UPSC CDS 2 2026: Important Dates, Eligibility, Vacancies, Fee & Where to Apply?

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is for students who want to become officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Through CDS, candidates can join:

• Indian Military Academy (IMA)
• Indian Naval Academy (INA)
• Air Force Academy (AFA)
• Officers Training Academy (OTA)

UPSC OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.upsc.gov.in/

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release Date	20 May 2026
Application Start Date	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply	9 June 2026
Correction Window	10 June to 16 June 2026
CDS 2 2026 Exam Date	13 September 2026
PwBD Certificate	If applicable
Ex-servicemen Documents	If applicable
Domicile/Other Documents	If required by notification

Age Limit: 19-25 Years

Total Vacancies

UPSC has announced around 451 total vacancies for CDS 2 2025.

• IMA – 100
• INA – 26
• AFA – 32
• OTA (MEN) – 275
• OTA (WOMEN) – 18

Total No. of Vacancies = 475

Eligibility Criteria

• For IMA & OTA: Must have a Bachelor’s degree in any stream.
• For Naval Academy: Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• For Air Force: Must have a Bachelor’s degree in any stream, but should have studied Physics and Math in 10+2.

For more details read the official notification before applying.

Application Fee

• General/OBC – ₹ 200/-
• SC/ST/All Female – ₹ 0/-
• Payment Mode (Online): You can make payment from various methods:
  1) Debit Card
  2) Credit Card
  3) Internet Banking
  4) IMPS
  5) Cash Card/Mobile Wallet

Complete Procedure of Form Filling

You can fill the CDS 2 2026 form online through the UPSC website.

Official Websites

UPSC Official Website: https://www.upsc.gov.in/
n/UPSC Online Application Portal: https://www.upsc.gov.in/

Step-by-Step Process

First Step: Visit UPSC Website

• Open the UPSC online portal and click on:
• One Time Registration (OTR)”
• If you are a new user, create a new account.
• If already registered, simply log in.

Second Step: Complete OTR Registration

• Fill basic details:
• Name
• Mobile number
• Email ID
• Date of birth
• Aadhaar details (if asked)
• Verify OTP sent to your phone and email.

Third Step : Login to Your Account

After registration:

• Login using your ID and password
  Select:
• “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026”

Fourth Step: Fill Personal Details

Enter:

• Father’s name
• Mother’s name
• Address
• Category
• Marital status
• Nationality

Fill everything carefully.

Fifth Step: Fill Educational Details

Add:

• 10th details
• 12th details
• Graduation details
• Engineering details (if applicable)

Choose academy preferences:

1. IMA
2. INA
3. AFA
4. OTA

Choose only those academies for which you are eligible.

Sixth Step: Upload Documents

Upload:

• Passport-size photo
• Signature
• Photo ID proof
• Document Format

Document	Size	Format
Photo	20KB	300KB
Signature	4KB	30KB

Seventh Step: Pay Application Fee

Category	Fee
General/OBC/EWS Male	₹ 200/-
SC/ST/Female	₹ 0/-

Payment can be made through:

• UPI
• Debit Card
• Credit Card
• Net Banking

Step 8: Submit the Form

Before final submission:

• Check all details carefully
• Preview the form
• Click “Submit”

After submission:

• Download confirmation page
• Take a printout for future use

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