Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Service Exam every year & lakhs of candidates participate in the aforesaid examination. Same as for the year 2026, UPSC has released the UPSC Combined Defence Service Exam 2026 CDS-I. Candidates Can Also Check All Details on the Official SarkariResult2026. The Online application process for UPSC CDS-I Recruitment 2026 has started from 10 December 2025 & the candidates can apply till 30 December 2025. Candidates must check the complete details for UPSC CDS-I Recruitment 2026, which are given below.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) CDS (I) 2026 notification has been released, and the application process is open from December 10 to December 30, 2025. The written examination is scheduled to be conducted on April 12, 2026.

UPSC CDS I Notification 2026: Age Limit

The age limits for the UPSC CDS (I) 2026 recruitment vary by academy, with all age criteria calculated as of January 1, 2027. The specific age and marital status requirements for each academy are as follows :

IMPORTANT NOTES :

● For AFA, the upper age limit is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by the DGCA (India).

● The date of birth recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate is the only one accepted; no changes are allowed later.

● There is no age relaxation based on caste (SC/ST/OBC); the age limits are the same for all candidates.

UPSC CDS I 2026 Vacancy Details

Total Posts:451

The total of 451 vacancies for the UPSC CDS (I) 2026 examination are distributed across four different training academies.

UPSC CDS I Recruitment 2026: Educational Qualification

The educational qualifications for the UPSC CDS (I) 2026 recruitment differ depending on the academy a candidate is applying for. A minimum of a graduate degree from a recognised institution is required for all posts.

Academy-wise Educational Qualifications

● Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) (Men & Women): A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University or equivalent is required.

● Indian Naval Academy (INA): A Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution is required.

● Air Force Academy (AFA): A Degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering degree is required.

Important Points for Final Year Students

Candidates who are in their final year or final semester of a degree course can also apply, provided they do not have any backlogs up to the last semester/year for which results have been declared.

Such candidates will be required to submit proof of passing their degree examination at the time of the SSB interview or before the commencement of the course, by dates specified in the official notification. There are no specific percentage requirements for eligibility; simply having the required degree is sufficient.

UPSC CDS I Online Form 2026: Mode of Selection

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) follows a rigorous three-stage selection process for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I) 2026:

Stage 1: Written Examination

The first stage is a comprehensive written examination conducted by the UPSC on April 12, 2026. The structure of the exam depends on the academy the candidate has applied to

● For IMA, INA, and AFA :

The exam consists of three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper is two hours long and carries a maximum of 100 marks.

● For OTA (Men & Women):

The exam consists of only two papers: English and General Knowledge. Each paper is two hours long and carries a maximum of 100 marks.

There is negative marking for incorrect answers in the objective-type question papers.

Stage 2: SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test)

Candidates who clear the written examination with the minimum qualifying marks set by the Commission are called for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview.

This stage is conducted by the Ministry of Defence and is spread over five days:

● Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).

● Stage II: Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Psychology Tests (e.g., Thematic Apperception Test, Word Association Test), and a Personal Interview. The SSB interview carries 300 marks for IMA, INA, and AFA entries, and 200 marks for OTA entries.

● Stage 3: Medical Examination and Merit Candidates who successfully qualify for the SSB interview undergo a thorough medical examination by a Military Medical Board to ensure they meet the physical and medical standards required for joining the armed forces.

A final merit list is prepared based on the candidate’s total marks obtained in the written examination and the SSB interview. Candidates are then selected based on their position in the merit list and their academic preferences, subject to the number of vacancies available.

CENTER LIST

UPSC CDS I Recruitment 2026: How To Apply

To apply for the UPSC CDS (I) Recruitment 2026, you must complete the application process online through the official UPSC portal. The application window is open from December 10, 2025, to December 30, 2025, until 6:00 PM.

Step 1: One-Time Registration (OTR)

If you haven’t already, you need to register on the UPSC’s application portal. The OTR is a mandatory one-time process.

