CDS 2026: CDS 1 Application Form Active, Eligibility, Exam Dates, Syllabus & Exam Pattern

CDS 1 2026 notification was published by UPSC on 10th December 2025, with the CDS online application form on the same day. The CDS 1 application dates are from 10th December to 30th December 2025, and there are 451 CDS vacancies for 2025. The CDS 1 exam date is scheduled for 12th April 2026. The CDS 2 2026 notification will be out on 20th May 2026, and the last date to apply for CDS 2 will be 9th June 2026. The CDS 2 exam will take place on 13th September 2026. The UPSC also released the final result of CDS 1 2025 final result selecting 365 candidates, while the CDS 2 result 2025 was announced on 9th October 2025.

Candidates preparing for UPSC CDS 2026 exam are required to update with the official exam dates. The CDS schedule includes important events, such as a-notification release date, application dates, exam dates for both CDS 1 and CDS 2. Check the below table for CDS exam dates 2026:

Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a national-level defence services recruitment exam regulated by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who successfully clear this exam will then be appointed as commissioned officers in any one or more of three different branches i.e., Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF). Usually, there are two exams held each year i.e., one in April and another in September. Each year attracts many defense aspirants competing for selection through two phases of examination. CDS includes a tough exam followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview phase to measure an applicant’s intellectual, physical and attribute competency.

After the final selection is made per merit and candidate preferences, trained applicants go into the training academy for IMA, INA, AFA or OTA. As they progress in training and complete formal degrees, they receive INR. 56 K/month (INR 56,100). Upon successful completion of the training phase, officer candidates enter into commissioned status as a Lieutenant. Candidates must check the below table for CDS training academies:

CDS 1 & 2 Exam 2026

CDS 1 Exam 2026 is conducted for courses commencing in January 2027 at IMA, INA, and AFA, and April 2027 at OTA, Chennai.

CDS 1 Exam 2026 is conducted for courses commencing in January 2027 at IMA, INA, and AFA, and April 2027 at OTA, Chennai.

CDS Exam Highlights

Check the below table for CDS exam highlights:

On 10th December 2025, the CDS 1 Notification for 2026 was published by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) on its official website. The notification is in a PDF document containing all the information related to the CDS exam, such as the schedule for the exam, how to apply, syllabus, exam format, and any other information needed by applicants. Check the steps below to download CDS notification 2026:

• Visit the official website upsc.gov.in.

• Click on the CDS 1 Notification 2026 link.

• Open the notification PDF on the screen.

• Download and save the PDF for future reference

CDS 1 2026 application process started on December 10, 2025, with the official notification PDF release on the same date. The last date to apply is December 30, 2025. To apply for CDS 1 2026, candidates will be using the new UPSC online portal. The updated system for applying online consists of four steps, i.e., Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and Apply for the Exam. The Common Application Form is common across all UPSC exams and may be completed earlier before applying for a specific exam. The official CDS Notification PDF is available on upsconline.nic.in contains all the necessary information about the CDS Examination. First, candidates should complete their One Time Registration (OTR) to be able to fill out the online application form for CDS 1 2026. Below are the steps to fill out the CDS 1 2026 application form online.

Step 1: Visit upsconline.nic.in.
Step 2: Log in using your OTR credentials.
Step 3: Complete Part 1 registration with the required details.
Step 4: Upload the photograph, signature, and photo ID proof.
Step 5: Pay the application fee online.
Step 6: Select the preferred CDS 1 exam centre.
Step 7: Submit the application form.
Step 8: A confirmation message will be sent to the registered mobile number and email ID.

Revised CDS 1 Application Correction Process

To complete the CDS 1 online application, candidates are required to visit upsconline.nic.in. Candidates must correctly fill out all personal information and upload supporting documents verifying their date of birth, educational background, and eligibility criteria.  Failure to submit correct information or required documents during the CDS registration 2026 will lead to cancellation of candidature. UPSC does not allow any CDS application correction window after the final submission. Changes in exam preferences, once submitted, are strictly not permitted. Therefore, candidates are advised to verify all details carefully before completing the CDS 1 application form 2026.

CDS Registration Fee

• The CDS application fee can be paid through online and offline modes.

• General and OBC male candidates are required to pay INR 200.

• SC, ST, and female candidates are exempted from fee payment.

To appear for the UPSC CDS 2026 examination, candidates must satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions, including nationality, age limit, educational qualification, and physical standards.

