Table of ContentsClick to view all sections
- UPSC CDS II Result 2026: What to Do Next
- Last Date to Submit Originals After UPSC CDS II Result 2026
- CDS (II) 2026 Recruitment at a Glance
- UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Vacancies by Academy
- Eligibility: Education and Age
- UPSC CDS II Result 2026: SSB and Medical Selection Stages
- Written Exam Pattern and Provisional Answer Keys
- Pay During Training and After Commission
- Important CDS (II) 2026 Dates
- Application Fee and How the Closed Application Worked
- Documents and Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Where to Check the Result and Official Notices
- Final Takeaway
UPSC CDS II Result 2026 was declared on 19 October 2026. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has shortlisted 8,956 candidates for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Candidates should check the course-wise roll-number lists on the official UPSC result page and read the accompanying instructions carefully. Qualification in the written examination is not a final offer of admission: candidature remains provisional until eligibility and the required documents are verified, and candidates must also complete the subsequent selection stages.
This UPSC CDS II Result 2026 guide explains how to check the result, what shortlisted candidates should do next, where original certificates must be sent and which deadlines apply. It also summarises the examination, vacancies, eligibility conditions, selection stages, pay details and key dates. Use the official notice and the relevant Services Headquarters’ instructions for decisions about your own candidature; a general summary cannot replace those instructions.
UPSC CDS II Result 2026: What to Do Next
Start by checking the roll-number list for the course or courses you selected. A candidate’s roll number may appear in more than one course list, so the number of entries across all lists is not the same as the number of unique candidates. If you find your number, note the course list and follow the call-up directions issued by the relevant service. Keep a copy of the result notice and make a record of the applicable document deadline.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Check your result | Look for your roll number in the relevant course-wise lists on the official UPSC result page. Check each applicable list rather than relying on a combined list total. |
| Register for the SSB call-up | Candidates whose first choice is Army (IMA or OTA) must register on the Army recruiting website, joinindianarmy.nic.in. Candidates who have already registered should not register again. |
| Report an address change | Inform the relevant Army, Naval or Air Headquarters directly, as applicable. Do not rely only on a change made elsewhere. |
| Submit original documents | Send proof of age, educational qualifications and any claimed NCC ‘C’ certificate to the Headquarters for your first-choice service—Army, Navy or Air Force. Do not send these originals to UPSC. |
| Download the OTA marksheet | The marksheet is to be made available on upsconline.nic.in within 15 days of the final OTA result, after the SSB process, and remains available for 30 days. |
Result-checking checklist
- Use the official UPSC result notice linked at the end of this article, rather than relying on a reposted roll-number list.
- Read the instructions accompanying the result, including directions relevant to your first-choice service.
- Check whether the roll number appears in more than one applicable course list; duplicate appearances do not represent additional unique candidates.
- Keep your contact and address details current with the appropriate service Headquarters and follow its instructions for the SSB call-up.
- Prepare the required original certificates in time for the deadline that applies to your course.
Last Date to Submit Originals After UPSC CDS II Result 2026
Shortlisted candidates must send the specified original certificates to the Headquarters of the service corresponding to their first choice. These documents are not to be sent to UPSC. The applicable date differs by academy, so identify your course before arranging submission. Missing the relevant deadline can lead to cancellation of candidature. Check the official result notice and instructions for the complete requirements and any directions on how documents should be submitted.
| Course | Last date for original documents |
|---|---|
| IMA and Indian Naval Academy | 1 July 2027 |
| Air Force Academy | 13 May 2027 |
| OTA SSC courses for men and women | 1 October 2027 |
The stated document categories include proof of age, educational qualifications and an NCC ‘C’ certificate if you claimed one. Check that the certificate you submit relates to the qualification or claim being verified, and consult the notice if you are unsure which document applies. Candidates who are completing a degree must also meet the proof-of-passing requirement and date set out in the notification. Keep copies for your records, but follow the official instructions about originals and submission; do not substitute an unofficial process for the one specified by the service.
CDS (II) 2026 Recruitment at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Examination | Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 451 tentative vacancies |
| Written examination | Held on 13 September 2026 |
| Written result | Declared on 19 October 2026 |
| Current stage | SSB interview and subsequent medical examination |
| Application status | Closed; the extended deadline was 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM |
| Training stipend | ₹56,100 per month |
| Pay on commission | Level 10: ₹56,100–₹1,77,500, plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month |
The result is for the written examination only. Candidates who qualify move forward in the selection process, but they must still attend the SSB interview, undergo medical assessment if recommended and satisfy the applicable eligibility and document checks. The vacancy count is tentative, and the notice states that the figures may be changed by the Services Headquarters.
