UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) — Syllabus, PYQs & P…

Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission twice a year for admission of graduates to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers' Training Academy. A written examination is followed by an SSB Intelligence and Personality Test.

Important dates

CDS (I) 2027 Notification: 2 Dec 2026
Last Date to Apply: 22 Dec 2026
CDS (I) 2027 Exam: 11 Apr 2027
CDS (II) 2027 Notification: 12 May 2027
CDS (II) 2027 Exam: 19 Sept 2027

Eligibility

Qualification: IMA and OTA: degree of a recognised university or equivalent. Indian Naval Academy: degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as core or elective (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2). Air Force Academy: degree of a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2) or Bachelor of Eng…
Age: 19 to 25 years

Age limits differ by academy (CDS II 2026): IMA and INA 19 to 24, unmarried men; Air Force Academy 20 to 24 (up to 26 with a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence); OTA SSC Men and SSC Women Non-Technical 19 to 25. Elementary Mathematics is not taken by OTA candidates.

Selection process

Written Examination: IMA, INA and AFA take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (300 marks); OTA takes English and General Knowledge (200 marks)
SSB Intelligence and Personality Test: Stage I (Officer Intelligence Rating and Picture Perception and Description Test) and Stage II (Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference)
Final Selection: Made in order of merit subject to medical fitness and suitability in all other respects and number of vacancies available

Exam pattern

English, 100 marks, 120 minutes, Objective, OMR answer sheet, negative marking: One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to the question deducted for each wrong answer
General Knowledge, 100 marks, 120 minutes, Objective, OMR answer sheet, negative marking: One-third (0.33) deducted for each wrong answer
Elementary Mathematics, 100 marks, 120 minutes, Objective, OMR answer sheet, negative marking: One-third (0.33) deducted for each wrong answer

How to apply

Apply online at https://upsconline.nic.in. The portal has four modules: Account creation, Universal Registration and Common Application Form are common to all examinations; the fourth module is examination specific and is filled during the application window.

Application fee (General/OBC/EWS (male)): Rs 200
Application fee (Female/SC/ST): Rs 0

Vacancies

Total vacancies: 451
Year: CDS (II) 2026

Indian Military Academy: 100
Indian Naval Academy: 26
Air Force Academy: 32
OTA SSC Men: 275
OTA SSC Women: 18

Pay scale

Post: Lieutenant (on commissioning)
Pay level: Level 10
Gross pay: Lieutenant: Level 10 (Rs 56100 to Rs 177500). Stipend of Rs 56100 per month to Officer Cadets during the entire duration of training in Service academies i.e. during training period at IMA, INA, AFA and OTA