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 |
Notification and pattern source
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Appendix I of the CDS II 2026 notification sets out the scheme. OTA has two written papers; IMA, INA and AFA have three. This distinction changes the written maximum and the matching SSB maximum.
Official reference: CDS II 2026 examination scheme.
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.
Syllabus and paper standard
Detailed guide: CDS General Knowledge Preparation 2026–27: Syllabus & Revision
Elementary Mathematics is at matriculation level. English and General Knowledge are approximately graduate level. English tests understanding and practical use of language. GK covers current events, everyday scientific understanding, Indian history and geography. Mathematics includes arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration and statistics.
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.
How to practise the paper combination
Choose mocks for the academy you seek, work within each two-hour paper limit and calculate penalties by the marks assigned to each question. Analyse mistakes by syllabus topic, and practise English and GK consistently even if Mathematics is your strongest subject. These are editorial preparation suggestions; no particular score or study routine guarantees selection.
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
Does OTA have a Mathematics paper?
No. Its written combination is English and General Knowledge.
Is the negative penalty one-third of a mark?
It is one-third of the marks assigned to the question, not a fixed one-third mark in every paper.
Is SSB included in the written total?
No. It has a separate maximum equal to the written maximum for the relevant academy.