UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 Started For 451 Posts, Check Eligibility, Age Limit & Exam Date

May 22, 2026 · Nishu · Latest Jobs

The Union Public Service Commission has started the application process for the UPSC CDS II Recruitment 2026 examination has begun, as per the announcements made by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who wish to become a part of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, or Officers Training Academy through the Combined Defence Services Exam, can now apply for the exam online.

The official notification regarding the UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 opened on 20 May 2026 and will close on 9 June 2026. The recruitment examination is being conducted for 451 vacancies across various defence services institutions.

Before filling out an application form for this examination, candidates are advised to check all the eligibility requirements, education qualifications, and age limits applicable to them along with the selection process detailed here under.

[gtranslate]

UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 Highlights

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS II) 2026
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission
Advertisement Number	11/2026-CDS-II
Total Vacancies	451 Posts
Application Mode	Online
Online Form Start Date	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply	09 June 2026
Exam Date	13 September 2026
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in/

UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should keep all important dates in mind because UPSC generally does not extend the application deadline repeatedly.

Event	Date
Notification Release	20 May 2026
Online Application Start	20 May 2026
Last Date to Apply	09 June 2026
Fee Payment Last Date	09 June 2026
CDS II Exam Date	13 September 2026
Admit Card Release	Before Exam

UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 Details

This recruitment includes vacancies for multiple defence academies.

Academy	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	100
Air Force Academy	32
Indian Naval Academy	26
Officers Training Academy (OTA)	293
Total	451 Posts

The highest number of seats this time are available for OTA, which may attract a large number of applicants from graduation backgrounds.

UPSC CDS II Eligibility Criteria 2026 Explained

Many candidates get confused while checking CDS eligibility because qualification requirements are different for each academy. Here is the simplified explanation.

For Indian Military Academy (IMA) & OTA

Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university.

For Indian Naval Academy

Applicants must hold an Engineering degree from a recognized institution.

For Air Force Academy

Candidates must have:

Graduation in any stream
Physics and Mathematics studied in Class 12th

Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply if they fulfill UPSC conditions before document verification.

UPSC CDS II Age Limit 2026

According to the official notification:

Candidates must be born not earlier than 01 July 2003
And not later than 01 July 2008

Age relaxation rules will be applicable according to UPSC recruitment guidelines wherever allowed.

UPSC CDS II Application Fee 2026

Category	Fee
General / OBC	₹200
SC / ST / Female Candidates	₹0

Payment Methods Available

Debit Card
Credit Card
Net Banking
IMPS
Wallet / UPI options

How To Fill UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026

Candidates should complete the application carefully because mistakes in personal details can create issues later during SSB and document verification.

Step-By-Step Process

Visit the official UPSC portal.
Complete One Time Registration (if not already registered).
Fill personal and educational details carefully.
Upload photograph and signature in correct format.
Pay application fee online.
Preview the application form before final submission.
Download and save the final submitted form.

Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid During Application

Many forms get rejected due to avoidable mistakes. Keep these points in mind:

Do not enter incorrect date of birth.
Use active mobile number and email ID.
Upload clear passport-size photo only.
Match educational details with official documents.
Avoid waiting until the last day because server traffic increases heavily.

UPSC CDS II Selection Process 2026

The recruitment process includes multiple stages.

Stage	Details
Stage 1	Written Examination
Stage 2	SSB Interview
Stage 3	Medical Examination
Final Selection	Merit Basis

Candidates preparing for CDS should focus equally on written exam preparation and personality assessment for SSB interviews.

UPSC CDS II Exam Pattern Insight

The difficulty level of CDS generally ranges from moderate to difficult. Questions are asked mainly from:

English
General Knowledge
Elementary Mathematics

OTA candidates do not have the Mathematics paper, which makes OTA a preferred option for many non-maths students.

Salary & Career Opportunities After CDS

Selected candidates receive training in prestigious defence academies and later join commissioned officer posts in:

Indian Army
Indian Navy
Indian Air Force

Apart from salary, officers receive:

Government accommodation
Medical facilities
Travel benefits
Pension benefits
Career growth opportunities

EXAMTAZA Analysis

Defence recruitment has a significant significance for candidates with defence career aspirations immediately subsequent to completing their degree:

The number of vacancies available is relatively good-451 offered

OTA has many more seats than the regular OTA

Strong competition for selection is expected to continue across India.

Advance preparation for SSB allows for a better chance of success for candidates than less advanced preparation.

Graduates approaching graduation must not delay in preparing since selection through the CDS process is based both on graduation, and individual assessment based on having an ‘officer like’ quality.

What Should Candidates Do Now?

Here’s the practical roadmap for aspirants:

If You Are Eligible

Fill the form early
Start revision of GK and English daily
Solve previous year CDS papers
Practice basic Mathematics regularly

If You Are Preparing For OTA

Focus more on:

English comprehension
Current affairs
Personality development for SSB

If You Are Appearing First Time

Understand the complete selection process instead of preparing only for the written exam.

Important Documents Needed

Keep these documents ready before applying:

Graduation marksheets
Aadhaar card
Passport-size photo
Signature scan
Category certificate (if applicable)

Join Our Channels (Fast Updates)

Platform	Link
Join WhatsApp Channel	Join Now
Join Telegram Channel	Join Now

Important Links

Details	Link
Apply Online	Apply Here
Official Notification	Check Here
Official Website	Check Here

UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026 FAQs

Q1. What is the last date to apply for UPSC CDS II Recruitment 2026?

The last date to submit the online application form is 09 June 2026.

Q2. How many vacancies are available in UPSC CDS II 2026?

A total of 451 posts have been announced.

Q3. What is the exam date for CDS II 2026?

The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.

Q4. Can final year students apply for CDS II 2026?

Yes, eligible final year students can apply according to UPSC rules.

Q5. Is there any fee for female candidates?

No, female candidates are exempted from application fee payment.

You Can Also Check Latest EXAMTAZA Updates :

Disclaimer: Information regarding exam forms, results/marks, answer keys, admit cards and recruitment updates published on Examtaza.in is provided only for immediate information to students and should not be considered as an official or legal document. While every effort is made by the Examtaza Team to ensure accuracy (including official links and updates), we are not responsible for any errors, changes or inaccuracies. Users are advised to verify all details from the official website. Examtaza.in will not be liable for any loss or damage. For any correction, please contact us through the Contact Us page.