Post Update: UPSC releases the UPSC CDS II Notification 2026 admit card for Advt No. 11/2026-CDS-II on 3 Sep 2026. Candidates must download it now and appear for the 13 Sep exam. Also Read - UP Special TET Online Form 2026
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the official advertisement for UPSC CDS II Notification 2026 with 451 total posts. UPSC invites online applications from 20 May 2026 to 09 Jun 2026. Candidates must check all complete details for UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 and UPSC CDS 2 Vacancy 2026 below. We also provide important updates for Combined Defence Services Exam 2026 and UPSC CDS II 451 Post 2026 here.
UPSC CDS II Notification 2026 : Key Highlights
Union Public Service Commission published this nationwide competitive examination notification to commission 451 permanent and short-service officers across Army, Navy, and Air Force academies for training courses starting in 2027.
| Specification | Details / Information |
| Advertisement No. | Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Recruiting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 |
| Post Name | IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA (Men & Women) Cadets |
| Post Level / Cadre Type | Group A Gazetted (Defence Commissioned Officers) |
| Salary / Pay Scale | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500/- (Level 10 + ₹15,500/- MSP Per Month) |
| Total Vacancies | 451 Posts |
| Job Location | All India / Service Liability Anywhere in India and Abroad |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Notification Release Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Reservation for Women | 18 Posts (OTA Women Non-Technical Course) |
💡Important Information: UPSC enforces a mandatory face authentication system at every exam centre and cancels candidatures outright if candidates fail biometric verification thirty minutes before the scheduled exam start.
UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 : Important Dates
Online registration opened on 20 May 2026, and the commission officially closes the portal on 09 Jun 2026 at exactly 06:00 PM without granting any application withdrawal window.
| Event Description | Scheduled Date |
| Start Date for Apply Online | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Registration | 11 Jun 2026 (Till 06:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 11 Jun 2026 (Till 06:00 PM) |
| UPSC CDS II 2026 Exam Conducting Date | 13 Sep 2026 |
| Admit Card Available Date | 04 Sep 2026 |
UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2026 : Application Fee & Payment Mode
Female aspirants and SC or ST candidates claim full fee exemption, while General, EWS, and OBC male applicants must remit ₹200/- through authorised electronic banking channels.
| Applicant Category | Fees | Payment Mode |
| For General Candidate | ₹200/- | Payment Modes: Candidates Pay Application fee by Debit Card/Debit cards/Internet Banking/UPI/SBI e-Challan/Digital Wallet Pay Mode Only |
| For EWS / OBC Candidate | ₹200/- | |
| For SC / ST / Female Candidate | ₹0/- |
UPSC CDS 2 Vacancy 2026 : Age Limit as on 01 Jul 2027
Candidates born between 02 Jul 2002 and 01 Jul 2008 meet the specific academy age brackets, while DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders receive age relaxation up to 26 years.
| Academy Name | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 Years | 24 Years |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19 Years | 24 Years |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20 Years | 24 Years |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA Men) | 19 Years | 25 Years |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA Women) | 19 Years | 25 Years |
UPSC CDS II Notification 2026 : Vacancy Details — Total 451 Posts
Five defence academies distribute 451 vacancies across Army, Navy, and Air Force Wings, reserving 22 total seats specifically for NCC ‘C’ certificate holders in diverse service streams.
| Post Name | Total Post | Eligibility Specification Details |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun — 163rd (DE) Course | 100 |
|
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala — Executive Branch (General Service / Hydro) | 26 |
|
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad — 222 F(P) Course | 32 |
|
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC (Men) (NT) Course | 275 |
|
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC Women (NT) Course | 18 |
|
Combined Defence Services Exam 2026 : Salary Per Month in Hand
Officer cadets receive a fixed monthly stipend of ₹56,100/- during military training, whereas newly commissioned Lieutenants earn substantial remuneration including Dearness Allowance and ₹15,500/- Military Service Pay.
| Post Name | Pay Level | Basic Pay (₹) | Gross Salary (₹) | In Hand (₹) |
| Officer Cadet (Training Period) | Level 10 (Stipend) | ₹56,100/- (Fixed) | ₹56,100/- | ₹56,100/- |
| Lieutenant (On Commissioning) | Level 10 | ₹56,100 To ₹1,77,500 | ₹95,000 To ₹1,05,000/- | ₹82,000 To ₹90,000/- |
| Captain | Level 10B | ₹61,300 To ₹1,93,900 | ₹1,05,000 To ₹1,18,000/- | ₹92,000 To ₹1,02,000/- |
| Major | Level 11 | ₹69,400 To ₹2,07,200 | ₹1,18,000 To ₹1,32,000/- | ₹1,04,000 To ₹1,15,000/- |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | ₹1,21,200 To ₹2,12,400 | ₹1,85,000 To ₹2,05,000/- | ₹1,62,000 To ₹1,78,000/- |
UPSC CDS II Recruitment 2026 : Physical Eligibility Test (PET)
Military service boards assess physical endurance through arrival conditioning benchmarks, directing male cadets to run 2.4 km within 10 minutes 30 seconds and female cadets within 13 minutes.
