The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 Exam 2026 for 451 posts. The online application process is currently open, and eligible candidates can apply on the official website. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 451 CDS 1 Posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply Online through the official UPSC website. The last date to submit the application form is 30-12-2025.
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Overview :
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 Exam 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Notification Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Application Start Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Application End Date | December 30, 2025 (6:00 PM) |
| Exam Date | April 12, 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (Gen/OBC Male); Exempted (Female, SC, ST) |
| Application Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
Important Dates :
- The official notification was released on December 10, 2025.
- The online application process began on December 10, 2025.
- The last date to apply online is December 30, 2025, ending at 6:00 PM.
- The written examination date is scheduled for April 12, 2026.
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Vacancies :
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: 100 Posts
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala: 26 Posts
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: 32 Posts
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men): 275 Posts
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women): 18 Posts
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Eligibility :
Education Qualification :
- For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent
- For Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
- For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering
- Candidates studying in final year/semester degree course can also apply
- Professional and technical qualifications recognised by Government as equivalent are also acceptable
Age Limit :
- Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Indian Naval Academy (INA): Unmarried male candidates must be born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2008.
- Air Force Academy (AFA): Candidates must be between 20 and 24 years old (born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2007). The upper age limit is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by the DGCA (India).
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) (Men & Women): Candidates must be born not earlier than January 2, 2002, and not later than January 1, 2008.
Salary :
| Rank (Army Equivalent) | Pay Level | Pay Scale (Per Month) | Military Service Pay (MSP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 | ₹15,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | ₹61,300 – ₹1,93,900 | ₹15,500 |
| Major | Level 11 | ₹69,400 – ₹2,07,200 | ₹15,500 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | ₹1,21,200 – ₹2,12,400 | ₹15,500 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | ₹1,30,600 – ₹2,15,900 | ₹15,500 |
Exam Pattern :
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
Syllabus :
- English: This section tests the candidate’s understanding of English language, including reading comprehension, vocabulary (synonyms & antonyms), grammar (spotting errors, sentence improvement), and sentence arrangement.
- General Knowledge: This paper covers a broad range of subjects, including current events of national and international importance, History of India, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, and general Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology).
- Elementary Mathematics (only for IMA/INA/AFA): The standard is matriculation level. Topics include Arithmetic (Number System, Time & Work, Profit & Loss), Algebra (basic operations, quadratic equations), Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics.
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Application Fee :
- General and OBC (Other Backward Classes) Male Candidates: A fee of ₹200 (Rupees Two Hundred only) is required.
- Female Candidates, SC (Scheduled Caste), and ST (Scheduled Tribe) Candidates: All female candidates and male candidates belonging to SC/ST categories are completely exempted from paying the application fee.
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Application Process :
Step 1: Part I Registration
- Visit the Portal: Go to the official UPSC application website (upsconline.nic.in).
- Select Exam: Click on the link for the “Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026”.
- Fill Details: Provide basic personal information, contact details, and proof of identification details.
- Select Preferences: Choose your preferred academies (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA Men/Women) in order of preference.
- Submit: Upon successful submission, a unique Registration ID will be generated. Candidates must note this ID for future reference.
Part-II Registration
- Log In: Return to the application portal and log in using your newly generated Registration ID and Date of Birth.
- Pay the Fee: Proceed to the payment gateway.
- ₹200 for General and OBC male candidates.
- Exempted for all Female, SC, and ST candidates.
- Pay online using a credit/debit card, net banking, UPI, or select the offline SBI cash challan option.
- Select Exam Centre: Choose your preferred city for the written examination from the available list.
- Upload Documents: Upload your recent passport-size photograph and your signature. Ensure they meet the exact specifications mentioned in the official notification.
- Finalize Submission: Review your complete application form one last time. Click the “Submit” button to finalize the process.
- Print Confirmation: After successful submission, a confirmation page will be generated. Print this page for your records.
UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026 Application Process : Selection Process :
- Stage 1 – Written Examination: Objective type questions conducted by UPSC
- For IMA/INA/AFA: Three papers – English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks), Elementary Mathematics (100 marks). Total: 300 marks
- For OTA: Two papers – English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks). Total: 200 marks
- Stage 2 – Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview: Intelligence and Personality Test
- Two-stage SSB selection: Stage I (OIR tests and PP&DT), Stage II (Interview, GTO Tasks, Psychology Tests, Conference)
- SSB Interview marks: Equal to written examination marks (300 for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 for OTA)
- Stage 3 – Medical Examination: Special Medical Board at designated Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals
- Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in both written exam and SSB test
- Final selection based on combined marks (Written + SSB) subject to medical fitness
- Negative marking: 0.33 marks deduction for each wrong answer
Important Notes:
- Candidates must ensure all details are accurate before final submission, as changes might not be permitted later.
- It is mandatory to take a printout of the generated final application confirmation page for your records.
- The application window is open until December 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM.