UPSC CDS II Examination 2026
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released an employment notification for the recruitment of 451 vacancy through Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. Interested and eligible candidates may apply online here .
Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on 13th September, 2026 and last date for submission of online application is 09th June 2026.
UPSC CDS II Examination Details
Name of exam: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
No of posts: 451 posts
Mode of application: Online
Helpline no.: 011-24041001 | 011-40303444 | email ID – upscsoap@nic.in
Vacancy Break-Up
Training Institute-wise vacancy break up is as mentioned below.
Eligibility Criteria of UPSC CDS II Examination
Nationality
Candidate must be unmarried and must either be:
(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
(ii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
# Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
# Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
# Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status
# IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2008 only are eligible.
# Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2008 only are eligible.
# Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2027 i.e. born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2007. Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 1st July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2007 only are eligible
# Officers' Training Academy: (SSC Course for men) Unmarried male candidate born not earlier than 1st July 2002 and not later than 1st July, 2008 only are eligible.
# Officers' Training Academy: (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 1st July, 2002 and not later than 1st July, 2008.
# I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
# Indian Naval Academy: A degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics as core or elective subject from recognised University/ Institution (with Physics and Mathematics in 10+2 level).
# Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Application Fee:
# Others: Rs. 200/-
# Female/ SC/ ST: NIL
# Payment mode: Online. Using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking facility of any Bank .
# Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2008 only are eligible.
# Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2027 i.e. born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2007. Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 1st July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2007 only are eligible
# Officers' Training Academy: (SSC Course for men) Unmarried male candidate born not earlier than 1st July 2002 and not later than 1st July, 2008 only are eligible.
# Officers' Training Academy: (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 1st July, 2002 and not later than 1st July, 2008.
Educational Qualification
# I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
# Indian Naval Academy: A degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics as core or elective subject from recognised University/ Institution (with Physics and Mathematics in 10+2 level).
# Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Application Fee:
# Others: Rs. 200/-
# Female/ SC/ ST: NIL
# Payment mode: Online. Using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking facility of any Bank .
Scheme of Examination
The subjects of the written examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject will be as follows:
How to Apply for UPSC Recruitment ?
Interested and eligible candidates may apply online for these vacancy through online mode by visiting official UPSC Recruitment Portal. Candidates may follow below mentioned steps to apply for UPSC CDS II recruitment.
- Scroll down, go to Important Web-Links section .
- Click on the "Online Application Form" .
- The official application portal will be displayed.
- Fill your all personal and educational details and upload necessary documents.
- Make payment of application fee as per your category and submit the form.
- At the end, take a print out of the application form .
Important Dates of UPSC Recruitment 2026
# Starting date of submission of online application: 20th May 2026
# Last date of submission of online application: 09th June 2026
# Release date of Admit Card: To be updated later
# Date of written exam: 13th September 2026
# Date of written exam: 13th September 2026
Important Web-Links of UPSC CDS Examination
| Online Application Form | Click Here |
| Advertisement Details | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
