The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the **Combined Defence Services (CDS) I Examination 2026**, aiming to fill a total of **451 Officer vacancies** across India's premier Defence Academies.
Key Dates and Schedule
- Notification Release Date,"December 10, 2025"
- Application Start Date,"December 10, 2025"
- Application End Date,"December 30, 2025 (up to 6:00 PM)"
- Written Exam Date,"April 12, 2026"
Vacancy and Academy Details
The total of 451 vacancies is distributed among the four training academies:
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: 100 vacancies.
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala: 26 vacancies.
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: 32 vacancies.
Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai: This includes 275 vacancies for Short Service Commission (Men) and 18 for Short Service Commission (Women), making it the largest single component of the recruitment drive.
Eligibility and Educational Qualifications
- IMA and OTA (Men & Women): A candidate must hold a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University in any stream. For OTA, the age limit is generally from 19 to 25 years.
- INA: A candidate must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from a recognized University.
- AFA: A candidate must have a Degree from a recognized University with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, OR a Bachelor of Engineering degree. The age limit for AFA is generally 20 to 24 years, with a relaxation up to 26 years for those holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence.
- Marital Status: Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for IMA, INA, and AFA. For OTA (Women), unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees who have not remarried are eligible.
- Final Year Students: Candidates in their final year or final semester of a degree course are provisionally eligible to apply, but they must submit proof of passing the degree by the date specified for the commencement of the respective course.
Application Fee
- General / OBC / EWS :200/-
- SC / ST :0/-
- All Category Female :0/-
- Pay the Exam Fee Through Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI / Offline Mode Only
Application Process
Candidates must apply exclusively online through the official UPSC website. The process involves two main parts:
1. One Time Registration (OTR): New applicants must first complete the OTR process to generate a unique Registration ID.
2. Filling the Application Form: Log in using the OTR credentials to complete the detailed application, which involves filling in personal and educational details, selecting the preferred academies, and choosing an examination centre.
3. Document Upload and Fee Payment: Scanned copies of the photograph and signature must be uploaded as per the specifications. The application fee is **Rs. 200/- for General and OBC male candidates. Female, SC, and ST candidates are completely exempted from the fee payment. The payment can be made online via debit/credit card, net banking, or offline through an SBI bank Challan.
4. Submission: After final review, the application is submitted, and the confirmation page must be printed for future reference. No hard copy of the application needs to be sent to UPSC.
Selection Procedure
The selection process is a multi-stage process designed to assess candidates' academic knowledge, personality, and physical fitness:
1. Written Examination: Conducted by UPSC, this consists of objective-type papers. For IMA, INA, and AFA, there are three papers (English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics). For OTA, there are only two papers (English and General Knowledge).
2. Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the five-day SSB procedure, which includes a two-stage selection process (Stage I: Screening; Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference).
3. Medical Examination: Final selection is subject to candidates clearing a thorough medical examination conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Services to ensure they meet the rigorous physical and mental fitness standards.
Some Useful Important Links
Apply Online
Download Notification
Official Website
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