UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026

UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026: Notification, Exam Date (12 April), 451 Vacancies & Apply Online

Recruitment 2026

UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026

UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026: Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026

📅 12th April 2026 • 📝 451 Vacancies

UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification (Examination Notice No. 4/2026 CDS-I) for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026. This prestigious examination serves as a gateway for unmarried graduates to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

A total of 451 vacancies have been announced. The written examination is scheduled to be held on 12th April 2026.

UPSC CDS 1 2026 Overview

Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Total Vacancies	451 Posts
Exam Date	12th April 2026
Application Mode	Online
Notification Date	10th December 2025
Last Date to Apply	30th December 2025
Official Website	www.upsc.gov.in

Vacancy Details (Course Wise)

The detailed distribution of the 451 vacancies across different academies is as follows:

Academy / Course	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala	26
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad	32
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men)	275
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women)	18
Total	451

Eligibility Criteria

1. Age Limit & Marital Status

IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd Jan 2003 and not later than 1st Jan 2008.
INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd Jan 2003 and not later than 1st Jan 2008.
AFA: 20 to 24 years as on 1st Jan 2027 (Born between 2nd Jan 2003 and 1st Jan 2007).
OTA (Men & Women): Unmarried candidates born not earlier than 2nd Jan 2002 and not later than 1st Jan 2008.

2. Educational Qualification

IMA & OTA: Degree of a recognized University or equivalent.
INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution.
AFA: Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) OR Bachelor of Engineering.

Selection Process & Exam Pattern

The selection process consists of two stages:

Written Examination: Objective Type Questions (Offline).
SSB Interview: Intelligence and Personality Test (5 Days).

Written Exam Pattern (IMA, INA, AFA)

Subject	Duration	Max Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Elementary Mathematics	2 Hours	100
Total		300

Written Exam Pattern (OTA)

Subject	Duration	Max Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Total		200

Application Fee

Category	Application Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male)	₹ 200/-
SC / ST / Female / All Categories	Nil (Exempted)

Important Dates

Notification Release Date	10th December 2025
Online Application Starts	10th December 2025
Last Date to Apply	30th December 2025 (till 6:00 PM)
Correction Window	31st Dec 2025 to 6th Jan 2026
CDS 1 Exam Date	12th April 2026

Important Links & Notification PDF

Apply Online (UPSC) Download Notification PDF Join WhatsApp Channel for Updates

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can final year students apply for CDS 1 2026?

Yes, final year/semester students can apply provided they can submit proof of passing the degree at the time of commencement of the course.

What is the exam date for CDS 1 2026?

The UPSC CDS 1 2026 written examination will be conducted on 12th April 2026.

Is there negative marking in CDS Exam?

Yes, there is a penalty (negative marking) of 1/3rd marks (0.33) for every wrong answer marked by the candidate.

Can women apply for IMA/INA/AFA?

No, women candidates are eligible only for the Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) course at OTA Chennai. There are 18 vacancies for women in OTA this year.