UPSC CDS 1 Exam Notification 2026- The UPSC has announced the CDS Exam I, 2026 with 451 vacancies in IMA, INA, AFA and OTA for men and women. Graduates can apply to train at these academies and become commissioned officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Selection involves a written exam, SSB interview and medical test. Reserved categories have no fee. Applications close on December 30, 2025. Prepare with NCERT books and apply online for a career in defence service.
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Notification 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Advertisement No. | 4/2026 CDS-I |
| Post Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) Courses: IMA (Army), INA (Navy), AFA (Air Force), OTA (Men/Women Non-Technical) – Training for commissioned officers in Indian Armed Forces |
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Job Location | Training at IMA Dehradun, INA Ezhimala, AFA Hyderabad, OTA Chennai |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Vacancy Details
| Course/Academy | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun – 161st (DE) Course (Jan 2027) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala – 67th INAC (Jul 2027) | 26 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad – 221 F(P) (Pre-Flying) Course (Jul 2027) | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – 120th SSC Men (Non-Tech) Course (Apr 2027) | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai – 35th SSC Women (Non-Tech) Course (Apr 2027) | 18 |
| Total | 451 |
Eligibility Criteria of UPSC CDS 1 Exam Notification 2026
Nationality
- Citizen of India, OR
- Subject of Nepal, OR
- Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with intention of permanent settlement in India
Educational Qualification
Graduation level – academy-specific for IMA/INA/AFA.
| Academy/Course | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA/OTA (Men/Women) | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from recognized university |
| INA | B.Sc with Physics & Maths OR B.Engg |
| AFA | B.Sc with Physics & Maths (10+2 level also) OR B.Engg |
| All | Unmarried (except OTA Women: Married ok if no kids) |
Age Limit (as on 01-01-2026)
19-24/25 years. DOB from Matric/10+2 cert.
| Academy/Course | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 19 Years | 24 Years |
| INA | 19 Years | 24 Years |
| AFA | 20 Years | 24 Years |
| OTA (Men) | 19 Years | 25 Years |
| OTA (Women) | 19 Years | 25 Years |
Salary and Benefits
Training stipend Rs.56,100, post-commission Level 10 Rs.56,100-1,77,500 + MSP Rs.15,500.
| Pay Component | Amount/Details |
|---|---|
| Stipend (During Training) | Rs. 56,100/month |
| Basic Pay (Post-Commission) | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500 (Level 10) |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | 50%+ basic (bi-annual) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | 24-27% basic |
| Medical Benefits | Full for self & family via ECHS |
| Pension & Provident Fund | NPS + Defence Pension |
| Leave & Other Perks | 60 annual + adventure leaves; LTC |
| Estimated Gross Salary | Rs. 80,000 – 1,00,000/month (incl. all) |
Selection Process
Multi-stage: Written, SSB, Medical – holistic assessment.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Written Examination | Objective papers by UPSC |
| 2. SSB Interview | Personality & Intelligence Test |
| 3. Medical Examination | Physical/medical fitness |
| 4. Final Merit List | Combined scores |
Written Exam Pattern
Offline, bilingual, negative 1/3 mark.
| Paper | Subjects | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Grammar, Vocab, Comprehension | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | History, Geography, Polity, Current Affairs, Science | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Elementary Mathematics (IMA/INA/AFA only) | Algebra, Trig, Geometry, Mensuration | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total (IMA/INA/AFA) | 3 Papers | 300 | 6 Hours |
Documents Required
Scan for upload (JPEG <100KB), originals for verification.
Mandatory Documents:
- Matric/10+2 cert (DOB proof).
- Graduation marksheet & degree.
- Photo (passport size) & signature.
- NCC ‘C’ cert (if claiming quota).
Application Fees
| Category | Application Fees |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | Rs. 200 |
| SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-SM/Females | NIL |
How to Apply Online for UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2026
- Visit upsconline.nic.in > “New Registration” (create account with basics).
- Get URN (save), login for CDS-I 2026 form.
- Fill personal (address, category), education (degree details), preferences (academies).
- Upload photo/signature (specs on site), select payment if applicable.
- Review, submit – get Application Number (save with URN).
- Print confirmation, no edits post-submit.
- Track on upsc.gov.in, queries via the OTRS portal.
| Section | Details / Link |
|---|---|
| UPSC CDS 1 Exam Apply Now | Apply online |
| Official Notification | Download PDF Notification |
| Official Website | Click Now |
Important Dates
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | December 10, 2025 |
| Online Application Opens | December 10, 2025 (10:00 AM) |
| Application Closes | December 30, 2025 (6:00 PM) |
| Written Exam | April 2026 (Tentative, 1 day) |
| Admit Card Release | 3 weeks before exam |
| SSB Dates | May-Jun 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Jul 2026 |
| Training Commencement | Jan/Jul 2027 |
Final Thoughts
The UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2026 has 451 officer vacancies in the Army, Navy, Air Force and OTA. Eligible graduates aged 19–25 can apply. Pay is about ₹80,000 with adventurous postings and national service.
Apply online at upsconline.nic.in by December 30, 2025. Fee is ₹0–₹200. Upload documents correctly and choose your academy carefully. The written exam is in April 2026, followed by SSB interview and medical test. Prepare well in English, Maths and GK. This is a chance to build a proud career in defence apply now and get ready to serve India.
Related Jobs:
