CDS 1 Application Form 2026; The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is going to announce vacancies through the Combined Defence Service Examination (I) for which the application process will start at www.upsc.gov.in. As per the UPSC Calendar, the application process will start from 10th December 2025, along with the release of the notification. Candidates interested in making a prestigious career in national defense have a good opportunity. This article covers guides about the CDS Online Application Form 2026, application fee, steps to apply online, and other details.
UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2026 Summary
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Service Examination (1) 2026 |
| CDS 1 Vacancy | 451 |
| Level of Exam | National |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Dates | 10th to 30th December 2025 |
| Selection Process | Written Test- Interview- Medical Examination |
| Language of Written Exam | Bilingual |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-choice questions |
| Eligibility | Unmarried Males & Females |
| CDS Exam Duration | 2 hours (each paper) |
| Marking Scheme | 1/3 for each incorrect answer |
| Job Location | All Over India |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CDS 1 Application Form 2026 Important Dates
| Events | Dates |
| CDS 1 Notification 2026 | 10th December 2025 |
| CDS 1 Application Form Starts | 10th December 2025 |
| Registration Last Date | 30th December 2025 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 30th December 2025 |
| CDS 1 Exam Date 2026 | 12th April 2026 |
CDS 1 Exam 2026 Application Fee
The examination fee for the CDS 1 2026 Exam is Rs. 200/- for all categories except SC/ST/Females (exempted from fee payment). The payment can be done through online/offline mode (Net Banking, Mastercard/Debit Card or cash deposit in any branch of SBI Bank.
| Category | Application Fee |
| All category except SC/ST/Females | Rs. 200/- |
| SC/ST/Females | Exempted |
UPSC CDS 1 Vacancy 2026
For the CDS 1 Exam, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release more than 450 vacancies for the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officer’s Training Academy.
| Name of the academy | Number of Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun 160th (DE) | 451 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala Course | |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad Training Course | |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC Men 125th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) | |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women 125th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) |
UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The candidates must meet the UPSC CDS 2026 Eligibility Criteria as set by the Union Public Service Commission for defence recruitment. Check detailed eligibility (nationality, education, age, marital status, sex) from below.
CDS Nationality
A candidate should hold The Citizenship of India, subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who had been migrated to India before January 01, 1962, with the intention of Permanent Settle, or An individual of Indian Origin who migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire & Vietnam for permanent settle purpose in India.
CDS Education Qualification
For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy – The candidate should have a graduation degree (any subject) from a recognized University or equivalent.
For Indian Naval Academy– The candidate should have completed their Graduation in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution.
For Air Force Academy– The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering.
CDS Age Limit
The age limit for the candidates who will be applying for CDS 1 Exam will be as follows;
(i) For IMA- Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2007 only are eligible
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy- Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2007 only are eligible.
(iii) For Air Force Academy- 20 to 24 years, i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2006.
CDS Marital Status & Sex
• For the Indian Military Academy, and Indian Naval Academy, only Unmarried males are eligible to apply for the CDS 1 Exam
• For the Indian Air Force Academy, both married and unmarried males can apply, however, marriage during the training is not permitted
• For Officer Training Academy, unmarried males & females can apply for the CDS 1 Exam.
UPSC CDS Exam 2026 Selection Procedure
The recruitment of AFA, IMA, INA & Officers Training Academy posts will be conducted based on:
Stage 1: Written Exam- The UPSC will conduct the CDS written exam to shortlist candidates for the interview exam. The written exam consists of objective-type questions only. Subjects asked in the exam from of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Stage 2: SSB Interview/Personality Test- Candidates who are declared successful in the written exam will be called to appear for an intelligence and personality test at the Service Selection Board based on their preferred service. This stage assesses candidates’ leadership qualities, officer-like attributes, and suitability for a career in the defense forces. The exam will be in two stages. Stage 1 includes tests such as officer intelligence rating, picture perception, and description. Stage 2 involves a psychological test, an interview, group testing tasks, and a conference.
Stage 3: Document Verification- Candidates will be called to provide original documents for verification, including educational certificates, age proof, and other relevant documents as submitted during the application process.
Stage 4: Medical Examination- Candidates who clear the interview/personality test undergo Medical examinations are carried out meticulously by the Armed Forces Medical Services. The medical examination ensures that the candidate is in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/syndrome/disability.
Important Links
| UPSC CDS Notification | NOTIFICATION |
| UPSC CDS Notification | APPLY ONLINE |
Are girls eligible to apply for CDS 2026 Exam?
Yes, unmarried girls are now eligible to appear in CDS Exam.