● Go to the official UPSC application website upsconline.nic.in.

● Click on the “One Time Registration (OTR)” link on the homepage.

● Fill in your personal details, email ID, and mobile number as requested.

● After submission, a registration ID will be generated.

● You can use your email ID or mobile number to log in and set a password.

Step 2: Filling the CDS (I) 2026 Application Form

Once registered, you can proceed to apply for the CDS (I) 2026 exam using your OTR credentials.

● Log in to the upsconline. Ni c.iInportal, using your OTR credentials.

● Find the link for “Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2026” under the “Active Examinations” tab.

● Click on “Part-I Registration” and fill out the detailed application form with correct personal and academic information.

● Select your preferred academies in order of preference (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA).

● Select your exam centre from the available options.

●Upload necessary documents, including a recent photograph, signature, and a photo ID proof, as per the specifications provided in the official UPSC Notification.

● Pay the Application Fee of ₹200. The fee can be paid online via Net Banking, credit card, debit card, or by cash at an SBI branch.

● Female, SC, and ST candidates are exempt from paying the fee.

● Submit the complete application form (Part-II Registration is automatically handled when Part-I is done correctly).

● Print the generated application form receipt and confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates are advised to read the official notification thoroughly to ensure they meet all eligibility criteria before applying.

SYLLABUS

The UPSC CDS (I) 2026 syllabus is divided into three core subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. Candidates applying for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) only need to appear for the English and General Knowledge papers.

English Syllabus

The English paper is designed to test the candidate’s understanding of the language and workmanlike use of words.

● Reading Comprehension

● Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases, One-word substitution, Sentence Completion)

● Grammar and Usage (Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement/Correction, Cloze Test, Parts of speech, Tenses, Voice, Narration)

● Sentence Arrangement / Ordering of Words in a Sentence

General Knowledge Syllabus

This section assesses general awareness and knowledge of current events across various fields. Key areas include National and International events, History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, and General Science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology).

Elementary Mathematics Syllabus (Only for IMA, INA, and AFA)

The standard of this paper is Matriculation level and covers:

● Arithmetic: Number System, fundamental operations, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio and Proportion.

● Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm, Prime and Composite numbers, HCF & LCM, Logarithms.

● Algebra: Basic operations, factors, Remainder theorem, polynomials, Quadratic and Linear equations, Set notation.

● Trigonometry: Basic identities, trigonometric tables, Heights and Distances.

● Geometry: Lines and angles, Plane figures, properties of various shapes, Loci.

● Mensuration: Areas and volumes of various geometric shapes.

● Statistics: Data collection and representation, Measures of central tendency.

Important Question

Q. When will the Apply Online Link start for UPSC CDS-I Sarkari Result Recruitment 2026?

Answer. Online applications for this recruitment have started from 10 December 2025.

Q. What is the latest date of UPSC CDS-I Notification 2026?

Answer. The last date to apply online for this recruitment is 30 December 2025.

Q. What is The Age Limit for UPSC CDS-I Vacancy 2026?

Answer. The age of the candidates applying for this recruitment is as per the UPSC CDS-I rules. See the post-wise age information in the official information.

Q. What is the Qualification For UPSC CDS-I Online Form 2026?

Answer. To apply for this recruitment, the candidate must have a graduation pass. Read the official information completely before applying.

Q. How to Apply For UPSC CDS-I Bharti 2026?

Answer. To apply for this recruitment, first of all, you have to go to the Official Sarkari Result, which is SarkariExam.com and apply through this recruitment page. Through the Sarkari Result Official, you can apply for many government jobs.

Q. How to download the result of UPSC CDS-I Result 2026?

Answer. All those candidates who had given the exam for this recruitment can now download their results. To download your result, you can download it by entering your registration number/roll number and DOB (Date of Birth).

Q. What is the UPSC Official Website?

Answer. The Official Website of UPSC is upsc.gov.in