UPSC CDS 1 Exam Announcement 2026: Apply Online for 451 Positions

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is hiring for 451 CDS 1 positions in 2025. Any graduate is eligible to apply online. The online application will be available from October 10, 2025, to December 30, 2025. The applicant must apply online at upsc.gov.in, the UPSC website.

An official announcement on the hiring of 451 CDS 1 positions has been issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who meet the requirements can apply online via the UPSC website. The application form must be submitted before December 30, 2025. The UPSC CDS 1 Posts recruiting details, including eligibility requirements, age restrictions, pay scale, selection procedure, application procedures, and direct links to the official announcement and online application form, are all included in this page.

UPSC CDS-I Recruitment 2026 Overview

Company Name	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Post Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026
No of Posts	451
Salary	Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500/- per month (Level 10)
Qualification	Degree from recognized University (varies by course)
Age Limit	19 to 24 years (varies by course)
Start Date for Apply	10/12/2025
Last Date for Apply	30/12/2025
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in

UPSC CDS-I Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details

Course Name	Total Vacancies
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun – 162nd (DE) Course (including 13 for NCC ‘C’ Certificate Army Wing holders)	100
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala – Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro (including 06 for NCC ‘C’ Certificate Naval Wing holders and 01 for Hydro)	26
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad – (Pre-Flying) Training Course 221 F(P) (including 03 for NCC ‘C’ Certificate Air Wing holders)	32
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai – 125th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course	275
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai – 125th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course	18
Total	451

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualifications:

For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent
For Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering
Candidates studying in final year/semester degree course can also apply
Professional and technical qualifications recognised by Government as equivalent are also acceptable

Nationality:

Citizen of India, OR
Subject of Nepal, OR
Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with intention of permanent settlement in India

Salary/Stipend

During Training: Fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10)
After Commissioning as Lieutenant: Pay Level 10: Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500/-
Captain: Pay Level 10B: Rs. 61,300 – 1,93,900/-
Major: Pay Level 11: Rs. 69,400 – 2,07,200/-
Lieutenant Colonel: Pay Level 12A: Rs. 1,21,200 – 2,12,400/-
Colonel: Pay Level 13: Rs. 1,30,600 – 2,15,900/-
Military Service Pay (MSP): Rs. 15,500/- per month (fixed) from Lieutenant to Brigadier
Additional Allowances: Dearness Allowance, Dress Allowance (Rs. 20,000/- per year), Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance (Rs. 2,250/- per month), Free Ration in kind

Age Limit (as on 01-01-2027)

For IMA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02/01/2003 and not later than 01/01/2008
For Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02/01/2003 and not later than 01/01/2008
For Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years (born not earlier than 02/01/2003 and not later than 01/01/2007). Upper age limit relaxable upto 26 years for candidates holding valid Commercial Pilot Licence
For OTA (SSC Men): Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02/01/2002 and not later than 01/01/2008
For OTA (SSC Women): Unmarried women, issueless widows/divorcees born not earlier than 02/01/2002 and not later than 01/01/2008
Date of birth accepted only from Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate
No subsequent change in date of birth allowed

Application Fee

Category	Fee Amount
General/OBC Male Candidates	Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only)
Female Candidates	No Fee
SC/ST Candidates	No Fee

Payment Mode: Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or Internet Banking
Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances
No fee exemption available for OBC candidates

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release Date	10/12/2025
Online Application Start Date	10/12/2025
Last Date for Online Application	30/12/2025 (up to 06:00 PM)
Examination Date	12/04/2026
Written Result Declaration	May 2026 (Tentative)
Course Commencement (IMA/INA/AFA)	January 2027
Course Commencement (OTA)	April 2027

Selection Process

Stage 1 – Written Examination: Objective type questions conducted by UPSC
For IMA/INA/AFA: Three papers – English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks), Elementary Mathematics (100 marks). Total: 300 marks
For OTA: Two papers – English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks). Total: 200 marks
Stage 2 – Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview: Intelligence and Personality Test
Two-stage SSB selection: Stage I (OIR tests and PP&DT), Stage II (Interview, GTO Tasks, Psychology Tests, Conference)
SSB Interview marks: Equal to written examination marks (300 for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 for OTA)
Stage 3 – Medical Examination: Special Medical Board at designated Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals
Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in both written exam and SSB test
Final selection based on combined marks (Written + SSB) subject to medical fitness
Negative marking: 0.33 marks deduction for each wrong answer

General Information/Instructions

Candidates must apply online only through https://upsconline.nic.in
No other mode of application is allowed
Universal Registration Number (URN) required for all UPSC examinations
Live Photo Capture mandatory while filling Common Application Form (CAF)
Aadhaar Card strongly recommended as ID document
One Photo ID Card mandatory (Aadhaar/Voter Card/PAN/Passport/Driving License)
Candidates cannot withdraw applications after submission
e-Admit Card will be issued on last working day of preceding week of examination
No Admit Card will be sent by post or email
Candidates must reach examination venue at least 30 minutes prior to commencement
Face Authentication mandatory at examination venue
Mobile phones and electronic devices strictly banned
Use Black Ball Pen only for marking answers in OMR sheet
Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) available for 7 days after examination
Helpdesk: 011-24041001 or email: upscsoap@nic.in (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days)
Government strives for gender balance – Women candidates encouraged to apply

How to Apply

Step 1: Visit official website https://upsconline.nic.in
Step 2: Create Account and generate Universal Registration Number (URN)
Step 3: Fill Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details
Step 4: Upload recent photograph and capture live photo
Step 5: Fill Examination Specific Module with preferences for Services (IMA/INA/AFA/OTA)
Step 6: Upload required documents (Date of Birth proof, Educational certificates, etc.)
Step 7: Select Examination Centre from available options
Step 8: Pay application fee online (if applicable) through Credit/Debit Card/UPI/Net Banking
Step 9: Submit application and note down Application Number
Step 10: Take printout of application for future reference
Important: No corrections allowed after submission of application
Note: Candidates already in Government Service must inform their Head of Office/Department
Note: Candidates serving in Armed Forces must inform Commanding Officer and submit NOC at SSB

UPSC CDS-I Important Links

Apply Online: Click here
Official Notification PDF: Click here
Official Website: Click here
Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here