UPSC CDS 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Age Limit, Vacancy & Apply Online
CDS is the graduate route into a commissioned officer role, and it is the exam most people discover only after aging out of NDA. Its most underused feature is the Officers Training Academy entry, which has a higher age limit than the other academies and no separate Mathematics paper.
UPSC CDS 2026 at a glance
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Total vacancies | 457 |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree; Engineering degree for Air Force Academy |
| Age limit | 19–25 years as on 01 Jan 2027 (relaxation below) |
| Application dates | Nov 2026 – Dec 2026 |
| Application fee | ₹200 (nil for women, SC and ST) |
| Exam date | Apr 2027 |
| Salary | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month (Level 10 (on commissioning)) |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
Are you eligible for UPSC CDS 2026?
Don't work through the age relaxation table by hand. Enter your date of birth and category and get a definite answer in five seconds — free, no signup.
UPSC CDS age limit and relaxation 2026
The age limit for UPSC CDS 2026 is 19 to 25 years as on 01 Jan 2027. Your age is counted on that cutoff date, not on the day you apply — so a candidate who turns 26 after the cutoff date is still eligible.
| Category | Relaxation | Effective maximum age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | None | 25 years |
| OBC-NCL | +3 years | 28 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years | 30 years |
| PwD (General) | +10 years | 35 years |
| PwD (OBC-NCL) | +10 +3 years | 38 years |
| PwD (SC / ST) | +10 +5 years | 40 years |
PwD relaxation is added on top of your category relaxation, not instead of it. A PwD OBC-NCL candidate for UPSC CDS is eligible to 38, not 35. Full age relaxation rules →
UPSC CDS posts and salary
| Post | Department | Pay level | Monthly pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Indian Army | Level-10 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Indian Navy | Level-10 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Indian Air Force | Level-10 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) | Short Service Commission | Level-10 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
UPSC CDS selection process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Written exam | English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA has no Mathematics paper. |
| SSB Interview | Five-day Services Selection Board process. |
| Medical | Detailed military medical examination. |
Who should apply for UPSC CDS
For graduates under 25 wanting a commissioned military career. Note the age limits differ by academy — OTA runs to 25, IMA and INA are tighter — so check the specific entry rather than the headline number.
- The OTA entry does not include the Elementary Mathematics paper, which materially changes preparation.
- Air Force Academy requires an engineering degree or Physics and Mathematics at graduation level.
- Age limits differ by academy — IMA and INA are tighter than OTA.
UPSC CDS 2026 — आयु सीमा और योग्यता
संयुक्त रक्षा सेवा परीक्षा (UPSC CDS) 2026 के लिए आयु सीमा 01 Jan 2027 को 19 से 25 वर्ष है। OBC-NCL उम्मीदवारों को 3 वर्ष, SC/ST को 5 वर्ष और दिव्यांग (PwD) उम्मीदवारों को अपनी श्रेणी की छूट के अतिरिक्त 10 वर्ष की छूट मिलती है।
शैक्षणिक योग्यता: स्नातक; वायुसेना अकादमी के लिए इंजीनियरिंग डिग्री। कुल 457 पद · वेतन ₹56,100 से ₹1,77,500 प्रति माह · आवेदन की अंतिम तिथि Dec 2026।
अपनी योग्यता मुफ़्त जाँचें →UPSC CDS 2026 — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NDA and CDS?
Does CDS OTA have a Mathematics paper?
Can women apply for CDS?
Related exams
Useful guides
Vacancy figures, dates and salaries are compiled from official notifications and change between cycles. Age limits vary between posts within the same exam. Always confirm against the official notification on upsc.gov.in before applying.