UPSC CDS II & NDA II September 2026: Last 10 Days Revision Blueprint & SSB Shortlisting Benchmarks
High-yield topics, time management rules, and expected written cut-offs for the 14 September 2026 defence entrance examinations.
⚡ Key Strategic Takeaways & Safe Benchmarks
- ✓Both UPSC CDS II and NDA & NA II exams will be conducted nationwide on Sunday, 14 September 2026.
- ✓Admit cards are now downloadable from upsc.gov.in using Registration ID or Roll Number.
- ✓CDS IMA cut-off benchmark: 135–142 marks; OTA cut-off benchmark: 100–108 marks out of 200.
- ✓NDA written cut-off benchmark: 355–365 marks with minimum 20% in each individual section.
- ✓Zero electronic devices, digital watches, or loose paper permitted inside UPSC exam centers.
§1. Final Countdown to 14 September 2026
With the Union Public Service Commission releasing the e-Admit Cards on 2 and 3 September 2026, over 5 lakh defence aspirants across India are entering the critical final 10 days of preparation for CDS II and NDA II.
§2. High-Yield Revision Modules for UPSC CDS II
- 1English (Paper 1 - 100 Marks / 2 Hours):
- •Spotting Errors: Revisit subject-verb agreement, prepositions, inversion, and conditional clauses.
- •Ordering of Words & Sentences: High scoring; practice 30 items daily to maintain cadence.
- •Idioms & Phrases: Focus on recent 5 years UPSC pyqs (2021-2026).
- 1General Knowledge (Paper 2 - 100 Marks / 2 Hours):
- •Modern Indian History: Focus on 1857 to 1947, tribal/peasant movements, and Congress sessions.
- •Polity: Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Emergency Provisions, and Constitutional Amendments.
- •Defence Current Affairs: Joint military exercises, indigenous naval vessel inductions, missile tests from April to August 2026.
- 1Elementary Mathematics (Paper 3 for IMA, INA, AFA - 100 Marks):
- •Geometry, Trigonometry, and Mensuration account for over 50% of the questions. Solve with accuracy rather than volume.
§3. SSB Interview Shortlisting Marks Projection
- •Indian Military Academy (IMA): Written benchmark 136–142 / 300; SSB Interview 300 Marks; Final Merit 258–268.
- •Air Force Academy (AFA): Written benchmark 148–156 / 300; SSB Interview 300 Marks; Final Merit 272–282.
- •Indian Naval Academy (INA): Written benchmark 128–134 / 300; SSB Interview 300 Marks; Final Merit 246–256.
- •Officers Training Academy (OTA Men/Women): Written benchmark 102–108 / 200; SSB Interview 200 Marks; Final Merit 192–202.
Key Advice by Rukmani Yadav: UPSC enforces a strict 20% qualifying threshold in each individual subject paper. Scoring 90 in English will not save your candidature if you score below 20 in General Knowledge. Balance your preparation across all sections.
Official Commission Links & Verification Portals
Rukmani Yadav
✓ Verified ExpertUPSC & State PSC Research Lead · 9+ Years in Civil Services & Administrative Research
Rukmani is an expert on constitutional recruitment commissions including UPSC Civil Services, NDA, CDS, and State Public Service Commissions (HPSC, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC). She tracks Gazette notifications and administrative cadre rules.