UPSC CDS 2026 Exam Date, Notification & Vacancies

For IMA and OTA, any degree from a recognised university is enough. For the Naval Academy you need an Engineering degree, or a B.Sc. with Physics, plus Physics and Maths at 10+2. For the Air Force Academy you need a degree with Physics and Maths at 10+2, or a B.E. Final-year students can apply, but must show proof of passing by the dates in the notification.

IMA and INA: 19 to 24 years (born 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2008). AFA: 20 to 24 years (born 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2007), or up to 26 with a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence. OTA Men and Women: 19 to 25 years (born 1 July 2002 to 1 July 2008). There is no category-based age relaxation.

IMA, INA and AFA candidates write three papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper is worth 100 marks and lasts 2 hours. OTA candidates write only English and General Knowledge. For each wrong answer, one-third of that question's marks is cut. Blank answers get no penalty.

Yes, but only for the Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) course at OTA Chennai. Unmarried women can apply, and so can issueless widows or divorcees who have not remarried. The age limit is 19 to 25 years. Women pay no application fee. CDS (II) 2026 has 18 OTA Women vacancies.

During training at IMA, INA, AFA or OTA, cadets get a fixed stipend of Rs 56,100 per month. After commissioning, a Lieutenant is in Pay Level 10 (Rs 56,100 - 1,77,500). Officers also get Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 per month, plus allowances such as DA.

You must clear the UPSC written exam and then the SSB interview, and get the minimum qualifying marks in each separately. Merit is based on written marks plus SSB marks: out of 600 for IMA, INA and AFA, and out of 400 for OTA. Medical fitness and the number of vacancies decide the final selection.