| Parameter Type | Male (General / OBC / SC) | Male (ST / Hill Regions) | Female (General / OBC / SC) | Female (ST / Hill Regions) |
| Height | 157.5 CM (IMA/OTA) / 162.5 CM (AFA) | 152.5 CM | 152 CM | 147 CM |
| Chest | 77 – 82 CM (5 CM Expansion) | 77 – 82 CM (5 CM Expansion) | N/A | N/A |
| Weight | Proportionate to Height & Age | Proportionate to Height & Age | ||
| Running | 2.4 KM Run in 10 Min 30 Sec | 2.4 KM Run in 13 Minutes | ||
UPSC CDS II 451 Post 2026 : Required Documents
Applicants must upload three black-ink signatures vertically on white paper and capture an unhindered live photograph through their device camera during the Common Application Form submission.
| Document Type | Document Details |
| ID Proofs | Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving Licence (Any One Valid Govt-identity Proof). |
| Educational Certificates | Class 10th Certificate (Date of Birth Proof), 12th Marksheet, and Graduation Degree / Marksheets (Mandatory). |
| NCC ‘C’ Certificate | Original Army, Navy, or Air Wing ‘C’ Certificate (For NCC Reserved Vacancy Claimants). |
| Category Certificate | For SC / ST Applicants (Fee Exemption Verification). |
| Photographs | Recent Scanned Photograph (White Background, JPG Format) and Real-Time Live Webcam Capture. |
| Signature | Three Signatures Signed One Below the Other in Black Ink on Plain White Paper (JPG Format). |
Combined Defence Services Exam 2026 : Selection Process
Services Selection Boards eliminate non-qualifying entrants during Stage 1 testing on day one, permitting only successful candidates into Stage 2 psychometric assessments, group tasks, and interviews.
| Stage | Process Name | Selection Process Details |
| Stage-I | Written Examination | Objective type test (300 Marks for IMA/INA/AFA; 200 Marks for OTA). |
| Stage-II | SSB Interview (Stage 1 & Stage 2) | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and PP&DT on Day 1; IO, GTO, Psychology Test & Conference over 4 days. |
| Stage-III | Document Verification | Comprehensive physical verification of educational degrees and matriculation age credentials. |
| Stage-IV | Medical Examination | Complete medical evaluation by Special Medical Board (SMB) at designated military hospitals. |
| Stage-V | Final Merit List | Combined aggregate scores of written test and SSB interview establish final academy admission rank. |
💡Important Note: Aspirants targeting 451 defence seats must score 140+ marks in IMA/AFA and 105+ in OTA written tests. You must master Elementary Mathematics arithmetic, revise English grammar daily, and track current affairs to clear competitive cut-off thresholds.
How to Fill UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026
Every candidate must navigate four sequential portal modules on the UPSC application website, entering accurate personal credentials and academy preferences before locking the final submission.
- Step 1: You must visit upsconline.nic.in and click ‘New Registration’ to create your account using an active mobile number and email ID.
- Step 2: You must complete your Universal Registration Number (URN) profile by entering personal information, educational credentials, and valid photo ID details.
- Step 3: You must capture your live webcam photograph, upload a recent color image, and upload three black-ink signatures on the Common Application Form.
- Step 4: You must access the Examination Specific Module, arrange your Academy preferences (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA), and select your preferred examination centre.
- Step 5: Eligible male candidates must pay the ₹200/- application fee via Net Banking, Debit Card, or UPI, while exempted candidates proceed directly.
- Step 6: You must verify all preview entries, click the final submit button, and download the confirmation slip along with your dynamic Application Number.
🎯 Rojgar Sangam Expert Tips
Our analysis of candidate discussion boards highlights critical submission bottlenecks where minor upload errors and inaccurate choice allocations resulted in outright application rejection during past recruitment cycles.
- Live Photo Capture Error: Background shadows or dim lighting often trigger system rejection during live facial capture. You must position your face in bright daylight against a white wall and grant camera browser permissions.
- Triple Signature Specification: Many candidates mistakenly upload a single signature, which invalidates the document. You must sign three vertical signatures on a plain white paper using black ink and upload the full image.
- Air Force Academy (AFA) Preference Mandate: Candidates frequently designate Air Force Academy as a secondary choice, which voids the entry. You must select AFA as your first preference to secure eligibility for the Computerised Pilot Selection System.
- Permanent Submission Lock: The UPSC portal permits zero edits and disallows application withdrawals after final lock. You must verify your matriculation name spelling, Date of Birth, and ID details before confirming the final submission.
UPSC CDS II 2026 : Important Links & Resources
Direct verification portals provide authentic access to the official notification PDF, examination timetables, admit card login links, and official press notes which UPSC issues for defence aspirants.
| Resources Type | Direct Link/Information |
| Download Admit Card | Click Here to Download Admit Card |
| Download Exam Schedule | Click Here to Download Exam Schedule |
| Download Press Note (03/09/2026) | Click Here for Press Note-03/09/2026 |
| Download Syllabus | Click Here to Download Syllabus |
| Download Notification | Click to Download Advt. No. 11/2026-CDS-II |
| Official Website | Click to Open UPSC Official Portal |
💡Note – Aspirants must review the complete advertisement text before applying, confirm their educational degrees, verify birth date brackets, and submit their online forms well before the 09 Jun 2026 deadline.
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| Useful Tools | Age Calculator, Image, PDF, More Tools | Visit Website |
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| Our iOS App (iPhone) is Not Currently Available. | ||
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