UPSC CDSE-II 2026 Notification

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), a central government body, has released the notification for the 'Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026' to fill vacancies within the Defence Services.

• Application End Date: 09.06.2026 (until 06:00 PM).
• Exam Date: September 13, 2026.

Details of the Notification

Number of Vacancies: The total number of vacancies is 451 (Provisional).

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun – 100
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala – 26
• Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad – 32
• Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men) – 275
• Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women) – 18

Educational Qualifications: Candidates must possess a degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. Indian Naval Academy (INA): Candidates must hold an Engineering degree from a recognized university/institution, OR a B.Sc. degree (with Physics as a core or elective subject) having studied Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level.

Air Force Academy (AFA): Candidates must hold a degree from a recognized university, having studied Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, OR possess a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Age Limit:

IMA & INA: Candidates must be between 19 and 24 years of age. (Candidates must not have been born before 02 July 2003 or after 01 July 2008).

Air Force Academy (AFA): Candidates must be between 20 and 24 years of age as of 01 July 2027. (i.e., candidates must not have been born before 02 July 2003 or after 01 July 2007). The upper age limit is relaxed up to 26 years for candidates holding a Commercial Pilot License issued by the DGCA.

OTA (Men & Women): Candidates must be between 19 and 25 years of age. (Must not have been born before 02 July 2002 or after 01 July 2008.)

Salary: During the training period, candidates will receive a stipend/salary, other allowances, and military service benefits in accordance with prescribed rules.

Application Procedure: Eligible candidates must apply exclusively online through the official UPSC website. Candidates are required to first complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process and subsequently submit their application via the Examination Specific Module.

Application Start Date: 20.05.2026.

Application Fee: Rs. 200. Women, SC, and ST candidates are completely exempted from paying the fee.

Selection Process: The final selection process is based on a written examination conducted by the Commission; for those who qualify in it, the selection proceeds based on Intelligence and Personality Tests/Interviews, Document Verification, and Medical Examinations conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).