Latest update — 6 October 2026
This guide supports CDS 2026–27 preparation using the latest published CDS II scheme and official papers. CDS I 2027 is provisionally scheduled for 11 April; its notification is planned for 2 December 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest examination | CDS II 2026, held 13 September |
| Next calendar date | CDS I 2027, 11 April; tentative |
| Current syllabus reference | CDS II 2026 official notification; recheck the next notification |
| Academy choice | OTA uses English and GK; IMA/INA/AFA also require Mathematics |
What to use for the current session
Use the most recent official syllabus and the actual question papers for practice. Keep academy-specific eligibility and paper combinations together. The 2027 calendar supplies planning dates; it does not confirm new vacancies or carry forward birth-date cut-offs.
Official notification and syllabus PDF
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Detailed guide: CDS General Knowledge Preparation 2026–27: Syllabus & Revision
CDS official detailed notification and Appendix I
CDS written papers at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA, INA and AFA | English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; 100 marks and 2 hours for each paper |
| OTA | English and General Knowledge only; 100 marks and 2 hours each |
| Question format | Objective; GK and Mathematics booklets are in Hindi and English |
| Wrong-answer penalty | One-third of the marks assigned to the question; no penalty for a blank answer |
Age, marital status and nationality
Use the birth date in the prescribed school certificate. IMA/INA require unmarried male candidates under the cited conditions. OTA women’s provisions also address specified widows and divorcees; AFA has its own age/licence and marital rules. Do not substitute a social-media calculator for section 3 of the notification. Nationality and eligibility-certificate requirements must be satisfied separately.
Medical and selection checks
Medical standards depend on the service and entry. A short height chart cannot assess fitness, and a coaching institute cannot approve candidature. Follow the service medical procedure and SSB instructions. If your situation is not clearly covered, use the authority’s official help route with the exact clause and examination number.
Related guides and official practice papers
Current CDS eligibility · Complete examination pattern · Subject syllabus · Official previous-paper library.
Choose the correct year, session and subject. An official question paper is not automatically an answer key. Keep coaching explanations separate from UPSC-issued keys, and do not carry an old application deadline into a future study plan.
Start with the academy and session
A general “graduate aged 19–25” label is not enough. CDS II 2026 has different birth-date, education and marital-status conditions for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. Record the exact session, academy preference and course before checking your documents. Use the detailed current eligibility table for the verified dates.
Educational documents to compare
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA/OTA | Recognised degree or equivalent; verify the degree/provisional certificate |
| INA | The current notice permits an engineering degree or the specified BSc Physics route with 10+2 Physics and Mathematics; check both degree and school subjects |
| AFA | Recognised degree with 10+2 Physics and Mathematics, or Bachelor of Engineering |
| Final-year applicant | Use the conditional proof-submission provisions and academy-specific deadline, not an assumed universal date |
Before and after submission
Check the academy preferences, identity details, photographs, signature and educational entries before final submission. In the current notice, later changes to the Universal Registration profile do not retroactively change a submitted examination application. Save the acknowledgment and monitor the official portal. An accepted form or admit card is provisional admission, not final eligibility certification.
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.
Related 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.
Official sources
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a preparation plan guarantee selection?
No. Written qualification, SSB, medical suitability, eligibility and available vacancies all matter.
Is Mathematics required for OTA?
Not in the OTA written examination. Candidates seeking IMA, INA or AFA take it under the cited scheme.
Can I use the same rules for a later examination?
Use this as preparation guidance and recheck the notification for the actual session you enter.