The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I) 2026 Notification on 10 December 2025. Eligible graduates are invited to apply for commissioning into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA) through this prestigious defence recruitment examination.
The CDS (I) 2026 examination will be conducted for admission to courses commencing in January 2027 (IMA, INA, AFA) and April 2027 (OTA).
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UPSC CDS I 2026 Recruitment Exam – Key Details
| Organization Name | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) I 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | CDS Examination (I) 2026 |
| Job Category | Defence Jobs |
| Total Vacancy | 451 Posts |
| Apply Mode | Online |
| Apply Start Date | 10/12/2025 |
| Last Date Apply | 30/12/2025 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Payment of Fee | 30/12/2025 |
| Application Form Correction | 31/12/2025 to 06/01/2026 |
| Selection Process | Written Exam, SSB Interview, Medical Test |
| Exam Dates | 12/04/2026 |
| Salary | As per Defence Services Pay Rules |
| Official Website | upsconline.nic.in |
Vacancy Details
| Academy | Vacancies | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 100 | 162nd Course (Jan 2027) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | 26 | Course (Jan 2027) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 32 | Pre-Flying Training Course (Jan 2027) |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – Men | 275 | 125th SSC (Men) Course (Apr 2027) |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – Women | 18 | 39th SSC Women Course (Apr 2027) |
| Total | 451 |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
Candidates must be unmarried and must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanent settlement in India.
Age Limit & Marital Status
- IMA & INA: Unmarried males born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008
- AFA:
- Age: 20–24 years as on 1 Jan 2027
- Born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2007
- CPL holders (DGCA): Upper age limit up to 26 years
- OTA (Men & Women): Unmarried candidates born between 2 Jan 2002 – 1 Jan 2008
- Use Quick Age Calculator — Check now
Educational Qualification
- IMA & OTA: Graduate degree from a recognized university
- INA: Engineering degree
- AFA: Graduate degree with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level or Engineering degree
Final-year students may apply subject to fulfilling conditions prescribed by UPSC.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹200 |
| SC / ST / Female Candidates | Exempted |
How to Apply
- Visit the official UPSC website: upsconline.nic.in
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR)
- Fill Part I & Part II of the CDS I 2026 application form
- Upload required documents and pay fee (if applicable)
- Submit the application and take a printout for future reference
Exam Pattern
IMA / INA / AFA
- English – 100 Marks
- General Knowledge – 100 Marks
- Elementary Mathematics – 100 Marks
- Duration: 2 Hours each
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer
OTA
- English – 100 Marks
- General Knowledge – 100 Marks
- Mathematics: Not Applicable
Selection Procedure
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview
- IMA / INA / AFA: 300 Marks
- OTA: 200 Marks
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List based on written exam and SSB marks
Admit Card released Date
UPSC CDS I 2026 Admit Card will be released approximately 10 days before the examination. Candidates must carry a printed copy to the exam centre.
Interested candidates are advised to carefully check eligibility conditions and submit the online application before the last date. Missing deadlines may result in loss of candidature.