UPSC CDS 2 2026 Notification OUT — 451 Officer Vacancies in IMA, INA, AFA & OTA, Apply by June 9
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the CDS 2 Notification 2026 (Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II) on May 20, 2026, for 451 officer vacancies across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). The online application is active at upsconline.nic.in — last date is June 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The written exam is scheduled for September 13, 2026.
| Academy | Vacancies | Eligibility |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 | Degree from recognised university | Age 19–24 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 26 | Engineering Degree or B.Sc with Physics | Age 19–24 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 32 | Degree with Physics & Maths (10+2) or B.E. | Age 20–24 |
| OTA Chennai — Men | 275 | Degree from recognised university | Age 19–25 | Unmarried |
| OTA Chennai — Women (SSC) | 18 | Degree from recognised university | Age 19–25 | Unmarried |
| Total | 451 | Vacancies are tentative |
| Key Date | Detail |
| Notification Released | May 20, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | June 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM |
| Written Exam Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Mode | Offline (pen-and-paper) | 41 centres across India |
| Application Fee (General/OBC/EWS Male) | ₹200 |
| Application Fee (Women/SC/ST) | NIL (fully exempted) |
| Apply Link | upsconline.nic.in |
| Starting Stipend (Training) | ₹56,100/month |
| Pay after Commission | Level 10 — ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 |
Exam pattern: IMA, INA, and AFA candidates appear in three papers — English (100 marks, 2 hours), General Knowledge (100 marks, 2 hours), and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks, 2 hours). OTA candidates appear in only two papers — English and General Knowledge (Mathematics is not required). Negative marking applies: one-third of marks deducted per wrong answer. The written exam is held in offline mode at 41 centres across India.
Selection process: Written Examination → SSB Interview (Intelligence & Personality Test over 5 days) → Medical Examination → Merit List → Training at respective academy. The SSB interview is the most critical stage — only written exam qualifiers are called for SSB. Training duration at IMA, INA, and AFA is typically 12–18 months before commissioning as a lieutenant.
Face authentication: UPSC has made face authentication mandatory at the exam venue for CDS 2 2026. Candidates must ensure their application photo closely matches their actual appearance. No entry is allowed without the admit card, which will be released 2–3 weeks before the exam. See our NDA exam guide for the other key defence officer entry route, or UPSC CSE guide for civil services.
🔗 Official Links
⚠️Only 14 Days Left — Apply by June 9
UPSC CDS 2 2026 application closes June 9 at 6:00 PM sharp. UPSC servers get heavily loaded near the deadline. Apply at upsconline.nic.in today. Keep your graduation certificate, photo ID, and passport-size photo ready before starting the form.
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Published: 2026-05-26 • Source: Official government press releases and notifications.