UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2026 out on May 20. Check CDS 2 exam date, eligibility, age limit, vacancy, syllabus, application form process, admit card, and PDF details.

The UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2026 was released on May 20 for candidates preparing for the Combined Defence Services examination. Along with the notification, the CDS 2 application form 2026 process has also started online. 

The last date to apply will be 09 June 2026 (6:00 pm), and the CDS 2 Exam 2026 is scheduled for 13 September 2026. Candidates who want to join the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or Officers Training Academy can now apply through the official UPSC website.

Read ahead for the detailed CDS 2 Notification 2026 PDF and other crucial information.

CDS 2 Notification 2026 Released

The CDS 2 2026 notification is now available on the UPSC portal. You must read the complete CDS 2 notification PDF carefully before filling out the form. It includes details related to:

• exam date,
• eligibility criteria,
• age limit,
• vacancy,
• syllabus,
• Selection process, etc.

Official CDS 2 Notification 2026 PDF

CDS 2 Apply Online Link

UPSC have released the CDS 2 application form link on May 20. All the eligible and interested candidates can fill out the form with valid details and submit it on or before June 9, 2026 (6:00 pm). Get the direct CDS 2 apply online link below:

CDS 2 Apply Online Link

CDS 2 2026 Important Dates

Here are the important dates related to UPSC CDS 2 2026 exam tabulated below:

CDS 2 Vacancy 2026

A total of 451 vacancies have been released in the CDS 2 notification PDF. The CDS 2 vacancy 2026 details include openings in different defence academies. Check the detailed vacancies shared below.

CDS 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must meet all CDS 2 eligibility criteria before applying online. Failing to meet any eligibility conditions will lead to rejection of their applications.

Educational Qualifications

• I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
• For Indian Naval Academy: A degree in Engineering or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject from a recognised University/ Institution (with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level).
• For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.

Age Limit

The CDS age limit differs as per the academy selected by the candidate. UPSC has specified the detailed date of birth conditions in the official notification.

• IMA: 19 to 24 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July 2003 and not later than 1st July 2008 only are eligible.
• Indian Naval Academy: 19 to 24 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July 2003 and not later than 1st July 2008 only are eligible.
• For Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2027, i.e. born not earlier than 1st July, 2003 and not later than 1st July, 2007. Upper age limit for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 1st July 2001 and not later than 1st July 2007 only are eligible.
• Officers' Training Academy (SSC Course for men): 19 to 25 years. Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 1st July 2002 and not later than 1st July 2008 only are eligible.
• Officers' Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): 19 to 25 years.

Nationality

A candidate must either be:

a Citizen of India, or

a subject of Nepal, or

a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Documents Required for CDS 2 Application Form 2026

The CDS 2 application form 2026 is released online through the UPSC portal. Before registering online, candidates should keep these documents ready:

• Passport-size photograph,
• Scanned signature,
• Graduation details,
• Valid ID proof, etc

How to Apply for the CDS 2 2026 Exam?

Applicants can follow these steps to apply for the CDS 2 2026 exam without any hassles"

• Visit the UPSC website
• Register successfully with all required details.
• Enter personal, educational, and communication details carefully in the application form.
• Upload the scanned copy of the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
• Pay the Application Fee to complete the online payment process.
• Review all details carefully before final submission.
• Save a copy of the confirmation page for future use.

CDS 2 Application Fee 2026 

Candidates can pay application fees using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using the internet banking facility of any Bank. Check the category-wise application fees in the table below:

• Other Categories: Rs. 200 
• Female/SC/ST candidates: Exempted

CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2026

The CDS written exam pattern differs slightly according to the academy. The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective-type questions only. The question papers of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingual in Hindi as well as English.

There shall be a negative marking of one-third (0.33) mark for every wrong answer in the exam. Check the CDS 2 exam pattern 2026 in detail below:

Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy

Officers’ Training Academy

CDS 2 Syllabus 2026

The CDS syllabus 2026 includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics topics.

CDS 2 English Syllabus

Important topics include:

• Grammar,
• Vocabulary,
• Sentence improvement,
• Comprehension and usage.

CDS 2 General Knowledge Syllabus

Questions are asked from:

• History,
• Geography,
• Polity,
• Current Affairs,
• Defence updates,
• Science.

CDS 2 Mathematics Syllabus

Important topics include:

• Algebra,
• Arithmetic,
• Geometry,
• Trigonometry,
• Mensuration,
• Statistics.

UPSC CDS 2 Selection Process 2026

The CDS 2 selection process happens in multiple stages.

1. Written Examination: Candidates first appear for the UPSC CDS written examination.
2. SSB Interview: The SSB procedure consists of a two-stage selection process - stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:

• Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception* Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP&DT.
• Stage II comprises Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted over 4 days.

CDS 2 Preparation Tips 2026

Preparation becomes easier when candidates follow a consistent strategy. Below are the tips and tricks to perform well in the CDS exam.

• Strengthen Basics First: Strong fundamentals are still important for CDS preparation.
• Improve English Daily: Reading newspapers regularly can improve your reading speed and comprehension.
• Solve Previous Year Papers: This helps candidates understand the question format and difficulty level.
• Attempt Mock Tests: Mock tests improve speed and exam confidence.
• Prepare for SSB: Communication skills and personality development should not be ignored.
• Join the structured course like MKC CDS Coaching for top-notch preparation.

CDS 2 Notification 2026 PDF Download

Applicants should read all guidelines carefully before applying online. They can download the CDS 2 notification 2026 PDF through the official UPSC website after its release. It contains:

• eligibility,
• syllabus,
• exam pattern,
• vacancy,
• and important instructions.

CDS 2 Admit Card 2026

The CDS 2 admit card 2026 is expected to be announced a few weeks before the examination. Aspirants will need their login credentials to download the admit card. Entry to the exam hall will not be permitted without a valid admit card.

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