Latest verified update
CDS II 2026 was held on 13 September. The official examination page records the final application deadline as 11 June 2026 at 6:00 pm and published the question papers on 14 September. The page reviewed on 6 October did not display a written-result document; this is a dated page observation, not a claim that no subsequent notice can exist.
CDS II 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Written examination | 13 September 2026; date now past |
| Applications | Closed; final receipt deadline on the official page: 11 June, 6:00 pm |
| Notified vacancies | 451 tentative: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA men 275, OTA women 18 |
| Course intake | IMA/INA/AFA courses in July 2027; OTA courses in October 2027 |
Official notification: academy rules come first
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
CDS eligibility is not one universal age-and-degree rule. Check the academy, course and examination session together. The course may start in 2027 even though the examination is CDS II 2026.
Official reference: Section 3: conditions of eligibility.
Age and marital-status conditions
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA and INA | Unmarried men born 1 July 2003–1 July 2008 |
| AFA: ordinary age window | Born 1 July 2003–1 July 2007; 20–24 years on 1 July 2027 |
| AFA: valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence concession | Born 1 July 2001–1 July 2007; upper age up to 26, subject to the exact licence condition |
| OTA men | Unmarried men born 1 July 2002–1 July 2008 |
| OTA women | Born 1 July 2002–1 July 2008; unmarried women, or specified issueless widows/divorcees who have not remarried |
For AFA, candidates below 25 must be unmarried; marriage is not permitted during training. The notification has specific conditions for married candidates aged 25 or above. Male divorcees/widowers are not treated as unmarried men for these entries. Use the school-certificate birth date and the exact official range rather than rounding age to whole years.
Educational qualification by academy
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA and OTA | Recognised university degree or equivalent |
| INA | Engineering degree OR BSc with Physics as a core/elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, as specified |
| AFA | Recognised degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 OR Bachelor of Engineering |
The INA wording in this notification is broader than a generic “engineering only” summary. Candidates should use the exact current notification and any later amendments.
Final-year candidates and qualification proof
Final-year/semester degree candidates can apply under the notification’s conditions. The specified final proof dates are 1 July 2027 for IMA/INA, 13 May 2027 for AFA and 1 October 2027 for OTA. Graduates with Army/Navy/Air Force as first choice have the separate instruction to present graduation/provisional certificates at the start of SSB. Read the full proof-submission provisions; permission to sit the written paper is not a waiver.
Nationality, documents and medical suitability
The notification permits Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal and specified persons of Indian origin, with Government of India eligibility certification where required; Gorkha subjects of Nepal have the stated certificate exception. Academy-specific medical standards and restrictions on previous training withdrawal also apply. Medical eligibility must be assessed under the official standards, not by an online checklist or coaching advertisement.
Selection after the written examination
Written qualification leads to the applicable Services Selection Board process. Stage I includes Officer Intelligence Rating and Picture Perception and Description testing. Only those who clear Stage I proceed to Stage II, which includes interview, group tasks, psychological tests and conference. Academy-specific medical fitness and document requirements remain necessary.
SSB maximum marks equal the written maximum: 300 for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 for OTA. Written and SSB performance, preferences, eligibility, medical fitness and available vacancies affect selection. Air Force applicants must also satisfy applicable flying-aptitude requirements. A written shortlist is not an admission guarantee.
Preparation resources
CDS eligibility · CDS pattern · CDS syllabus.
Download the 2026 English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers from the official examination page below. Match academy requirements before using a three-paper mock test: OTA candidates have a different written-paper combination.
2027 planning: calendar dates only
UPSC’s calendar lists CDS/NDA I 2027 notification on 2 December 2026, applications closing on 22 December and the examination on 11 April 2027. For CDS/NDA II 2027 it lists notification on 12 May, closure on 1 June and examination on 19 September. These dates can change; the calendar does not establish the next examinations’ vacancies or eligibility rules.
Official sources and review scope
- Official notification and detailed rules
- Official examination page: deadline and published documents
- UPSC 2027 calendar: provisional dates
Read subsequent official amendments and your candidate-specific instructions. A shortlist or provisional allotment does not by itself establish appointment. No unannounced 2027 recruitment facts are inferred.
Frequently asked questions
Is the same qualification valid for every academy?
No. IMA/OTA, INA and AFA have different qualification routes.
Does a 2027 course start make this CDS 2027?
No. CDS II 2026 identifies the examination cycle; its notified courses commence later.
Are the vacancies final?
No. The notification labels the 451 vacancies tentative and subject to change.