Latest update — 6 October 2026
CDS II 2026 was held on 13 September; UPSC uploaded the three official papers on 14 September. The reviewed examination page does not yet show a CDS II written-result entry. For the next attempt, the official calendar schedules CDS I 2027 for 11 April 2027.
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 |
What is new for this session?
The official exam page records an extended closing date of 11 June, later than the 9 June date printed in the initial CDS II notice. The current portal uses Universal Registration and an examination-specific form. Use the notified academy/course combination; the courses begin in 2027 even though the examination is CDS II 2026.
Official notification
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Notification and complete rules
Important dates
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Final application deadline | 11 June 2026, 6 pm; closed |
| e-admit-card entry | 3 September 2026 |
| Written examination | 13 September 2026 |
| Official question papers | 14 September 2026 |
| Written result | No entry displayed on the official CDS II page at this review |
Admit-card status and official download
Use the admission link on the official examination page only for your own examination and stage. A past download entry is not evidence that access is currently active. If a fresh card is not listed, no release date is assumed here.
Download and exam-day checklist
- Open the official examination page and select the correct session.
- Follow its admission link and use the credentials requested there.
- Check your name, photo, roll number, paper, date, reporting time and venue.
- Print/save a readable card and carry the original identification and other items specified on it.
- Report errors through the authority’s official help route; do not edit the issued card yourself.
Paper and selection stages
Written examination pattern by academy
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA, INA and AFA | English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics: 100 marks and 2 hours each; total 300 |
| OTA | English and General Knowledge: 100 marks and 2 hours each; total 200 |
| Question format | Objective; GK and Mathematics question booklets are bilingual in Hindi and English |
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks assigned to a question for a wrong answer; blank answers have no penalty |
| Calculators | Not permitted in the objective papers |
UPSC can prescribe qualifying marks in any or all subjects. Minimum qualifying marks and the eventual competitive cut-off are different concepts; do not treat an unofficial estimate as a confirmed selection threshold.
Preparation resources
CDS previous-year papers · CDS syllabus checklist · 3- and 6-month study plans · CDS cut-off guide. Begin with the academy-specific paper combination, then practise official questions under each paper’s time limit.
2027 session planning
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CDS I / NDA I notification | 2 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I application deadline | 22 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I examination | 11 April 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II notification | 12 May 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II application deadline | 1 June 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II examination | 19 September 2027 |
The calendar provides dates. The next notification must establish its vacancies, eligibility cut-offs and application rules.
Official sources
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest official update?
CDS II 2026 was held on 13 September; UPSC uploaded the three official papers on 14 September. The reviewed examination page does not yet show a CDS II written-result entry. For the next attempt, the official calendar schedules CDS I 2027 for 11 April 2027.
Are the 2027 dates guaranteed?
Published calendar dates are subject to change. Where a detailed notification has been issued, read it with any later amendment.
Can I reuse the previous cycle’s eligibility conditions?
Only as preparation context. The notification for your own examination/session determines eligibility and the application rules.