UPSC CDS Recruitment 2026: Union Public Service Commission has released the notification for Combined Defence Services CDS Examination II 2026. Interested and eligible candidates may apply online here.
UPSC CDS Recruitment Overview
| Post Name | Airforce, Airforce, Naval & Commissioned Officer |
| Total Posts | 451 Vacancy |
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission – UPSC |
| Qualification | Graduated |
| Salary | Rs. 69,400/- Per Month |
| Application Date | 20th May – 9th June 2026 |
UPSC CDS Recruitment
Name of Exam: UPSC CDS Examination II 2026
No of Posts: 451 Vacancy
Name of Organization: Union Public Service Commission
Age Limit
The age limit is strictly defined by the candidate’s date of birth and varies for each academy.
- IMA & INA: 19 to 24 years
- AFA: 20 to 24 years
- Upper age limit for AFA is relaxable up to 26 years for valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders.
- OTA (Men & Women): 19 to 25 years
- Female candidates applying for OTA must be unmarried women, issueless widows, or issueless divorcees who have not remarried.
Note: The upper age limit for AFA is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
Exam Centres: All Over India
The UPSC CDS II 2026 Recruitment includes a total of 451 vacancies distributed across five distinct courses. Applicants must choose their preferred academy/courses while filling the Common Application Form (CAF).
UPSC CDS Recruitment Qualification
Applicants must meet all criteria related to nationality, age and educational qualifications as on the respective dates of course commencement.
- For IMA & OTA : Bachelor Degree in Any Stream.
- For Naval Academy : Bachelor Degree in Engineering .
- For Airforce : Bachelor Degree in Any Stream with Physics & Math in 10+2 Level
UPSC CDS Salary
Candidates undergo training at the respective academies before being commissioned as officers. During the entire duration of the training period (e.g., one year for IMA), Gentlemen/Lady Cadets are given a fixed monthly stipend.
- Training Period (Gentlemen/Lady Cadets) Fixed stipend of ₹56,100/- per month
- On Commissioning (Sub-Lieutenant/Lieutenant/Flight Officer) Pay starts at Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix, i.e., ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500, plus Military Service Pay (MSP) and other allowances.
UPSC CDS Recruitment Application Fee
Candidates have to pay the application fee to complete their online application process, the fee may vary according to the category of the candidates. The complete details regarding the fee are given below.
| Category | Application Fee |
| General/OBC/EWS | Rs.200/- |
| SC/ST | Exempted |
| BPL/ PwBD | Exempted |
Payment Method: Candidates can pay their application fee through an online payment gateway. Candidates should have any one of the following options to make the online payment: debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
Important Dates of UPSC CDS Recruitment
| Application Start Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Application End Date | 9th June 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13th September 2026 |
How To Apply For UPSC CDS Recruitment
Interested and eligible candidates may apply online for UPSC Recruitment by visiting at official recruitment portal of UPSC. They may follow below mentioned steps .
- Register on the UPSC portal to create a One-Time Registration OTR profile and receive a Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Log in using the URN to access the Common Application Form (CAF).
- Fill in the examination-specific details, including course preference and permanent address.
- Upload the required live photograph, signature, and photo ID card document as per specifications.
- Pay the prescribed application fee (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
- Carefully review all entered details, as no changes or withdrawal are allowed after final submission.
- Submit the application and print the final acknowledgment for future correspondence.
Important Links of UPSC CDS Recruitment
| Apply Now | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
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