / RuPay Credit-Debit Cards, UPI |
UPSC conducts CDS-II at 75+ centres across India. Major centres include:
Full centre list is in Para 2 of the notification. Centres in Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Kolkata, Mumbai, Cuttack and Prayagraj have no candidate ceiling. All other centres are capped and allotted first-come-first-served.
The Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 is the UPSC's second annual recruitment cycle for short and permanent commission officers across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Notification 11/2026 covers 451 vacancies across IMA Dehradun, INA Ezhimala, AFA Hyderabad and OTA Chennai (Men + Women).
The written exam runs on 13 September 2026 with three papers for IMA/INA/AFA candidates and two papers for OTA candidates. Each paper is objective, 100 marks, 2 hours, with one-third negative marking. Shortlisted candidates face the 5-day SSB Interview, where psychological aptitude, group testing and personal interview each contribute. Final merit combines written and SSB marks equally.
Eligibility is a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university (with subject-specific additions for INA and AFA). Age ranges from 19 to 25 by academy. The fee is ₹200, waived for all female candidates and SC/ST candidates. OBC and EWS candidates pay the full ₹200.
Apply online at upsconline.nic.in by 9 June 2026, 6 PM. UPSC allows no correction window after submission, so check every field before clicking Final Submit. Download the official notification PDF from the Download section above, or read it on upsc.gov.in.
The UPSC CDS-II 2026 written examination will be conducted on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The notification was released on 20 May 2026 and the online application closes on 09 June 2026 at 6 PM.
UPSC has notified 451 vacancies in CDS-II 2026 across 5 academies: IMA Dehradun 100, INA Ezhimala 26, AFA Hyderabad 32, OTA Chennai SSC Men 275, OTA Chennai SSC Women 18. Final allocation is decided by Services HQ at the joining stage.
The application fee is ₹200. All female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempt. OBC and EWS candidates must pay the full ₹200. Payment is online only via Net Banking / Visa / Master / RuPay debit-credit cards / UPI.
Age limits vary by academy. IMA and INA: 19–24 years (born 01-07-2003 to 01-07-2008). AFA: 20–24 years (born 01-07-2003 to 01-07-2007); DGCA CPL holders relaxed up to 26. OTA Men and Women: 19–25 years (born 01-07-2002 to 01-07-2008). All candidates except OTA Women (issueless widow or issueless divorcee allowed) must be unmarried.
IMA and OTA Chennai require a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university (any discipline). INA Ezhimala requires B.E./B.Tech or B.Sc with Physics, plus Physics and Mathematics at 10+2. AFA Hyderabad requires Bachelor's with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or B.E./B.Tech. Final-year students may apply but must submit proof of passing by the prescribed date.
For IMA, INA and AFA: 3 papers (English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics) × 100 marks each × 2 hours each = 300 marks. For OTA Chennai: 2 papers (English, General Knowledge) × 100 marks each × 2 hours each = 200 marks. All objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers are bilingual (English + Hindi).
SSB Interview marks equal the written marks for each course: 300 marks for IMA, INA and AFA candidates; 200 marks for OTA candidates. Total CDS-II marks therefore work out to 600 for IMA/INA/AFA and 400 for OTA. SSB is a 5-day process at Services Selection Board: Stage-I (screening), Stage-II (psychology, GTO, personal interview), plus medical examination.
Yes, UPSC applies 0.33 negative marking (one-third of the question's marks) for every wrong answer in each objective paper. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Choose carefully — guessing is statistically against you.
Apply online at https://upsconline.nic.in. Register the One-Time Registration (URN) profile if you don't have one; then fill the Common Application Form (CAF) and the CDS-II 2026 examination-specific module. Upload photograph, signature and live photo capture as instructed. Pay the ₹200 fee. Submit before 09 June 2026 6 PM. No correction allowed after submission.
The official notification PDF is hosted on the UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. We've mirrored a copy on cdn.qmaths.in for fast download; both copies are identical. Direct UPSC link: https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-CDS-II-2026-Engl-200526.pdf