The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is the Union Public Service Commission's twice-yearly examination for graduates who want to train as officers at four academies: the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala, the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad, and the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. A written examination is followed by a Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, and final merit combines the two.
This guide explains the examination using the official CDS (II) 2026 notice (No. 11/2026, dated 20 May 2026): who can apply to which academy, the papers and marks, how selection works, and where the 2026 and 2027 cycles stand. It ends with a decision table you can use to check your own eligibility.
Checked against UPSC notices and press notes on upsc.gov.in on 9 October 2026.
The four academies and their vacancies
| Course in CDS (II) 2026 | Approximate vacancies |
|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun, 163rd (DE) Course, July 2027 | 100 (including 13 for NCC 'C' certificate holders, Army Wing) |
| INA, Ezhimala, Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro, July 2027 | 26 (including 6 for NCC 'C' Naval Wing and 1 for Hydro) |
| AFA, Hyderabad, 222 F(P) Course, July 2027 | 32 (including 3 for NCC 'C' Air Wing) |
| OTA, Chennai, 126th SSC (Men) (NT), October 2027 | 275 |
| OTA, Chennai, 126th SSC Women (NT), October 2027 | 18 |
| Total | 451 |
The OTA courses lead to a Short Service Commission. The notice states that women are considered only for Short Service Commission at OTA. CDS (I) 2026 also had 451 vacancies with the same split.
Keep preparing
Continue with Document Verification Checklist – Central and Defence Recruitment₹299 — coaching के एक महीने से काफ़ी सस्ता / far cheaper than a month of coachingEligibility by academy
Education (CDS (II) 2026):
- IMA and OTA: a degree from a recognised university or equivalent.
- INA: a degree in engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2. (The CDS (I) 2026 notice had required an engineering degree only, so always check the current notice.)
- AFA: a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or a Bachelor of Engineering.
- Final-year students may apply, subject to the conditions in the notice.
Age and marital status (CDS (II) 2026):
| Academy | Date of birth | Marital status |
|---|---|---|
| IMA and INA | Not earlier than 1 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2008 (19–24 years) | Unmarried men |
| AFA | Not earlier than 1 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2007 (20–24 on 1 July 2027; relaxable to 26 for holders of a valid DGCA commercial pilot licence) | Candidates below 25 must be unmarried |
| OTA (men) | Not earlier than 1 July 2002 and not later than 1 July 2008 | Unmarried men |
| OTA (women) | Same as OTA (men) | Unmarried women, or issueless widows or divorcees who have not remarried |
Candidates must also undertake not to marry until they complete their full training. If you want AFA, the notice says you must give it as your first choice.
The fee is ₹200; women, SC and ST candidates are exempt.
The written examination
| Course | Papers (2 hours, 100 marks each) | Written total |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, INA, AFA | English; General Knowledge; Elementary Mathematics | 300 |
| OTA | English; General Knowledge | 200 |
- All questions are objective.
- One-third (0.33) of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer.
- The General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics booklets are in Hindi and English; Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation level.
- The notice does not state the number of questions per paper.
For CDS (II) 2026, held on 13 September 2026, the timetable was English 9–11 am, General Knowledge 12:30–2:30 pm and Elementary Mathematics 4–6 pm.
The SSB interview and final merit
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called by the Services for the SSB, a two-stage procedure that begins with a psychological aptitude and intelligence test. UPSC's notice says the maximum marks for the interview equal those for the written examination: 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 for OTA. Candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks separately in the written examination and the SSB, and merit is based on the total.
| Course | Written | SSB | Total for merit |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA, INA, AFA | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| OTA | 200 | 200 | 400 |
Because the SSB carries as many marks as the written test, it cannot be treated as a formality.
Worked example: the penalty
Illustrative only, assuming a paper with equal marks per question. If a question carries 1 mark, a wrong answer costs 0.33. A candidate who answers 90 questions, with 72 right and 18 wrong, scores 72 − (18 × 0.33) = 72 − 5.94 = 66.06. Had they left the 18 doubtful questions blank, they would have scored 72. Guess only when you can rule out options.
Where the cycles stand
| Cycle | Status on 9 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| CDS (I) 2026 | Exam held 12 April 2026; written result on 8 May 2026, with 8,826 candidates qualifying for the SSB |
| CDS (II) 2026 | Exam held 13 September 2026; written result not yet published. The notice says IMA/INA/AFA candidates will be detailed for the SSB in February–March 2027, and SSC-only candidates in April–June 2027 |
| CDS (I) 2027 | UPSC's tentative calendar lists the notification on 2 December 2026, applications until 22 December 2026 and the exam on 11 April 2027 |
Decision table: which academy can you aim for?
Illustrative profiles checked against the CDS (II) 2026 notice:
| Profile | IMA | INA | AFA | OTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man, B.A., born 2004, unmarried | Yes | No (needs engineering or B.Sc. with Physics) | No (needs Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, unless B.E.) | Yes |
| Man, B.Sc. Physics with Mathematics at 10+2, born 2005, unmarried | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Woman, B.Com, born 2003, unmarried | No | No | No | Yes (SSC Women) |
| Man, B.Tech, born August 2002, unmarried | No (born before 1 July 2003) | No | No | Yes |
Age bands move with each notice, so recompute these dates for the cycle you apply to.
For preparation methods and practice, see our CDS preparation guide, and keep dated General Knowledge notes with the current affairs hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can women apply for IMA, INA or AFA through CDS?
Not under the CDS (II) 2026 notice, which considers women only for Short Service Commission at OTA.
Is there negative marking in CDS?
Yes. One-third of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer.
How many times a year is CDS held?
Twice. UPSC's calendar lists CDS (I) and CDS (II) each year; for 2027, CDS (I) is scheduled for 11 April 2027 and CDS (II) for 19 September 2027.