UPSC CDS (II) 2026 Vacancies by Academy
The 451 vacancies are distributed across the listed academies and courses. The NCC seats shown in the table are included within the academy totals; they should not be added again when calculating the overall number. Vacancy figures are tentative and may be changed by the Services Headquarters.
| Academy and course | Vacancies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun — 163rd (DE) Course, July 2027 | 100 | Includes 13 for NCC ‘C’ Army Wing |
| INA, Ezhimala — Executive (GS)/Hydro, July 2027 | 26 | Includes 6 for NCC ‘C’ Naval Wing and 1 for Hydro |
| AFA, Hyderabad — 222 F(P) Course, July 2027 | 32 | Includes 3 for NCC ‘C’ Air Wing |
| OTA, Chennai — 126th SSC Men (NT), October 2027 | 275 | Short Service Commission |
| OTA, Chennai — 126th SSC Women (NT), October 2027 | 18 | Short Service Commission |
| Total | 451 | Tentative |
The figures indicate the announced vacancies for each course, not a guarantee of selection for any particular candidate. Admission depends on completing the required selection stages and meeting the conditions in the notification. Candidates should use the relevant course details when checking their result, call-up instructions and document deadline.
Eligibility: Education and Age
Educational qualification
| Academy | Qualification |
|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | A degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
| INA, Ezhimala | A degree in engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 |
| AFA, Hyderabad | A recognised degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or a Bachelor of Engineering |
| OTA, Chennai — men and women | A degree from a recognised university or equivalent |
The course-specific academic requirements are not identical. In particular, the table distinguishes the engineering or specified B.Sc. route for INA from the degree requirement for IMA and OTA, and sets out the stated Physics and Mathematics or engineering routes for AFA. Check the official notification against your own qualification rather than assuming that one academy’s requirement applies to every course.
Final-year students must provide proof of passing their degree by the date specified in the notification. Failure to do so can result in cancellation of candidature. The notification also sets eligibility conditions relating to prior removal or withdrawal from specified training courses and other service-related circumstances. Candidates should verify these clauses in the official notice, including any condition that may apply to their individual history.
Age limit and marital status
| Academy/course | Age and status stated for the 2026 examination | Date-of-birth range |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | 19–24 years; unmarried men | 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2008 |
| INA, Ezhimala | 19–24 years; unmarried men | 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2008 |
| AFA, Hyderabad | 20–24 years as on 1 July 2027; up to 26 for eligible holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Candidates below 25 must be unmarried. | 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2007; CPL holders may be from 1 July 2001 |
| OTA, Chennai — SSC Men | 19–25 years; unmarried men | 1 July 2002 to 1 July 2008 |
| OTA, Chennai — SSC Women | 19–25 years; unmarried women, or issueless widows/divorcees who have not remarried | 1 July 2002 to 1 July 2008 |
Use the date-of-birth criteria in the official notification rather than calculating eligibility from age alone. The AFA entry identifies an extension for eligible holders of a valid DGCA CPL; check the notification for the full conditions applicable to that provision and to your case. The age and marital-status requirements are course-specific, so compare your details with the row for the academy you selected.
UPSC CDS II Result 2026: SSB and Medical Selection Stages
The selection process comprises the UPSC written examination, the SSB interview and a medical examination. The written result qualifies a candidate to proceed to the next stage; it does not guarantee admission to an academy. Candidates should follow the call-up instructions from the relevant service and take the original certificates required by the Services Selection Centre.
| Stage | What candidates can expect |
|---|---|
| Written examination | Objective papers in English, General Knowledge and, for IMA/INA/AFA candidates, Elementary Mathematics |
| SSB Stage I | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Candidates must clear this stage to continue. |
| SSB Stage II | Interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, psychology tests and conference, conducted over four days |
| Medical examination | Recommended candidates undergo medical assessment under the applicable service standards |
The SSB carries a maximum of 300 marks for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 marks for OTA. This difference is another reason to check the details for the course to which you applied. Candidates should also note the notification’s instruction about choice: if a candidate declines an offered first choice, candidature for the other regular commission choices is cancelled. Read the relevant terms carefully before responding to an offer or call-up.
How to approach the next stage
Use the SSB communication from the relevant service as the authority for reporting arrangements and required documents. Confirm the date, place and instructions given in that communication rather than assuming that all academies use identical arrangements. Keep the proof of age and education required by the Services Selection Centre available, along with an NCC ‘C’ certificate where applicable. The written result alone does not complete these requirements, and document verification remains part of establishing eligibility.
Written Exam Pattern and Provisional Answer Keys
| Paper | IMA/INA/AFA | OTA | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 marks | Not applicable | 2 hours |
UPSC released provisional answer keys for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics for booklet series A, B, C and D. Candidates checking their answers should match the key to the booklet series they used; comparing against a different series can lead to incorrect question-by-question matching. OTA candidates do not take the Mathematics paper.
The key lists 120 English questions, 120 General Knowledge questions with one question dropped, and 100 Mathematics questions. The dropped General Knowledge item is marked “X” (Question 84 in Series A). A wrong answer carries a penalty of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. The representation period for the provisional keys has closed: the notice allowed five days from the third day after the examination, and late representations are not accepted. The provisional keys are therefore useful for checking the published answers, but the representation window is no longer open.
Pay During Training and After Commission
| Pay component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Training stipend | ₹56,100 per month |
| Pay Level on commission | Level 10: ₹56,100–₹1,77,500 |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | ₹15,500 per month |
These are the pay figures stated for the recruitment. The notification also lists service-related facilities and conditions; consult the official notice for the full terms rather than treating the table as a complete description of compensation or service conditions.
