CDS Examination (II) 2026: Notification, Exam Date & Application Form

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the schedule for the CDS Examination (II), 2026 via its Annual Exam Calendar. If you dream of joining the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), or Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), this is the update you’ve been waiting for.

According to the official calendar, the notification for CDS 2 2026 will be released on 20th May 2026, and the exam is scheduled for 13th September 2026.

Are you eligible for the second cycle of 2026? We have decoded the complete timeline, eligibility criteria, and exam pattern below.

Overview CDS Examination (II) 2026

Notification Analysis: Important Dates

The UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 has confirmed the timeline for the second CDS cycle. Mark these dates to ensure you don’t miss the application window.

Vacancy Details (Expected)

While the exact vacancies will be released with the notification in May, the trend suggests approximately 340-400+ vacancies distributed as follows:

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: ~100 Posts
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala: ~32 Posts
• Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: ~32 Posts
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men): ~170 Posts
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women): ~17 Posts

Read: Indian Forest Service (Pre) 2026: 14 Jan Notification? Exam Date Out

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

To apply for CDS 2 2026, candidates must meet strict age and educational requirements.

1. Educational Qualification:

• IMA & OTA: Degree of a recognized University or equivalent.
• INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution.
• AFA: Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) OR Bachelor of Engineering.
• Note: Final year students can also apply provisionally.

2. Age Limit (As on 01 July 2027 – Expected):

• IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July 2003 and not later than 1st July 2008.
• INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July 2003 and not later than 1st July 2008.
• AFA: 20 to 24 years (Born between 2nd July 2003 to 1st July 2007).
• OTA (Men & Women): 19 to 25 years (Born between 2nd July 2002 to 1st July 2008).

Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2026

The exam is conducted in offline mode (Pen & Paper). The pattern differs for OTA and other academies.

A. For IMA, INA, and AFA:

B. For OTA (Officers’ Training Academy):

Note: There is a negative marking of 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer.

How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)

Follow these steps on upsconline.nic.in once the link activates on May 20, 2026:

1. OTR Registration: Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) on the UPSC portal.
2. Login: Use your Email/Mobile/OTR ID to log in.
3. Find Active Exam: Click on “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026”.
4. Fill Part-I: Enter personal details and educational qualifications.
5. Fill Part-II: Pay the fee (₹200 for General/OBC Men; Free for Female/SC/ST), select Exam Centre, and upload Photo/Signature.
6. Submit: Download the confirmation page.

Direct Important Links

FAQs: C.D.S. Examination (II) 2026

Q1: What is the exam date for CDS 2 2026?

Ans: The UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026 will be conducted on 13 September 2026.

Q2: When will the CDS 2 2026 Notification be released?

Ans: The official notification will be released on 20 May 2026.

Q3: Can final year students apply for CDS 2 2026?

Ans: Yes, candidates in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally.

Q4: Is there Mathematics in the OTA exam?

Ans: No, the OTA exam consists only of English and General Knowledge papers. Mathematics is not included.

Q5: What is the age limit for OTA?

Ans: Candidates must be between 19 to 25 years of age.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is based on the official UPSC Annual Exam Calendar 2026. Dates and vacancies are subject to change. Please verify details from the official website upsc.gov.in. We are an information portal.