CDS I Notification 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility Criteria,...
CDS I Notification 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern, Selection Process
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the detailed CDS I 2026 notification (04/2026.CDS-I) on 10 December 2025. This exam is for admission to IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA courses starting in Jan/Apr 2027, including the SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course. The official PDF contains full details on vacancies, eligibility, application procedure, and selection. Read it carefully before applying.
👉 Click Here To Check The Official Notification
UPSC CDS I 2026 Overview
| Details | Information |
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | CDS I 2026 |
| Notification No. | 04/2026.CDS-I |
| Courses | IMA, INA, AFA, OTA |
| Exam Date | 12 April 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Course Start | Jan 2027 / Apr 2027 |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | 10 December 2025 |
| Application Start | 10 December 2025 |
| Application Last Date | 30 December 2025 |
| Exam Date | 12 April 2026 |
| Result (Written) | May 2026 (expected) |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
| General / OBC | ₹200/- |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| Female Candidates | Nil |
Vacancy Details & Qualification
| Course | Vacancies | Qualification |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 100 | A graduation in any discipline |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala | 26 | Engineering Degree |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 32 | Graduation with Physics & Maths at 12th OR B.E./B.Tech |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men) | 275 | A graduation in any discipline |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women) | 18 | A graduation in any discipline |
Age Limit
Courses have different age requirements:
- IMA: 19–24 years (Born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008)
- INA: 19–24 years (Born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008)
- AFA: 20–24 years (Born between 2 Jan 2002 – 1 Jan 2008)
- OTA (Men & Women): 19–25 years (Born between 2 Jan 2001 – 1 Jan 2006)
Selection Process
The selection process comprises:
- Written Examination by UPSC
- SSB Interview by Armed Forces Selection Boards
- Document Verification & Medical Examination
- Final Merit List based on marks in the written exam + SSB interview
CDS 1 Exam 2026 Exam Pattern
The candidates have to clear the CDS Written Examination to get selected for the interview round. Check the exam pattern for each position below.
• There will be Multiple-Choice Questions in each paper
• The question paper for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set in Hindi as well as in English.
• There will be a penalty of 1/3 marks for a wrong answer
• Duration of each exam is separate, i.e. 2 hours.
| For the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy | |||
| SNo | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English | 120 | 2 hours |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 120 | 2 hours |
| 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
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| For Officers’ Training Academy | |||
| SNo | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
Note: The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be equal for each course, i.e. the maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy, respectively.
CDS 1 Exam 2026: Syllabus
The CDS syllabus outlines the subjects and topics that candidates must study for the written exam. While the mathematics section is based on school-level concepts, the English and General Knowledge sections follow graduation-level standards. A clear understanding of the syllabus helps in focused and effective preparation. The subject-wise syllabus is given in the table below:
| Section | Topics Included |
| English |
|
| General Knowledge |
|
| Mathematics | |
| Algebra |
|
| Arithmetic |
|
| Trigonometry |
|
| Geometry |
|
| Mensuration |
|
| Statistics |
|
CDS Salary 2026
Candidates appointed for various service posts under the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination will be offered an attractive monthly salary as fixed by the author. Apart from the salary, candidates will be provided with various allowances like Dearness Allowance, Kit maintenance allowance, Uniform allowance, Transport Allowance, etc. The pay scale of Army Officers and equivalent ranks in the Air Force and Navy is as follows.
| Rank | Level | (Pay in Rs.)Lieutenant |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | Rs. 56,100 -1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10 B | Rs. 61,300- 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | Rs. 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | Rs. 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | Rs. 1,30,600-2, 15,900 |
| Brigadier | Level 13A | Rs. 1,39,600-2,17,600 |
| Major General | Level 14 | Rs. 1,44,200-2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General HAG Scale | Level 15 | Rs. 1, 82, 200-2,24,100 |
| HAG+Scale | Level 16 | Rs. 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) | Level 17 | Rs. 2,25,000/-(fixed) |
| COAS | Level 18 | Rs. 2,50,000/-(fixed) |
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
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Visit upsconline.nic.in.
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Complete OTR (One Time Registration) if you’re a new user.
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Log in with your URN and open the CDS I application form.
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Fill in personal and educational details carefully.
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Upload scanned photo, signature, and other required documents in the prescribed format.
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Pay the application fee (if applicable).
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Review the form, submit, and download/print the confirmation for records.
Editorial & Verification Standards
This article was researched, written, and verified by the CurrentAffairs360 editorial team in collaboration with educators at Khalsa Inter College, Naka Hindola, Lucknow. All insights are cross-verified against official government sources (PIB, RBI, The Hindu, Indian Express) to ensure rigorous exam authenticity.
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