Nationality

Candidates who are permanently settled in India are eligible to apply for the CDS exam.

CDS 1 Age Limit 2026

CDS 2 Age Limit 2026 (As per UPSC)

CDS Educational Qualification 2026

Note: Final-year or final-semester graduation students can apply provisionally, provided they submit proof of passing before course commencement.

Can 12th Pass Candidates Apply for CDS?

• No. Candidates must hold a graduation degree or be appearing in the final year.

• INA applicants must possess an engineering degree.

• AFA applicants must have Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or an engineering degree.

Graduates opting for Army, Navy, or Air Force as first preference must submit graduation or provisional certificates at the time of the SSB interview.

Can Female Candidates Apply for CDS?

• Yes. Female candidates are eligible to apply for Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women – Non-Technical) courses.

CDS Physical Fitness Standards

Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards prescribed by UPSC to be considered eligible.

CDS Height & Weight Standards

• BMI: Below 25

• Waist-Hip Ratio: Male < 0.9, Female < 0.8

• Waist Circumference: Male < 90 cm, Female < 80 cm

Visual Standards for CDS 2026

To be eligible to take CDS 2026, all applicants must satisfy the visual standards established by UPSC. The vision parameters for the various categories are separated into three groups as per the individual academies of training: IMA and OTA, Indian Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. The details of the visual standards are given below: 

IMA & OTA Visual Standards

Naval Visual Standards

Air Force Visual Standards

• Candidates wearing spectacles regularly are not eligible

• Colour Vision: CP-I

• Hypermetropia: +2.0 D

• Manifest Myopia: Nil

• Astigmatism: +0.75 D Cyl

Maddox Rod Test Limits:

• At 33 cm: Exo-16, Eso-6, Hyper-1, Hypo-1

• At 6 m: Exo-6, Eso-6, Hyper-1, Hypo-1

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the details regarding the vacancies associated with the CDS 1 examination in 2026 along with a PDF version of the official notification. Candidates planning to appear for the exam can check the academy-wise CDS vacancy distribution in the table below:

CDS syllabus includes questions from English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The Mathematics syllabus is based on the Class 10 level, while the English and General Knowledge sections are of graduation-level difficulty. Check the below table for CDS syllabus 2026:

CDS exam pattern 2026 will have two main parts to it, which are a written exam and an SSB interview. Different academies have different exam formats for their written tests, while the SSB interview looks at your intelligence, personality, and leadership abilities. Check the table below for CDS exam pattern 2026:

Check the below table for subject-wise books for CDS 2026:

Books for General Awareness

Books for English

Books for Maths

With lakhs of candidates appearing for CDS exam each year, focused preparation is important. Candidates must follow these tips to improve their performance:

• Practice previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level

• Focus more on high-weightage topics from each subject

• Create a realistic study timetable and follow it consistently

• Strengthen basic Maths concepts using high school-level textbooks

CDS Exam Day Guidelines

To make sure that there are no problems on exam day at the exam center, CDS exam candidates are required to adhere to all official exam day guidelines:

• Present a valid photo ID and original CDS admit card with a photocopy.

• Use a black ballpoint pen and bring a clipboard/hardboard to support writing.

• Rough worksheets will be provided by the proctor.

• Books, notes, loose paper, calculators, mathematics or drawing tools, log tables, stencils, slide rules, or any kind of test booklets are NOT to be brought to the exam center.

• Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, pagers, and any form of electronic communications equipment are prohibited from the testing center.

CDS admit card is released online by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates can download it by logging in with their registration number or roll number and date of birth. To download the CDS admit card follow these steps:

1. Go to the UPSC's official website upsc.gov.in.

2. Click on the link for the CDS Admit Card located on the homepage.

3. You will be taken to a new page.

4. Click on the link for the CDS e-Admit Card.

5. Read all instructions preceding entering your details.

6. Enter your application number/roll number and date of birth in the fields provided.

7. Click the Submit button.

8. Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

9. Save the admit card for future reference.

Discrepancies in UPSC CDS Admit Card

Candidates must carefully verify details such as name, father’s name, category, date of birth, photograph, and signature printed on the admit card. If any mismatch or error is found, candidates should immediately contact UPSC with the following information:

• Exam name and year

• Registration number

• Roll number

• Postal address (mentioning the application number)

What to Do in Case of Discrepancy in CDS Admit Card?

