UPSC CDS-II 2026 offers 451 permanent defence seats across IMA, INA, AFA & OTA. Cadets receive ₹56,100/month training stipend. Graduate with Physics/Mathematics for INA/AFA. Apply by 09 June 2026 on upsconline.nic.in.
UPSC CDS-II 2026: 451 Permanent Officer Posts in Army, Navy & Air Force
UPSC has confirmed 451 permanent posts for officer cadre through Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026. This is your gateway to Indian Military Academy Dehradun (163rd DE Course – 100 seats), Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala (Executive Branch – 26 seats), Air Force Academy Hyderabad (222 F(P) Course – 32 seats), and Officers Training Academy Chennai (126th SSC Men – 275 seats & SSC Women – 18 seats). Unlike civilian jobs, defence recruitment includes free accommodation, lifelong pension, and military status. The written exam happens 13 September 2026. Male unmarried candidates aged 19-25 and women (unmarried/issueless divorcee/widow) can apply through UPSC’s online portal only.
| Recruiting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination-II, 2026 |
| Posts Offered | IMA (DE), INA (Executive), AFA (Flying), OTA SSC (Men & Women Non-Tech) |
| Total Vacancies | 451 (IMA-100 | INA-26 | AFA-32 | OTA Men-275 | OTA Women-18) |
| Application Deadline | 09 June 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| Min Qualification | Graduation (Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 for INA/AFA) |
| Training Stipend | ₹56,100 per month (fixed, non-taxable during academy) |
| Post-Commission Pay | ₹70,000 – ₹78,000 in-hand + Free housing + Medical |
| Selection Flow | Written Exam → SSB Interview (5 days) → Medical Board |
| Apply Portal | upsconline.nic.in (No other mode accepted) |
✓ Source: UPSC Examination Notice No.11/2026-CDS-II | Verified: May 2026
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Simplified
- Unmarried male for IMA, INA, AFA, OTA (Men)
- Unmarried female / Issueless widow / Issueless divorcee for OTA Women
- Age: 19-25 years (course-specific variations apply)
- Graduate from any UGC-recognised university
- For AFA/INA: Must have studied Physics & Maths in 10+2
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders (Army/Naval/Air Wing) for reserved seats
- Final year degree students (with college bonafide certificate)
- Married male below 25 years (any course)
- Permanent tattoos outside inner forearm or back of palm
- Previously withdrawn from NDA/IMA/AFA/OTA on disciplinary grounds
- Debarred by Ministry of Defence from any commission
- Failed CPSS/PABT earlier (for Air Force applicants)
- Habitual spectacle wearers (for AFA Flying branch)
📌 Also Read: AIIMS Awantipora Faculty 2026: 94 Posts | Apply by 18 June
Important Dates Tracker
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Release | 20 May 2026 | Released |
| Online Application Start | 20 May 2026 | Active |
| Application Last Date | 09 June 2026 (6:00 PM) | Closing Soon |
| Fee Payment Deadline | 09 June 2026 | Same as last date |
| Written Examination | 13 September 2026 | Scheduled |
| Written Result | October 2026 (tentative) | To be notified |
| SSB Interview (IMA/INA/AFA) | February – March 2027 | To be notified |
| SSB Interview (OTA only) | April – June 2027 | To be notified |
Course-Wise Vacancy Breakdown (Category Wise)
| Course | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | NCC Reserved | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA Dehradun (DE) | ~50 | ~27 | ~15 | ~8 | ~10 | 13 (Army) | 100 |
| INA Ezhimala | ~13 | ~7 | ~4 | ~2 | ~3 | 6 (Naval) + 1 Hydro | 26 |
| AFA Hyderabad | ~16 | ~8 | ~5 | ~2 | ~4 | 3 (Air) | 32 |
| OTA Chennai (Men SSC) | ~140 | ~74 | ~41 | ~20 | ~28 | 0 | 275 |
| OTA Chennai (Women SSC) | ~9 | ~5 | ~3 | ~1 | ~2 | 0 | 18 |
| GRAND TOTAL | ~228 | ~121 | ~68 | ~33 | ~47 | 23 | 451 |
📊 Competition Reality Check: Based on CDS-I 2026 trends (1.3 lakh applicants for ~400 vacancies), the overall selection ratio is 1:288 for CDS-II 2026. However, OTA Men category (275 seats) offers best odds at roughly 1:200. IMA (100 seats) faces stiffest competition at 1:500+. NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders have tremendous advantage – 23 dedicated seats with roughly 1:30 selection ratio. If NCC vacancies remain unfilled (often happens due to limited qualified candidates), they convert to unreserved seats – UR candidates then benefit. Women OTA (18 seats) sees moderate competition but physical standards are same as men – only 15 push-ups required vs 40 for men.