Important CDS (II) 2026 Dates
| Event | Date/status |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 20 May 2026 |
| Application deadline after extension | 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM — closed |
| Written examination | 13 September 2026 — held |
| Provisional answer keys | Released; representation window closed |
| Written result | 19 October 2026 |
| IMA, INA and AFA course start | July 2027 |
| OTA course start | October 2027 |
The application deadline shown here is the extended deadline, not an indication that a new application period is open. The examination and written result dates are past events. For candidates who qualified, the immediate focus is the SSB process and the course-specific document deadline. Keep the later course start dates in view, but follow the service’s communications for instructions that apply to your candidature.
Application Fee and How the Closed Application Worked
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS male candidates | ₹200 |
| SC/ST candidates | Exempted |
| All female candidates | Exempted |
The fee was payable through net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI, and was non-refundable. Applications are closed; the steps below are included only as a record of the process described for this examination. They are not current application instructions.
- Visit the UPSC online application portal and complete Universal Registration, or sign in to an existing account.
- Complete the Common Application Form and the examination module.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and photo ID.
- Pay the applicable fee, if required, and submit the application.
- Save the confirmation page for your records.
The application could not be withdrawn after submission, and corrections to submitted fields were not permitted. Do not use these past steps as an indication that applications are currently open. The stated extended deadline was 11 June 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Documents and Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Checking only one list: Review the course-wise list or lists relevant to your choices. A roll number may appear in more than one list.
- Treating the written result as final selection: Qualification advances you to the next stage; it does not itself confirm admission.
- Sending originals to UPSC: Send the specified originals to the appropriate first-choice service Headquarters, not to UPSC.
- Using the wrong document deadline: IMA/INA, AFA and OTA have different dates. Match the deadline to your course.
- Overlooking the NCC document: Include proof of an NCC ‘C’ certificate if you claimed it, as directed by the notice.
- Failing to report an address change: Notify the relevant Army, Naval or Air Headquarters directly, as applicable.
- Registering twice for the Army call-up: Candidates already registered on the Army recruiting website should not register again.
- Using a mismatched answer key: Check answers against the key for your own booklet series and account for negative marking.
- Assuming eligibility from age alone: Use the official date-of-birth range and check the course-specific conditions in the notification.
- Assuming the application portal is open: The CDS (II) 2026 application window is closed.
Where to Check the Result and Official Notices
Use the official UPSC result notice to check the course-wise roll-number lists and read the accompanying directions. The official provisional answer-key page is the appropriate reference for the published keys. For eligibility, document submission and service-specific call-up requirements, consult the applicable notice and the relevant Services Headquarters. If a summary differs from an official instruction, follow the official instruction.
| Resource | Official link |
|---|---|
| CDS (II) 2026 written result notice and course-wise lists | Open UPSC result notice |
| CDS (II) 2026 provisional answer key page | Open UPSC answer key page |
| Union Public Service Commission | Visit the UPSC website |
Final Takeaway
The written stage of UPSC CDS II Result 2026 is complete, and 8,956 candidates have qualified for SSB. Check your roll number in the official course-wise list, follow the call-up instructions from the relevant service, prepare the required original documents and submit them to the correct service Headquarters before the deadline for your course. Remember that written qualification is not final selection: the SSB, medical assessment and eligibility verification remain part of the process. For any discrepancy or eligibility question, rely on the UPSC notice and the relevant Services Headquarters rather than unofficial summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the UPSC CDS II 2026 written result declared?
UPSC declared the written result on 19 October 2026.
How many candidates qualified for the SSB interview?
A total of 8,956 candidates qualified. Some roll numbers may appear in more than one course list, so the course-wise list totals should not be added to calculate the number of unique candidates.
Where can I check the CDS (II) 2026 result?
To check UPSC CDS II Result 2026, open the official UPSC written-result notice and check the relevant course-wise roll-number list. Read the instructions attached to the notice as well as checking whether your roll number is present.
What should an Army first-choice candidate do for the SSB call-up?
Register on joinindianarmy.nic.in if not already registered. Candidates who have registered should not create a second registration.
Where should I send my original certificates?
Send proof of age, educational qualifications and any claimed NCC ‘C’ certificate to the Army, Navy or Air Force Headquarters corresponding to your first choice. Do not send originals to UPSC.
What are the last dates for submitting originals?
The deadlines are 1 July 2027 for IMA and INA, 13 May 2027 for AFA, and 1 October 2027 for OTA SSC courses for men and women.
Is the CDS (II) 2026 application window still open?
No. Applications closed at 6:00 PM on 11 June 2026, following an extension.
When will the OTA marksheet be available?
The marksheet is to be made available on upsconline.nic.in within 15 days of the final OTA result after the SSB process and remain available for 30 days.
Does clearing the written examination confirm admission?
No. The written result qualifies candidates to proceed to the SSB stage. Candidates must complete the subsequent selection process, including the applicable medical assessment and eligibility verification.
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