UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS)
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026, offering a prestigious opportunity to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). This is an excellent opportunity for graduates and final-year students aspiring to become commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces, with a total of 451 vacancies announced.
1. Short Intro
UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS)
The Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026, is a bi-annual recruitment exam conducted by the UPSC for entry into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as commissioned officers. The selection process involves a written test, followed by the rigorous Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, and a medical examination. Successful candidates will undergo training at the respective academies before being commissioned as officers.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 10.12.2025 |
| Start Date for Online Application | 10.12.2025 |
| Last Date for Online Submission | 30.12.2025 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Application Modification Window | 06.01.2026 to 12.01.2026 |
| Written Examination Date | 12th April, 2026 |
3. Eligibility (Educational Qualification)
| Academy | Educational Qualification |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution. |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering. |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) | Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. |
Note: Final year students are also eligible to apply, subject to producing proof of passing the degree examination by the specified date.
4. Age Limit (as on 1st January 2027)
| Academy | Gender & Marital Status | Age Criteria / Date of Birth Range |
| IMA & INA | Unmarried Male | Born not earlier than 2nd January 2003 and not later than 1st January 2008. |
| AFA | Unmarried Male | 20 to 24 years. Born not earlier than 2nd January 2003 and not later than 1st January 2007. |
| OTA (SSC Men) | Unmarried Male | Born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2008. |
| OTA (SSC Women) | Unmarried Women, Issueless Widows/Divorcees | Born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2008. |
5. Vacancy Details
A total of 451 vacancies have been released across the four academies.
| S. No. | Course Name | Vacancies |
| 1 | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 100 |
| 2 | Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | 26 |
| 3 | Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 32 |
| 4 | Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (SSC Men) | 275 |
| 5 | Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (SSC Women) | 18 |
| TOTAL | 451 |
6. Selection Process
The selection process for the CDS (I) 2026 is conducted in the following stages:
Written Examination: Conducted by UPSC. IMA, INA, and AFA candidates appear for three papers (English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics), while OTA candidates appear for only two papers (English, General Knowledge).
Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the 5-day SSB interview/test for intelligence and personality assessment. 3. Document Verification: Verification of all original documents.
Medical Examination: Conducted by a military medical board.
Final Merit List: Prepared based on the combined marks of the written exam and SSB interview.
7. Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Exemption Status |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹200/- | Not Exempted |
| SC / ST Candidates | Nil (Exempted) | Exempted |
| Female Candidates | Nil (Exempted) | Exempted |
| The fee can be paid online using Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking, or offline via an SBI branch challan. |
8. Salary
Officers recruited through the CDS exam receive an attractive salary package as per the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations.
Stipend during Training: ₹56,100/- per month (Fixed Stipend, equivalent to Basic Pay in Level 10).
Pay upon Commissioning (Lieutenant/Equivalent Rank):
Pay Scale: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500/- per month (Pay Level 10).
Military Service Pay (MSP): A fixed amount of ₹15,500/- per month is granted to officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier.
Allowances: Officers are entitled to various allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), Flying Allowance (₹25,000/month for Air Force pilots), Siachen Allowance (₹42,500/month), High Altitude Allowance, Field Area Allowance, and Transport Allowance (TPTA).
Certainly. Here is the rank-wise pay scale for commissioned officers after the CDS examination, presented in a table format:
| Rank | Pay Level | Basic Pay Range (₹) |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10 B | 61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lt. Colonel | Level 12 A | 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
9. How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
Candidates must apply online through the official UPSC portal.
Visit the Portal: Navigate to the official UPSC online application website at https://upsconline.nic.in.
Universal Registration: Register on the portal to create an Account and obtain a Universal Registration Number (URN). If already registered, log in using your URN.
Common Application Form (CAF): Complete the CAF, which covers personal and basic educational details.
Examination Specific Module: Select the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026, and fill out the specific details, including academy preference.
Fee Payment: Pay the application fee (₹200, if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
Upload Documents: Upload the scanned copy of your Photograph and Signature, and capture a live photograph as per the instructions provided in the application module.
Select Centre: Choose your preferred examination centre. Note that centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
Final Submission: Review all details carefully. Submit the final application and download the generated Application Number for future correspondence.
10. Important Links Table
Here is the table containing the important links for the UPSC CDS (I) 2026 examination:
| Description | Link/URL |
| Official UPSC Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
| Direct Link to Apply Online | https://upsconline.nic.in |
| Direct Link for Application Withdrawal | Available on the application portal |
| Portal for Question Paper Representation | https://upsconline.gov.in/miscellaneous/QPRep/ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the minimum educational qualification required for IMA? A degree from a recognized University or equivalent is required.
Are female candidates required to pay the application fee? No, female candidates are exempted from paying the application fee.
Is there a minimum height requirement for the CDS exam? Yes, physical and medical standards are prescribed for entry into the respective academies, details of which are in the full notification.
Can a final year degree student apply for CDS (I) 2026? Yes, candidates in the final year are eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of passing the degree by the date specified in the notification.
What is the pay scale of a commissioned officer (Lieutenant)? The pay scale starts at Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500), plus Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 and other allowances.