CDS 2 2026 Application Starts 20 May to June 9, Exam Date OUT

CDS 2 2026 Application Link : Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) 2 2026 is your gateway to one of the most prestigious careers in the Indian Armed Forces. The UPSC conducts the CDS exam twice a year for recruitment to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

The CDS 2 2026 notification is expected to be released by UPSC on May 20, 2026; It is always important for the candidates to stay connected with the official portal of UPSC to stay updated with the latest announcements in this regard. The CDS Exam 2026 date has been officially announced. The Combined Defence Services Examination (I) will be held on 12th April 2026, giving candidates enough time to prepare for the exam. CDS Examination (II) is scheduled on 13th September 2026, which provides another opportunity to the candidates to make it to the Indian Armed Forces through this prestigious examination.

CDS 2 2026 Application Overview

CDS 2 2026 Training Academy

After the written examination of CDS 2 2026, interviews are conducted for the intelligence and personality testing of the selected candidates. Based on the performance of the interview and written examination, candidates are sent for training in different academies. Through the written examination, the selected candidates are selected for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Navy Academy or Air Force Academy, under which candidates are sent for training in the following academy:

• Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
• Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimla
• Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
• Officer Training Academy SSC (Male), Chennai
• Officer Training Academy SC (Women), Chennai

CDS 2 2026 Dates

Date wise details for CDS 2026 have been released by UPSC.

How to Download The CDS 2 Admit Card 2026?

The instructions for downloading the CDS 2 admit card 2026 are provided below.

• Go to the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
• Click on the link for the UPSC CDS 2 2026 admit card.
• Click the “E-Admit Cards for various Examinations of UPSC” link on the following page.
• Click the CDS 2 admit card 2026 download link.
• The screen will display the crucial instructions. Candidates must carefully read the instructions and take a printout of them.
• For the next step, select the roll number or registration number.
• Enter your date of birth, verification text, and registration or roll number.

How to Check CDS 2 Result 2026?

The CDS 2 2026 result will be posted on the UPSC’s official website. The 2026 UPSC CDS Result PDF is available to candidates at upsc.gov.in. Those who pass the written CDS exam will be invited to the SSB interview. The instructions for downloading the CDS 2 result PDF are provided below for candidates.

• Go to the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
• In the New Section, click the UPSC CDS 2 written exam result link.
• The link to the CDS Result PDF will show up on the screen.
• Click the link for CDS 2 Result 2026.
• The screen will display the UPSC CDS 2 result 2026.
• Save the CDS 2 Written Exam Result for later use after checking and downloading it.

CDS 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The applicant will have to check the following eligibility criteria to appear in the CDS 2 2026 examination.

Nationality

• It is mandatory for the candidate who appears in this examination to be an Indian citizen.
•  A resident of Nepal Bhutan or Tibetan refugee can also apply in this examination.
•  However they have to have valid documents

Age limit

• To appear in this examination, the age of the candidate is mandatory on 1 January 2026, 20 to 24 years of Sony.
• Only unmarried men and women can apply in this examination.
• Also, it has to be ensured that candidates do not marry even during training.

Educational qualification

• It is mandatory for the candidate applying for the Indian officer Training Academy to be a graduate in any subject from a recognized university.
•  The candidate applying to the Indian Navy Academy is mandatory to graduate in engineering from a recognized university or educational institution.
•  The candidate applying for admission to the Air Force is required to be a graduate from a recognized university. However, it is mandatory for the candidate to have a physical and mathematics subject in graduation.

Physical standard

•  To appear in the CDS2 examination, it is also mandatory for the candidate to be physically fit for which different criteria are set.
•  Separate criteria have been set for the Navy, Air Force and Army Army, whose complete details are released on the website. However, every time this detail is probably the same which can be like this.

• Minimum height for general class men 157
•  The minimum height for men coming from centimeters, Gorkha and India’s mountainous region of North East Garhwal and Kumaon 152 cm
• Ladakh region, Andaman and Nicobar Lakshadweep tribal and minimum height for candidates from additional region 155 cm
•  Body mass index 25 cm

CDS 2 Exam 2026 Application Fee

To appear in the CDS 2 exam 2026, the candidate has to pay the following application fee in the following form

• General and OBC Men: ₹ 200
• Women: Free
•  SC/ ST Male: Free

Selection Process

 Under the CDS 2 exam 2026, candidates will have to go through the written examination first.  Under this written examination, candidates are asked questions of subjects like English, General Knowledge, Early Mathematics. In the same officer training academy, candidates are asked questions of English and general knowledge.  After passing the written examination, candidates are interviewed SSB interview and personality exam.

Short listing of candidates is done based on the performance of candidates in written examination and personality test and they are called for document verification.  After the document verification, medical examination of selected candidates is done and physically and mentally fit candidates are sent for training in the academy.

CDS 2 Exam 2026 Application Process

•  The application process will start from 20 May 2026 for CDS 2 Exam 2026. To appear in the examination, candidates have to apply from the official website in which the candidate will first have to visit the official website of UPSC.
•  On the official website of UPSC, the candidate will have to click on the return of CDS 2.
• PDF format will have to get complete details and read carefully.
•  After reading the details, the candidate has to click on the link to the CDS 2 online application.
• After clicking on this link, the candidate will have to fill this form carefully.
•  After filling the form, the candidate will have to upload the documents and pay the application fee.
•  After paying the fee, the candidate will have to click on the option to submit.