Salary Structure: From Training to Commission
| Stage | Rank | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Gross Monthly | Approx In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Period | Officer Cadet | Level 10 (Stipend) | ₹56,100 | ₹56,100 | ₹56,100 |
| First Year | Lieutenant | Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹1,15,000 | ₹70,000 – ₹75,000 |
| 2-5 Years | Captain | Level 10B | ₹61,300 | ₹1,25,000 | ₹78,000 – ₹82,000 |
| 6-12 Years | Major | Level 11 | ₹69,400 | ₹1,45,000 | ₹92,000 – ₹98,000 |
💰 In-Hand Calculation for Lieutenant (Class X City posting):
Basic Pay ₹56,100 + MSP ₹15,500 + DA (50% of Basic) ₹28,050 + HRA (27% of Basic+MSP) ₹19,332 = Gross ₹1,18,982. Deductions: NPS (10% of Basic+DA) ₹8,415 + CGEIS (optional) ₹1,200 + Income Tax (negligible at initial years) = Approximate in-hand ₹70,000-75,000. The training stipend of ₹56,100 is without deductions (no NPS during training).
🔄 Comparison with CAPF Assistant Commandant: Both start at Level 10 (₹56,100 basic). CDS officers get additional MSP ₹15,500 which CAPF officers don’t receive. That’s ₹1.86 lakh extra annually. However, CAPF offers higher risk allowances in Naxal areas. Defence wins on lifetime pension and military status.
Application Fee & Payment Mode
| Category | Fee Amount | Exemption Details |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹200 | No exemption for OBC/EWS |
| Female (All categories) | ₹0 | Fully exempted |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | ₹0 | Fully exempted |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | ₹0 | Fully exempted |
Course-Wise Age Limits (Born Between Dates)
| Course | Min Age | Max Age | Born Not Earlier Than | Born Not Later Than |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA & INA | 19 | 24 | 01 July 2003 | 01 July 2008 |
| AFA (General) | 20 | 24 | 01 July 2003 | 01 July 2007 |
| AFA (CPL Holder) | 20 | 26 | 01 July 2001 | 01 July 2007 |
| OTA Men & Women | 19 | 25 | 01 July 2002 | 01 July 2008 |
📅 Age Calculation Example (OTA candidate): If your date of birth is 15 June 2003 – On 09 June 2026 (application last date), you are 22 years, 11 months, 25 days – eligible. If born 10 July 2008 – you turn 25 only on 10 July 2033 – eligible for OTA 2026. UPSC accepts ONLY Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate for date of proof. No horoscope, affidavit, birth certificate, or service record accepted.
Educational Qualification: Subject-Wise Requirements
| Course | Required Qualification | 10+2 Condition | Final Year Students? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA & OTA | Graduation (any discipline) | No condition | Yes, with bonafide certificate |
| INA | B.E./B.Tech OR B.Sc (Physics core/elective) | Physics & Maths mandatory at 10+2 | Yes, with bonafide certificate |
| AFA | Graduation OR B.E./B.Tech | Physics & Maths mandatory at 10+2 for ALL graduates | Yes, with bonafide certificate |
📌 Also Read: HRRL Recruitment 2026: ₹24.8L CTC | 129 Regular+5 FTE Posts Open
Selection Process: Written + SSB + Medical
For IMA/INA/AFA candidates: Three papers – English (2 hrs, 100 marks), General Knowledge (2 hrs, 100 marks), Elementary Mathematics (2 hrs, 100 marks). Total 300 marks.
For OTA candidates: Two papers – English (2 hrs, 100 marks), General Knowledge (2 hrs, 100 marks). Total 200 marks.
⚠️ Negative marking: 0.33 marks deducted per wrong answer – OMR sheet must be filled with BLACK BALL PEN only. No pencil, no ink pen.
Day 1 (Stage I): Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test + Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I proceed further.
Day 2-4 (Stage II): Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks – group discussions, group planning, outdoor tasks, Interview by IO.
Day 5: Conference – final assessment by all three assessors combined.
SSB Marks: 300 for IMA/INA/AFA | 200 for OTA. Final merit = Written marks + SSB marks.
Medical standards as per “Joint Order Manual of Medical Standards for Entry into Armed Forces (1st Edition)” available at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Tattoo policy: Only permanent body tattoos on inner face of forearm (inside of elbow to wrist) or back/dorsal side of hand permitted. Tribal tattoos on face/body allowed case-by-case with Commandant Selection Centre approval.
