UPSC CDS 2026 — Complete Guide: Syllabus, Eligibility, Salary & Cut-off
Last Updated: 23 August 2026 · By SarkariPaper Editorial
UPSC CDS 2026 Overview
UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) is conducted twice a year for graduate candidates to join Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
CDS 2026 has approximately 459 vacancies across all academies. Written exam is followed by SSB Interview and Medical Examination. OTA is for Short Service Commission (SSC) — men and women both eligible.
CDS officers start at Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic) with in-hand salary of ₹60,000–₹80,000/month plus military service pay, ration, and accommodation.
UPSC CDS 2026 Important Dates
| Notification Release | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Opens | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 18 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 25 October 2026 |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's Degree (Engineering for Naval/Air Force technical)
Age Limit
19–24 years (as on 1st January 2026)
Defence personnel: as per rules
Nationality
Indian Citizen
UPSC CDS Selection Process
Written Exam — English, GK, Mathematics (IMA/INA/AFA)
SSB Interview — 5-day personality test
Medical Examination
Final Merit List
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2026
Written / Online Test
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 25 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 50 | 100 |
| Mathematics (if applicable) | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026
Full Syllabus →General Intelligence / Reasoning
General Awareness
Quantitative Aptitude
English Language
Download the complete UPSC CDS topic-wise syllabus PDF →Premium (₹199/yr)
UPSC CDS Posts — Which is Best?
UPSC CDS offers 1+ posts across different departments. Here's a comparison to help you decide your target post before filling the form.
| Post | Salary | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Defence Services As per notification TOP PICK | ₹25,000 – ₹60,000 | medium |
UPSC CDS Salary Structure
Salary varies based on post, city tier (X/Y/Z) for HRA, and DA rate. Figures above are indicative for 2026 DA rates.
UPSC CDS Cut-off Marks
All Cut-offs →UPSC CDS 2025 Tier 1 Cut-off
Cut-offs vary by post. Detailed post-wise cut-offs (2015–2026) available withSarkariPaper Premium →
UPSC CDS Preparation Strategy
Phase 1: Foundation (Month 1–2)
- ›Study the official syllabus and notification carefully
- ›Solve previous year question papers topic-wise
- ›Read daily current affairs for GK section
- ›Build strong basics in Maths, Reasoning & English
Phase 2: Mock Tests (Month 3)
- ›Attempt full-length mocks under exam time limit
- ›Analyse weak areas from mock test results
- ›Revise formula sheets and short notes weekly
- ›Focus on speed, accuracy and time management