According to UPSC latest instructions for CDS exam, candidates must follow the following measures:

• According to UPSC rules, if there is any mistake with your e-Admit Card, please email UPSC as soon as possible so they can correct it. The email address is skindo-upsc@gov.in.

• If there isn't a photograph on your e-Admit Card or if it is not clear, you need to bring three identical passport-sized photos to the examination site (one for each session), along with a printout of your e-Admit Card, and an undertaking. UPSC does not provide hard copies (or paper) of the CDS Exam Admit Cards.

CDS exam is conducted across multiple cities in India. Some of the major CDS exam centres 2026 are listed in the table below:

The feedback and experiences posted by candidates of CDS 1 2026 provide information about the level of difficulty, type of questions, pattern of examination and similar details. Candidates can also find out how the exam went for a number of candidates who appeared for CDS 2025. Aspirants can also check the CDS 2025 analysis based on previous candidates’ reviews for trends and section-wise insights.

CDS 1 2025 Exam Analysis based on students feedback:

CDS 1 2026 answer key is available for download on the official website of UPSC. The other sources of information regarding the predicted scores are different coaching institutes that provide unofficial answer keys, which will aid candidates in determining whether or not they qualify for the SSB interview.  Check the below steps to download CDS Answer Key 2026:

1. Click on the link to download the answer key.

2. Click on the link to download the PDF.

3. After opening the PDF link, the answer key will appear on your screen.

4. Download the answer key for your reference.

Candidates will also have access to the official CDS question papers for all subjects in PDF file format. 

• To access these question papers, they must log into the UPSC Representation portal using thie roll number, date of birth, and Captcha.

• Candidates may raise objections against any question by using the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep).

Candidates are encouraged to use the CDS 2025 question papers to prepare for the CDS 2026 examination until they become available. Maths, English, and General Knowledge will be available electronically in PDF format for all testing booklet sets.

If candidates want to pass the CDS 2026 exam, they should take as many mocks as possible. Working through UPSC CDS mock tests allows candidates to develop speed, accuracy, and time management skills while also building their confidence for the actual test. Candidates must use these tips when using mock tests:

• Practice in the actual exam environment (i.e., take the test with the same time limit and under the same stress).

• Review the high-level topics you struggled with in your last mock test.

• Spend additional time on your weak areas.

• Review high-frequency topics seen throughout all mocks you have taken.

• Practice regularly to develop both speed and accuracy.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will declare the CDS 1 Result 2026 for all courses, i.e., IMA, INA, AFA, OTA (Men), and OTA (Women), on its official website. The result will be published in PDF format, listing the roll numbers and names of candidates shortlisted in the Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2026. Candidates can download the PDF to check their qualification status. Check the steps below to download CDS 1 Result 2026:

Step 1: Visit upsc.gov.inStep 2: Click on the CDS I Result 2026 link
Step 3: The result PDF will open on the screen
Step 4: Check your roll number/name and save the PDF for future reference

CDS Expected Cut Off 2026  gives candidates an idea of the minimum qualifying marks required to clear the written exam and the final selection after the SSB interview. The cut-offs vary based on the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA (Men and Women), depending on the complexity of the respective examination, vacancies available, and overall candidate performance. Candidates should refer to the expected cutoff of CDS 1 and CDS 2 for each academy and use them to determine their potential chances of being successfully selected.

CDS 2 Expected Cut Off 2026

CDS 1 Expected Cut Off 2026

Note: The above cut off marks are indicative and may vary in the official CDS 2026 results.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts a multi-stage process to identify qualified individuals for appointment to the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force). Check the step-by-step UPSC CDS selection process 2026:

Step 1: The announcement and application process begins

Step 2: Candidates are invited to apply and register for the written examination.

Step 3: Candidates must sit for the written examination.

Step 4: Candidates receive the results of their written examination.

Step 5: After passing the written examination, candidates appear for the SSB Interview.

Step 6: Candidates are presented with final results and merit lists after being evaluated during the SSB interview.

CDS Recommended Marks 2026

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will publish the CDS 2026 recommended marks for candidates who qualify for the written exam and SSB interview. These marks are released in PDF format on the official website.  Check the below steps to download CDS Recommended Marks 2026:

• Visit the official UPSC website

• Click on the CDS 2026 Recommended Marks link

• Open the PDF file

• Download and save the marks PDF for future reference