The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the UPSC CDS 2 Examination 2026 Notification for 451 vacancies in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Candidates who dream of becoming commissioned officers through the Combined Defence Services Examination can now apply online through the official UPSC portal. The recruitment includes admission to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 Overview

UPSC CDS 2 2026 Highlights

Particulars	Details
Organization Name	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
Total Vacancies	451 Posts
Application Mode	Online
Job Location	Across India
Notification Release Date	20 May 2026
Online Application Start	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply	09 June 2026
Exam Date	13 September 2026
Selection Process	Written Exam + SSB Interview + Medical Test
Official Website	UPSC Official Website

Important Dates for UPSC CDS 2 2026

Event	Date
Notification Release	20 May 2026
Online Application Begins	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	09 June 2026
Admit Card Release	September 2026
CDS 2 Written Examination	13 September 2026
Written Result Expected	October 2026
SSB Interview	2027
Training Commencement	July/October 2027

UPSC CDS 2 Vacancy 2026 Details

Academy	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	26
Air Force Academy (AFA)	32
Officers Training Academy (OTA Men)	276
Officers Training Academy (OTA Women)	17
Total	451 Posts

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CDS 2 2026

Educational Qualification

Academy	Qualification
IMA & OTA	Bachelor’s Degree from recognized university
INA	Engineering Degree
AFA	Bachelor’s Degree with Physics & Mathematics OR Engineering Degree

Final year students are also eligible to apply.

Age Limit

Academy	Age Criteria
IMA	Unmarried male candidates born between prescribed dates
INA	Unmarried male candidates
AFA	20 to 24 Years
OTA	Unmarried male/female candidates

Candidates must check detailed birth date criteria in the official notification.

UPSC CDS 2 2026 Application Fee

Category	Fee
General/OBC	₹200
SC/ST/Female	No Fee

Payment can be made online through debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking.

Salary Structure

Candidates selected through CDS receive attractive salary packages during training and after commissioning.

Rank	Salary
Lieutenant	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500
Captain	₹61,300 – ₹1,93,900
Major	₹69,400 – ₹2,07,200

Additional military allowances, DA, transport allowance, ration benefits, and pension facilities are also provided.

Selection Process, Exam Pattern & How to Apply

UPSC CDS 2 2026 Selection Process

The selection process consists of three stages:

1. Written Examination

Candidates have to appear for objective-type written papers.

2. SSB Interview

Qualified candidates are called for the Services Selection Board Interview.

3. Medical Examination

Final medical fitness verification is conducted before joining.

UPSC CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2026

For IMA, INA & AFA

Subject	Marks	Duration
English	100	2 Hours
General Knowledge	100	2 Hours
Elementary Mathematics	100	2 Hours

For OTA

Subject	Marks	Duration
English	100	2 Hours
General Knowledge	100	2 Hours

Negative marking of one-third marks applies for wrong answers.

Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically and medically fit according to defence service standards. Permanent tattoos are allowed only on limited body parts as per rules.

How to Apply for UPSC CDS 2 2026

Follow these simple steps to apply online:

Visit the official UPSC website
UPSC Online Portal
Complete One Time Registration (OTR)
Click on “CDS II Examination 2026”
Fill personal, educational, and communication details
Upload photograph, signature, and required documents
Pay application fee online
Submit the application form
Download and print the final application form for future reference

Documents Required

Passport Size Photograph
Signature
Graduation Marksheet
ID Proof
Category Certificate (if applicable)

Why Apply for CDS 2 2026?

Prestigious Officer-Level Government Job
Opportunity to Join Indian Armed Forces
Excellent Salary & Perks
Job Security & Pension Benefits
Adventure, Respect & Career Growth

Important Links

Description	Link
Official Notification	Download Notification
Apply Online	Apply Here
UPSC Website	Official UPSC Portal

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