The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the notification for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II 2026 for recruitment into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force academies. This is one of the most prestigious defence examinations in India for graduate candidates seeking officer-level positions.
The official notification was released under Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II.
Vacancy Details
Academy
Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
200
Indian Naval Academy (INA)
32
Air Force Academy (AFA)
32
Officers Training Academy (OTA Men)
153
Officers Training Academy (OTA Women)
34
Total
451
Educational Qualification
Academy
Qualification
IMA & OTA
Bachelor’s Degree from recognized university
INA
Engineering Degree
AFA
Bachelor’s Degree with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Engineering Degree
Age Limit
Academy
Age Criteria
IMA
Unmarried male candidates born between 2 July 2003 to 1 July 2008
INA
Same as IMA
AFA
20 to 24 years
OTA
Men & Women candidates as per UPSC notification
Application Fees
Category
Fee
General/OBC Male
₹200
SC/ST/Female
No Fee
Payment can be made via SBI Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or SBI Challan.
Selection Process
The CDS II 2026 selection process consists of:
Written Examination
SSB Interview
Medical Examination
Final Merit List
Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA & AFA
Subject
Marks
Duration
English
100
2 Hours
General Knowledge
100
2 Hours
Elementary Mathematics
100
2 Hours
For OTA
Subject
Marks
Duration
English
100
2 Hours
General Knowledge
100
2 Hours
Important Dates
Event
Date
Notification Release
20 May 2026
Application Start
20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply
9 June 2026
Admit Card Release
September 2026
Written Exam
13 September 2026
Result Expected
October 2026
Salary & Training
Selected candidates will receive:
Stipend during training
Officer rank salary after commissioning
Military allowances
Free accommodation & medical facilities
Pension and defence benefits
The starting salary of commissioned officers generally begins around ₹56,100 + allowances under Level 10 pay matrix.
Why CDS is Popular?
The CDS examination provides direct entry into:
Indian Army
Indian Navy
Indian Air Force
It is one of the fastest routes for graduates to become commissioned officers in the defence services with excellent career growth, prestige, and benefits.