📌 Action Plan: First 7 Days After Applying
- Day 1: Download application PDF + transaction receipt. Store in Google Drive and laptop.
- Day 2: Register on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in if Army is your first choice – MANDATORY for SSB call letter. Use same email ID used for UPSC.
- Day 3: Collect original matriculation certificate + degree marksheets. Get 3-4 self-attested photocopies ready.
- Day 4: Start General Knowledge daily – read The Hindu editorial + India Year Book chapter per day.
- Day 5: Mathematics revision – focus on 10th level topics (trigonometry, mensuration, algebra).
- Day 6: Physical fitness start – 2.4km run (target 10:30 min for men, 13 min for women), push-ups (40/15), sit-ups (30).
- Day 7: Download previous 5 years CDS question papers from UPSC website – analyze pattern.
Exam Syllabus & Pattern
| Paper | Subject Code | Questions (Approx) | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English (Code 11) | 120 | 100 | 2 hours | 0.33 per wrong |
| Paper II | General Knowledge (Code 12) | 120 | 100 | 2 hours | 0.33 per wrong |
| Paper III* | Elementary Mathematics (Code 13) | 100 | 100 | 2 hours | 0.33 per wrong |
*Paper III only for IMA/INA/AFA candidates. OTA candidates do not appear for Mathematics paper.
English Topics (Graduate Level)
- Spotting errors, sentence rearrangement, fill in the blanks
- Reading comprehension (3-4 passages)
- Synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases
- One-word substitution, para completion
- Cloze test, active/passive voice transformation
General Knowledge Topics (Current Affairs Focus)
- Current events (last 18 months – January 2025 to June 2026 priority)
- History of India – freedom struggle, ancient & medieval India
- Indian and World Geography – physical, economic, social geography
- Everyday science – physics/chemistry/biology in daily life
- Indian Polity – Constitution, Parliament, President, Supreme Court
- Defence specific: latest exercises, missile systems, aircraft, naval ships
Elementary Mathematics Topics (Class 10 Level)
- Arithmetic: Number system (natural, integers, rational, real), HCF/LCM, percentage, profit-loss, discount, simple/compound interest, ratio-proportion, time-speed-distance, time-work, unitary method, logarithms base 10
- Algebra: Quadratic equations (real roots only), simultaneous linear equations (2 variables), polynomials, remainder theorem, H.C.F./L.C.M. of polynomials, set language & notation, laws of indices
- Trigonometry: sin, cos, tan values for 0°,30°,45°,60°,90°, identities, heights & distances, trigonometric tables usage
- Geometry: Lines & angles, parallel lines, triangles (congruency, similarity, medians, altitudes), circles (tangents, secants, chords), parallelograms, rectangles, squares, loci
- Mensuration: Areas of squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, surface area & volume of cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere
- Statistics: Data collection, frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, mean/median/mode
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Portal Access: Go to upsconline.nic.in → Click on “Online Application Portal” link
- Account Creation: Register with email ID, mobile number, password → Receive Universal Registration Number (URN) – save permanently
- Universal Registration Profile: Fill personal details, upload photo (plus live photo capture during CAF filling), signature (3 times on white paper with black ink), select ID proof (Aadhaar strongly recommended)
- Common Application Form (CAF): Enter educational qualifications, date of birth (exactly as per matric certificate), address
- Examination Specific Module: Select “CDS-II 2026” → Choose course preferences carefully (AFA MUST be first choice if applying)
- Exam Centre Selection: Choose from 84 centres – remember “first-apply-first-allot” – popular centres fill fast
- Fee Payment: ₹200 for Gen/OBC/EWS (SC/ST/Female exempted) via Net Banking/Debit/Credit/UPI only
- Final Submission: Submit → Download PDF with Application Number → No editing or withdrawal allowed after submission
- ✅ Valid email ID & mobile number (OTP verification at multiple stages)
- ✅ Aadhaar Card (UPSC strongly recommends for seamless verification)
- ✅ Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate (for date of birth proof – only accepted document)
- ✅ 10+2 marksheet (for AFA/INA candidates to prove Physics & Mathematics)
- ✅ Graduation degree certificate OR final year bonafide certificate (for current students)
- ✅ Passport size photo (white background, clear face) – digital copy under 1MB
- ✅ Signature scanned (black ink on white paper, signed 3 times one below other)
- ✅ Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC) for fee exemption + reservation claims
- ✅ NCC ‘C’ Certificate (if applying against NCC reserved vacancies)
- ✅ Payment method ready (UPI app / Debit Card with sufficient balance / Net Banking active)
1. Photo/Signature mismatch: Live photo capture is MANDATORY during CAF filling – uploading old scanned photo alone is not sufficient. Signature must be on white paper with black ink only.
