UPSC CDS — 2026
Combined Defence Services — IMA, INA, AFA & OTA
Exam Overview
- UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) examination recruits officers for the Indian Armed Forces through four training academies. CDS-I 2026 has announced 451 vacancies across IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
- Academies: Indian Military Academy (IMA) — Army | Indian Naval Academy (INA) — Navy | Air Force Academy (AFA) — Air Force | Officers Training Academy (OTA) — Army (Short Service Commission)
- Eligibility: Graduation required (Engineering for INA, PCM at 10+2 for AFA). Must be unmarried. Age: 19–24 (IMA/INA), 20–24 (AFA), 19–25 (OTA). Indian citizenship required.
- Exam Date: Written Examination — 12 April 2026. CDS-I 2026 notification released on 10 Dec 2025.
- Salary: Stipend of Rs. 56,100/month during training. After commissioning as Lieutenant — Level 10: Rs. 56,100–1,77,500 basic + MSP Rs. 15,500. In-hand approx. Rs. 80,000–90,000/month.
- Application Fee: Rs. 200 (General/OBC male). Female, SC & ST candidates are exempted.
Academy-wise Details
| Academy | Eligibility | Age | Written | SSB | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Unmarried male, Graduation | 19–24 years | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Unmarried male, Engineering degree | 19–24 years | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Unmarried male/female, Graduation with PCM at 10+2 or BE/BTech | 20–24 years | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) | Unmarried male/female, Graduation | 19–25 years | 200 | 200 | 400 |
Women can apply for AFA and OTA entries. IMA and INA are for unmarried male candidates only.
Exam Pattern
English (IMA, INA, AFA & OTA)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Spotting Errors | 20 | 20 |
| Sentence Improvement & Correction | 20 | 20 |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | 15 | 15 |
| Reading Comprehension | 30 | 30 |
| Fill in the Blanks & Idioms | 15 | 15 |
| Para Jumbles & Sentence Arrangement | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 120 | 100 |
Duration: 2 Hours | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted per wrong answer
General Knowledge (IMA, INA, AFA & OTA)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs — National & International | 25 | 25 |
| History of India & Indian National Movement | 20 | 20 |
| Indian & World Geography | 20 | 20 |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | 20 | 20 |
| Indian Economy | 15 | 15 |
| General Science — Physics, Chemistry, Biology | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 120 | 100 |
Duration: 2 Hours | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted per wrong answer
Elementary Mathematics (IMA, INA & AFA only — not for OTA)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic — Number System, HCF/LCM, Percentage, Profit & Loss | 20 | 20 |
| Algebra — Polynomials, Quadratic Equations, Linear Equations | 20 | 20 |
| Trigonometry — Identities, Heights & Distances | 20 | 20 |
| Geometry — Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles | 20 | 20 |
| Mensuration — Area, Volume, Surface Area | 10 | 10 |
| Statistics — Mean, Median, Mode, Frequency Distribution | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 2 Hours | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted per wrong answer | Not required for OTA candidates
Selection Process
- Written Examination — English + GK + Maths (IMA/INA/AFA: 300 marks) or English + GK (OTA: 200 marks)
- SSB Interview — 5-day process: Screening, Psychological Tests, Group Tasks, Personal Interview (300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 for OTA)
- Medical Examination — as per military medical standards
- Final Merit List — Written + SSB combined, academy-wise ranking
SSB Interview (5-Day Process)
- Day 1 — Screening: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test + Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PPDT). Only screened-in candidates continue.
- Day 2 — Psychological Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self-Description Test (SD).
- Days 3 & 4 — Group Testing: Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacles, Command Task, and Lecturette.
- Day 5 — Personal Interview & Conference: One-on-one interview with Interviewing Officer (IO), followed by the final conference with all assessors.
CDS for Assam Students
- Military Presence in NE: The Indian Army's 3 Corps (Rangiya) and 4 Corps (Tezpur) are headquartered in Assam. IAF has major stations at Chabua, Tezpur, and Jorhat. Assam Rifles units are stationed across the Northeast.
- Defence-Relevant Knowledge: India–China border dynamics, Act East Policy, NE as gateway to Southeast Asia, and insurgency management are frequently discussed in GK papers and SSB interviews.
- SSB Advantage: Candidates from Assam with knowledge of NE geography, border issues, and defence deployments can demonstrate strong situational awareness during SSB group tasks and interview.
- Training Academies: IMA (Dehradun) offers 18-month training for Army. INA (Ezhimala, Kerala) for Navy. AFA (Dundigal, Hyderabad) for Air Force. OTA (Chennai) offers 49-week Short Service Commission training.
