Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. Through this examination, candidates can apply for admission to IMA, INA, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy courses.

As per the official UPSC notification, the CDS 2 2026 application process started on 20 May 2026. UPSC later issued an extension notice and the last date to submit the online application has been extended up to 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM. The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.

UPSC CDS 2 2026 Overview

Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Notice Number	11/2026-CDS-II
Total Vacancy	451 posts
Application Mode	Online
Selection Process	Written Examination and SSB Interview
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

Important Dates

Notification Release Date	20 May 2026
Online Application Start Date	20 May 2026
Original Last Date	09 June 2026, up to 6:00 PM
Extended Last Date	11 June 2026, up to 6:00 PM
Last Date for Fee Payment	11 June 2026
CDS 2 Exam Date	13 September 2026
Admit Card	Last working day of the week preceding the exam date, as per UPSC notice

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates	Rs. 200/-
Female Candidates	No Fee
SC / ST Candidates	No Fee
Payment Mode	Online through Net Banking, Card, UPI or other available UPSC payment options

UPSC CDS 2 Vacancy 2026

UPSC has notified 451 approximate vacancies for CDS-II 2026. The vacancies are tentative and may change as per service requirements.

Academy / Course	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun – 163rd Course commencing in July 2027	100
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala – Course commencing in July 2027	26
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad – 222 F(P) Course commencing in July 2027	32
Officers Training Academy, Chennai – 126th SSC Men Course commencing in October 2027	275
Officers Training Academy, Chennai – 126th SSC Women Course commencing in October 2027	18
Total	451

Age Limit and Marital Status

Candidates should check the official notification carefully because the age condition is different for each academy. In general, candidates must fall within the age range prescribed by UPSC for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA courses. For CDS-II 2026, the notification mentions date-of-birth based eligibility for the relevant courses and also includes marital-status conditions.

• Candidates should verify academy-wise age and marital status from the official UPSC CDS-II 2026 notification before applying.
• Age relaxation and service rules will be applicable only as per UPSC and Government of India rules.

Educational Qualification

Academy	Required Qualification
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	Degree from a recognized university or equivalent
Officers Training Academy (OTA)	Degree from a recognized university or equivalent
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Degree in Engineering from a recognized university or institution
Air Force Academy (AFA)	Degree from a recognized university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or Bachelor of Engineering

Selection Process

• Written Examination
• SSB Interview / Intelligence and Personality Test
• Document Verification
• Medical Examination as per defence service standards

How to Apply for UPSC CDS 2 2026

1. Visit the UPSC online application portal.
2. Create or login with the required UPSC account details.
3. Complete the Universal Registration Number (URN) and Common Application Form details, if not already completed.
4. Select Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.
5. Fill the examination-specific form and choose academy/service preferences carefully.
6. Upload the required photograph, live photograph, signature and documents as per UPSC instructions.
7. Pay the application fee, if applicable.
8. Submit the form before 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM and keep the application number for future use.

Important Links

Apply Online	UPSC Online Portal
Official CDS-II 2026 Notification	Download Notification PDF
Date Extension Notice	View UPSC Extension Notice
UPSC Official Website	upsc.gov.in

UPSC CDS 2 2026 FAQ

What is the last date for UPSC CDS 2 2026 online form?

The last date has been extended to 11 June 2026, up to 6:00 PM.

How many vacancies are available in UPSC CDS 2 2026?

UPSC has notified approximately 451 vacancies for CDS-II 2026.

What is the UPSC CDS 2 2026 exam date?

The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.

What is the application fee for UPSC CDS 2 2026?

The fee is Rs. 200/- for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. Female, SC and ST candidates are exempted from fee payment.

What is the official website to apply for UPSC CDS 2 2026?

Candidates can apply through https://upsconline.nic.in/.

Disclaimer: Bihar ABC is a private informational website. Candidates must verify the last date, eligibility, fee, vacancy details and application instructions from the official UPSC notification and official website before applying.