The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. A total of 8,956 candidates have qualified for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview stage. The result was announced on 19 October 2026, based on the examination conducted on 13 September 2026.
Key Details of CDS II 2026
The examination was held for admission to the following courses:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun — 163rd (DE) Course commencing in July 2027
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala — Course commencing in July 2027
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad — 222 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course commencing in July 2027
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in October 2027
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai — 126th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in October 2027
The notification (No. 11/2026-CDS-II) advertised 451 vacancies across these courses: IMA (100), INA (26), AFA (32), OTA Men (275), and OTA Women (18). Vacancies are tentative and subject to revision by the Service Headquarters.
The result PDF, available on the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in), lists the roll numbers of candidates who have qualified. There are common candidates across the lists for various courses, except for OTA (Women).
How to Check the Result
Candidates may verify their status by following these steps:
- Visit the official website: www.upsc.gov.in
- Navigate to the Examinations or Written Results section (or Active Examinations)
- Locate the link for “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026” written result
- Open the PDF and use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac) to search for the roll number
- Download and save the PDF for reference
A direct link to the result PDF is also available on the UPSC examination page.
Important Instructions for Qualified Candidates
The candidature of all shortlisted candidates is provisional. They must submit original certificates supporting age (Date of Birth), educational qualifications, NCC ‘C’ certificate (where claimed), and other documents to the respective Service Headquarters by the prescribed deadlines, failing which their candidature will be cancelled:
- IMA and INA: not later than 1 July 2027
- AFA: not later than 13 May 2027
- SSC courses (OTA): not later than 1 October 2027
Candidates must not send original certificates to the UPSC.
Those who have opted for the Army (IMA/OTA) as their first choice are required to register on the Recruiting Directorate website (www.joinindianarmy.nic.in) to receive SSB interview call-up information. Candidates who have already registered need not do so again. Any change of address should be intimated directly to the concerned Service Headquarters.
For queries related to the examination, candidates may contact the UPSC Facilitation Counter or the Candidate’s Help Desk (011-24041001 / 011-40303444). For SSB-related matters:
- Army: 011-26175473 or joinindianarmy.nic.in
- Navy: 011-23010097 or officer-navy[at]nic[dot]in / Joinindiannavy.gov.in
- Air Force: 011-23010231 (Extn. 7645/7646/7610) or www.careerindianairforce.cdac.in
Next Stage: SSB Interview and Beyond
Qualified candidates will proceed to the SSB interview conducted by the respective Service Selection Boards under the Ministry of Defence, subject to eligibility conditions and document verification. The process typically includes Stage I and Stage II testing, followed by medical examination. Final merit will be prepared on the basis of performance in the written examination and SSB interview.
Marks sheets will be made available on the Commission’s portal (www.upsconline.nic.in) within 15 days of the declaration of the final result of the OTA course (after the SSB interviews) and will remain accessible for 30 days.
Advice for Aspirants
Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the official UPSC website and the respective service recruitment portals for SSB call letters, interview schedules, and further instructions. Early preparation for the SSB interview—covering psychological tests, group tasks, personal interview, and conference—remains essential for those who have cleared the written stage.
The declaration of the CDS II 2026 written result marks a significant milestone for thousands of defence aspirants seeking entry into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as commissioned officers.
Download CDS 2 2026 Result