Syllabus
1. English
Spotting Errors & Sentence CorrectionSynonyms & AntonymsReading ComprehensionFill in the Blanks — Prepositions, ArticlesIdioms & PhrasesPara Jumbles & Sentence ArrangementOne Word SubstitutionActive/Passive Voice & Direct/Indirect Speech2. General Knowledge
Current Events — National & InternationalIndian History — Ancient, Medieval, ModernIndian National Movement & Freedom StruggleIndian & World Geography — Physical & EconomicIndian Polity — Constitution, Governance, Panchayati RajIndian Economy — Planning, Budget, BankingGeneral Science — Physics, Chemistry, BiologyDefence & Security Current Affairs3. Elementary Mathematics (IMA, INA, AFA only)
Number System — HCF, LCM, SimplificationPercentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound InterestRatio, Proportion & PartnershipAlgebra — Polynomials, Quadratic EquationsTrigonometry — Identities, Heights & DistancesGeometry — Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, QuadrilateralsMensuration — Area, Volume, Surface Area of 2D & 3D shapesStatistics — Mean, Median, Mode, Histograms, Frequency Polygons4. Assam-Relevant Topics
Indian Army Presence in Northeast — 3 Corps (Rangiya, Dimapur)Indian Air Force Stations in NE — Chabua, Tezpur, JorhatIndia–China Border & Arunachal Pradesh IssuesAct East Policy & NE as Gateway to Southeast AsiaInsurgency History in Assam & NE IndiaFlood & Disaster Management in Brahmaputra ValleyAssam Rifles & Their Role in NortheastIndian Navy — Eastern Naval Command & NE Maritime Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC CDS and what academies are covered?
UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) examination recruits officers for the Indian Armed Forces through four academies: Indian Military Academy (IMA, Dehradun) for Army, Indian Naval Academy (INA, Ezhimala) for Navy, Air Force Academy (AFA, Dundigal) for Air Force, and Officers Training Academy (OTA, Chennai) for Short Service Commission. CDS-I 2026 has 451 vacancies.
What is the CDS 2026 exam pattern?
For IMA, INA & AFA: 3 papers — English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks), Elementary Mathematics (100 marks) = 300 marks written + 300 marks SSB = 600 total. For OTA: 2 papers — English (100 marks) + GK (100 marks) = 200 marks written + 200 marks SSB = 400 total. All papers are MCQ with 1/3rd negative marking.
What is the eligibility for CDS 2026?
IMA & OTA: Graduation from a recognised university. INA: Engineering degree. AFA: Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or BE/BTech. Age: IMA/INA 19–24, AFA 20–24, OTA 19–25 years. Must be unmarried (married candidates not eligible). Indian citizenship required.
What is the salary after CDS training?
During training, cadets receive a stipend of Rs. 56,100/month. After commissioning as Lieutenant, the pay falls under Level 10: Rs. 56,100–1,77,500 basic. Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs. 15,500/month is additional. Total in-hand salary for a fresh Lieutenant is approximately Rs. 80,000–90,000 including DA, TA, and other allowances.
Is there an SSB interview in CDS selection?
Yes, the SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview is a crucial 5-day process that tests Officer Like Qualities (OLQs). It includes: Day 1 — Screening Test (verbal & non-verbal), Days 2-3 — Psychological Tests (TAT, WAT, SRT, Self-Description), Days 3-4 — Group Testing (GD, GPE, lecturette, outdoor tasks), Day 5 — Personal Interview & Conference. SSB carries 300 marks (IMA/INA/AFA) or 200 marks (OTA).
Can women apply for CDS?
Yes, women can apply for AFA (Air Force Academy) and OTA (Officers Training Academy). Women are not eligible for IMA and INA entries through CDS. At OTA, women are commissioned as Short Service Commission officers in the Indian Army.
Are there any defence-related opportunities specific to Assam students?
Assam has significant military presence: 3 Corps HQ at Rangiya, IAF stations at Chabua, Tezpur, and Jorhat, and Assam Rifles units across NE India. Students from NE India familiar with border issues, terrain, and local challenges have a practical edge. Knowledge of India–China relations, Act East Policy, and insurgency issues is valuable in SSB interviews.
What is the difference between CDS and NDA?
NDA (National Defence Academy) is for 10+2 pass candidates (age 16.5–19.5 years) — it is an undergraduate-level entry. CDS is for graduates (age 19–25 years) — post-graduate level entry. Both lead to permanent/short service commission in Army, Navy, or Air Force. CDS has no Mathematics paper for OTA entry.