2. Wrong preference order: If you want Air Force, AFA must be FIRST choice. AFA as second/third preference is treated as INVALID. Male candidates wanting only SSC must put OTA as ONLY choice – not first, not second – ONLY choice.
3. Incomplete URN profile: Universal Registration Number profile must be fully completed and LOCKED before exam-specific form. Unlocked profile leads to automatic rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions (CDS 2 2026)
- How much in-hand stipend do CDS cadets get during training?
- ₹56,100 per month fixed – this is the starting pay of Level 10. No deductions (NPS starts only after commissioning). Free accommodation, food, and medical provided during IMA/INA/AFA/OTA training. Action tip: This stipend is non-taxable as per Income Tax rules for training period. Save at least ₹20,000 monthly for post-commission expenses like uniform, moving costs.
- When is the last date to submit CDS 2 2026 application?
- 09 June 2026, exactly 6:00 PM IST. The UPSC portal link disables automatically at 6 PM – no grace period. Action tip: Complete payment by 5:30 PM at latest. Payment gateway failures increase after 5:45 PM due to server load from last-minute applicants.
- How many total vacancies and which courses are open?
- 451 vacancies: IMA Dehradun 100 seats, INA Ezhimala 26 seats, AFA Hyderabad 32 seats, OTA Chennai Men SSC 275 seats, OTA Chennai Women SSC 18 seats. Action tip: Even if your first choice is IMA, select OTA as last preference. Leftover qualified IMA candidates automatically considered for SSC if vacancies exist – without this preference you lose that chance.
- What educational qualification is required for AFA and INA?
- For AFA: Any graduation BUT must have studied Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level. For INA: B.E./B.Tech OR B.Sc with Physics as core/elective AND Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level. Action tip: Commerce, Arts, Law graduates without 10+2 Maths are NOT eligible for AFA/INA – only for IMA and OTA. Verify your 10+2 marksheet before applying.
- What is the age limit with relaxation for different categories?
- IMA/INA: 19-24 (born 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2008). AFA: 20-24 (born 01 July 2003 to 01 July 2007) – CPL holders get 26 years. OTA: 19-25 (born 01 July 2002 to 01 July 2008). Standard GoI relaxation: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years on upper limit only. Action tip: Calculate your age based on 09 June 2026 (application last date), NOT exam date. The born-between dates in notification are already adjusted for this.
- Is application fee refundable if I don’t take the exam?
- No. Fee once paid is NEVER refunded – not for withdrawal, not for rejection, not for missing exam. Action tip: Before paying, confirm all eligibility conditions – especially AFA/INA Physics-Maths condition and age limits. SC/ST/Female candidates pay nothing.
- What is the SSB interview passing marks and duration?
- SSB is 5 days. Stage I (Day 1) – OIR + PP&DT. Candidates failing Stage I are sent home. Stage II (Days 2-5) – Psychology, GTO tasks, Interview, Conference. No fixed passing marks – SSB recommends or not recommends based on Officer Like Qualities (OLQs). Action tip: 80% candidates fail at Stage I (PP&DT). Practice picture perception with 4 minutes viewing time and 1 minute writing time strictly.
- Can final year degree students apply for CDS 2 2026?
- Yes, as a special concession. Must submit bonafide certificate from college principal at SSB interview. Proof of passing degree required by: IMA/INA – 01 July 2027, AFA – 13 May 2027, OTA – 01 October 2027. Action tip: If your university has history of delayed results, do NOT apply. No extension given – even if university fault. Your candidature will cancel.
- What are the physical standards required at OTA/IMA reporting?
- On arrival at academy: 2.4km run – Men 10 min 30 sec, Women 13 min. Push-ups: Men 40, Women 15. Pull-ups: Men 6, Women 0-2. Sit-ups: Men 30, Women 25. Squats: Two sets of 30. Lunges: Two sets of 10. Swimming fundamentals required. Action tip: Start training 6 months before exam. Most medical rejections happen due to high BMI or poor cardiovascular fitness – not diseases.
- Which documents are mandatory at SSB interview centre?
- ORIGINALS with self-attested copies: Matriculation certificate (DOB proof – no alternative), Degree/Provisional degree + all semester marksheets (final year students: bonafide certificate), Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC), NCC ‘C’ Certificate (if applicable), ID proof (Aadhaar preferred), 10+2 marksheet for AFA/INA. Action tip: Keep documents in a dedicated SSB folder. Digital copies in phone backup. No original certificates = No SSB interview = Disqualification.
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