UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 451 Defence Service Posts

UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by the Union Public Service Commission for 451 vacancies under the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy. Eligible candidates can apply online through the UPSC portal before 09 June 2026.

Details for UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026:

Vacancy Details:

Eligibility Criteria:

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

Age Limit:

Educational Qualification:

Final-year degree candidates can also apply, but they must submit proof of passing within the prescribed dates mentioned in the official notification.

Application Fee:

The application fee can be paid through net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay credit card, debit card or UPI.

Selection Process:

The selection process for UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026 includes:

1. Written Examination
2. SSB Interview / Intelligence and Personality Test
3. Document Verification
4. Medical Examination
5. Final Merit List

Candidates must qualify separately in the written examination and the SSB test as fixed by the UPSC and the Service Selection Board.

Exam Pattern:

For IMA, INA and Air Force Academy

For Officers’ Training Academy

All papers will be objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers will be bilingual in Hindi and English.

Syllabus:

English

The English paper will test the candidate’s understanding of English and proper use of words.

General Knowledge

The General Knowledge paper includes:

• Current Events
• History of India
• Geography
• General Science
• Everyday observation and experience-based questions

Elementary Mathematics

Important topics include:

• Number System
• Time and Distance
• Time and Work
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Ratio and Proportion
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Mensuration
• Statistics

Exam Centres:

The CDS 2 Examination 2026 will be held at various centres across India, including:

Agartala, Aizawl, Dispur, Jorhat, Shillong, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna, Guwahati region centres, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Ranchi, Siliguri and many other cities.

Candidates should apply early because exam centre allotment will be done on a first-apply-first-allot basis, except for Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur.

How to Apply:

Candidates can apply online by following these steps:

1. Visit the UPSC online application portal: upsconline.nic.in
2. Create an account on the UPSC Online Application Portal.
3. Complete the Universal Registration Number profile.
4. Fill the Common Application Form.
5. Select the CDS Examination-II 2026-specific application module.
6. Enter personal details, educational details and exam centre preference.
7. Upload required documents, photograph, live photograph and signature.
8. Pay the application fee, if applicable.
9. Submit the application form before 09 June 2026, 6:00 PM.
10. Download or print the submitted application form for future use.

Documents Required:

Important Instructions:

• Candidates must apply online only through upsconline.nic.in.
• No other mode of application is accepted.
• No correction or modification will be allowed after final submission.
• Candidates must use a black ball pen only on the OMR sheet.
• Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices and electronic gadgets are banned.
• Entry to the exam venue will close 30 minutes before the exam starts.
• Face authentication will be mandatory at the exam centre.
• Eligible candidates will get the e-Admit Card from the UPSC online portal. No admit card will be sent by post or email.

Important Dates:

Important Links:

FAQs – UPSC CDS 2 Recruitment 2026: