UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026 Notification: Apply for 451 Defence Officer Posts
Union Public Service Commission — Ministry of Defence
📅 Important Dates
| Application Start | 20 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply | 09 Jun 2026 |
| Fee Payment Deadline | 09 Jun 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13 Sep 2026 |
📋 Vacancy Details
| Post Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) Officer |
|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Qualification | Degree of a recognised University or equivalent |
| Age Limit | 19-25 years |
| Salary | 56,100 INR |
| Application Fee | 200 INR (Exempted for Female/SC/ST) |
| Selection Process | Written Examination, SSB Interview, Medical Examination |
📝 Detailed Notification Information
UPSC CDS 2 2026 Exam Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), 2026. This recruitment drive aims to fill 451 vacancies across prestigious academies including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).
Important Dates
- Notification Date: 2026-05-20
- Online Application Start Date: 2026-05-20
- Last Date to Apply: 2026-06-09
- Date of Written Examination: 2026-09-13
Vacancy Details
The 451 total vacancies are distributed as follows:
- IMA (163rd DE Course): 100 Posts
- INA (Executive Branch/Hydro): 26 Posts
- AFA (222 F(P) Course): 32 Posts
- OTA (126th SSC Men): 275 Posts
- OTA (126th SSC Women): 18 Posts
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Specific requirements for Naval and Air Force academies include Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level. Final-year students are eligible to apply provided they meet the specific course completion timelines.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of three stages:
- Written Examination: Objective-type test covering English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (for IMA/INA/AFA) or English and GK (for OTA).
- SSB Intelligence & Personality Test: A rigorous multi-day assessment for candidates who qualify the written stage.
- Medical Examination: Final verification against the physical and medical standards prescribed by the Ministry of Defence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must apply exclusively through the official UPSC online portal. Ensure you have your Aadhaar card, scanned photograph, and signature ready before starting the registration process. Detailed instructions are available in the official notification.
📝 How to Apply
📚 Preparation Strategy for Union Public Service Commission
Securing a government position under Union Public Service Commission requires a disciplined and strategic approach. Candidates with Degree of a recognised University or equivalent qualifications should focus on the following:
- Analyze Syllabus & Pattern: Thoroughly review the official Union Public Service Commission exam syllabus. Understand the marking scheme, sectional cutoffs, and whether negative marking applies.
- Practice Previous Papers: Solving past Union Public Service Commission exam papers and taking timed mock tests is the most effective way to improve speed and accuracy.
- Time Management: Dedicate fixed study hours for quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, general awareness, and language tests based on the weightage of marks in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Officer examination.
⚠️ Safe Application Checklist
To avoid fraud and secure your candidature for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Officer position, always complete the following checks before submitting your application:
- Verify Official Domains: Ensure you apply only on official government portals. Check that the website URL ends in
.gov.in,.nic.in, or.ac.in. - Read PDF Notification: Always download and thoroughly read the official Union Public Service Commission notification PDF to check specific eligibility details, reservations, and document formats.
- Beware of Agents: Government recruitments by Union Public Service Commission are strictly based on merit. Never pay money to unauthorized agents promising guaranteed jobs.
How can I confirm if this Union Public Service Commission job posting is genuine?
Every job notification listed on ApplySarkariJob.com is cross-verified with official government gazettes, department portals, and national employment newspapers. We provide direct links to the official Union Public Service Commission website and the original notification PDF in the "Source/Official Links" section above. Candidates are strongly advised to verify all information on the official portal before applying for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Officer post.
What should I do if the official application link or PDF does not open?
Union Public Service Commission portals often experience extremely high traffic when notifications are released or close to the deadline, causing official servers to slow down or crash. If a link or official PDF is unresponsive, please try accessing it during off-peak hours (early morning or late night) or check your internet connection.
Does ApplySarkariJob charge any fees for recruitment updates or alerts?
No. ApplySarkariJob.com is a 100% free informational portal. We never charge job seekers for notifications, study materials, or push alerts. If you receive any calls, emails, or messages requesting payment under our name, please ignore them as they are fraudulent.
What qualifications do I need for this Union Public Service Commission recruitment?
The educational qualification required for this recruitment is: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent. Please always refer to the official notification PDF linked in the "Source/Official Links" section above for the most accurate and complete eligibility criteria, including age limits, experience requirements, and category-specific relaxations.
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🔗 Source/Official Links
Deepak Joshi is a career development expert and motivational speaker who has been actively involved in the Sarkari Result ecosystem for 7 years. He focuses on Police, SSC, and state government job notifications.