CDS Admit Card 2026 (Out): Hall Ticket, Shift Timings, Guidelines

The CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 has been released by UPSC on September 3, 2026, for candidates appearing in the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026, scheduled for September 13, 2026 (Sunday). Candidates searching for the CDS admit card 2026 can download the e-Admit Card online through the official UPSC examination portal. The written examination consists of three papers, namely English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, with 2 hours allotted to each paper. The Commission will not send the admit card by post, and candidates must download the e-Admit Card, take a printout and carry it to the allotted examination venue.

Candidates should carefully verify the name, photograph, QR code and other details printed on the CDS 2 hall ticket 2026 and report any discrepancy to UPSC immediately. Candidates are advised to reach their allotted examination venue at least 1 hour and 15 minutes before the commencement of each session for face authentication, identity verification and frisking. Entry to the examination venue will close 30 minutes before each paper, at 8:30 AM for English, 12:00 PM for General Knowledge, and 3:30 PM for Elementary Mathematics.

CDS Admit Card 2026 Important Dates

The Union Public Service Commission has issued the CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 on September 3, 2026, ahead of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), scheduled for September 13, 2026. Candidates looking for the CDS admit card release date or asking when will CDS admit card be released can note that the CDS 2 e-Admit Card is already available. UPSC has officially listed September 3, 2026 as the upload date for the e-Admit Card.

Note: Candidates searching for the CDS 2 2026 exam date admit card can refer to the above schedule. The CDS 2 examination will be conducted on September 13, 2026.

CDS 2 Exam Shift Timings 2026

The CDS 2 Exam 2026 will be conducted on September 13, 2026 (Sunday) in three shifts. Candidates will appear for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers at different timings. UPSC has advised candidates to reach the examination venue preferably 1 hour and 15 minutes before the commencement of their respective session for face authentication, identity verification and frisking. Entry to the venue will close 30 minutes before the scheduled start of each paper.

Note: Candidates must report only to the examination venue mentioned on their e-Admit Card. No candidate will be allowed to enter the venue after the mentioned entry-closing time.

How to Download CDS Admit Card 2026?

To download the CDS Admit Card 2026, visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in and access the e-Admit Card link for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. Candidates can use their Registration ID or Roll Number with Date of Birth to log in and download the admit card. The UPSC CDS admit card is available online, and candidates should take a printout for the examination.

Step 1: Visit the official website, upsc.gov.in.

Step 2: Go to the Admit Cards section and select the link for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.

Step 3: Read the instructions carefully and proceed to download the e-Admit Card.

Step 4: Enter the required login details:

• Registration Number and Date of Birth, or
• Roll Number and Date of Birth

Step 5: Enter the required details and click on the Submit button.

Step 6: The CDS Admit Card 2026 appears on the screen.

Step 7: Verify the details, download the e-Admit Card and take a printout for the examination.

Check: CDS 2026 Application Process

CDS 2 Admit Card Download Link 2026

The CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 download link is now active, as UPSC released the e-Admit Card on September 3, 2026, for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. Candidates appearing for the written examination on September 13, 2026, can access the CDS 2 admit card 2026 online through the official examination portal. Candidates need to log in using their Registration ID or Roll Number and Date of Birth to download the e-Admit Card. UPSC has not issued a paper admit card by post.

The CDS admit card 2026 release date for CDS 2 was September 3, 2026. Candidates searching is CDS 2 2026 admit card released or is CDS 2 2026 admit card out can now download the e-Admit Card from the official UPSC portal. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate's name, photograph, roll number, examination venue, paper-wise exam timings, reporting instructions and other exam-day guidelines.

Details Mentioned on CDS Admit Card 2026

Candidates must carefully check all the details printed on the CDS admit card 2026. The following information is mentioned:

• Candidate's Name
• Roll Number
• Registration ID
• Date of Birth
• Photograph and Signature
• Examination Date
• Exam Time
• Exam Centre Address
• Reporting Time
• Exam Day Instructions

Note: Candidates should verify these details immediately after downloading the CDS admit card and contact UPSC if they find any discrepancy.

Important Instructions for CDS Admit Card 2026

UPSC releases important exam-day instructions along with the admit card. Candidates should follow the instructions mentioned on their e-Admit Card and ensure that they reach the allotted CDS exam centre on time.

• Reach the exam centre at least 1 hour and 15 minutes before the scheduled start of each session.
• Entry to the examination venue will close 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement of each paper.
• Electronic devices such as mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators and Bluetooth devices are not permitted inside the examination hall.
• Carry only the items allowed by UPSC inside the examination venue.
• Follow all instructions mentioned on the e-Admit Card.

Documents to Carry Along with the CDS Admit Card 2026

Along with the CDS Admit Card 2026, candidates must carry a valid photo ID proof. The ID should be the same as the one mentioned on the e-Admit Card.

• Aadhaar Card
• Voter ID
• Passport
• Driving Licence
• PAN Card

Candidates should also check the instructions printed on their admit card regarding any additional documents or items required on the examination day.

CDS Admit Card Discrepancies 2026

Candidates should carefully check their name, category, date of birth, photograph, signature, roll number and other details on the CDS admit card 2026. If any mistake is found, candidates should immediately contact the examination authority with the required details.

• Exam name and year
• Registration number
• Roll number
• Postal address
• Application number

Candidates should not ignore an error on the admit card, particularly if it affects their identification or examination details.

CDS Exam Pattern 2026 for IMA, INA, IFA

Candidates appearing for the CDS exam for IMA, INA and AFA should be familiar with the exam pattern. The UPSC CDS exam includes English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, with each paper carrying 100 marks and a duration of 2 hours.

• The CDS exam for INA, IMA and AFA is conducted for three subjects: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
• The exam duration for each paper is 2 hours (120 minutes).
• Each subject has 100 questions.
• The maximum marks in each subject are 100 marks.
• The questions are available in English and Hindi, except for the English paper.

CDS Exam Pattern 2026 for OTA

The OTA exam pattern is different from IMA, INA and AFA. Candidates appearing for OTA have to attempt two papers, English and General Knowledge.

• The OTA exam is conducted for two subjects: English and General Knowledge.
• The total time duration for the OTA exam is 4 hours, with 2 hours for each paper.
• Each paper carries 100 marks.
• The maximum marks are 200 in total.
• The questions are available in English and Hindi, except for the English paper.

Check: CDS Exam Pattern 2026

CDS Admit Card 2026 FAQs