CDS 2 2026: Admit Card (Out), Exam Date (September 13), Pattern, Syllabus, Vacancies

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued the CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 on September 3, 2026, ahead of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026, scheduled for September 13, 2026 (Sunday). Candidates can download the e-Admit Card from the UPSC examination portal using their Registration ID, Roll Number, and Date of Birth. The written examination will be conducted in three sessions, with the English paper from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, General Knowledge from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and Elementary Mathematics from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Each paper carries 100 marks and has a duration of 2 hours. The UPSC CDS 2 notification 2026 was released on May 20, 2026, and the application window remained open until June 9, 2026. Candidates should carefully check their admit card for the allotted examination venue, reporting instructions, and other details and carry the required documents on exam day. Those who qualify the written examination will be called for the SSB Interview, followed by the medical examination and final selection.

UPSC has announced the CDS 2 Final Result 2025 on August 7, 2026, recommending a total of 483 candidates for the OTA, Chennai courses scheduled to begin in October 2026. The final list includes 455 male and 28 female candidates and has been prepared using candidates’ written exam and SSB Interview performance. The recommendations are provisional and will be confirmed after completion of medical tests and verification of eligibility by Army Headquarters. The Commission has notified 276 vacancies to be filled for OTA (Men) and 19 for OTA (Women). With regard to this, the UPSC has now published candidates’ marks on its official website, allowing them to view their score in each stage of the recruitment process. The Commission has stated that the score details will be available for 30 days on the official website.

CDS 2026: Exam Highlights

The UPSC CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 has been released, allowing registered candidates to download their hall tickets and check their allotted exam centre, date, reporting time, and other important instructions. The CDS 2 exam 2026 is scheduled for September 13, 2026, for recruitment to the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Below are the key highlights related to CDS 2026 Recruitment:

CDS 2026: Important Dates

The CDS 2 Admit Card 2026 was released on September 3, 2026, for the Combined Defence Services Examination scheduled on September 13, 2026. The detailed information on events and their dates for NDA 2026 is mentioned below:

CDS 2026: Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should be citizens of India, Nepal, or Bhutan. They must be unmarried (except women applying for OTA). For IMA and OTA, any graduate can apply. For INA, candidates need an engineering degree. For AFA, candidates must be a graduate and have studied Physics and Maths in class 12th. To get more information, candidates can check the table below:

Check: CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026

CDS 2026: Application Process

The CDS 2 Application Form 2026 process has been completed. UPSC released the notification and opened online registrations on May 20, 2026, with the application window closing on June 9, 2026. Candidates who successfully submitted their forms will now appear for the CDS 2 2026 written examination scheduled for September 13, 2026. Below is the detailed CDS Application Process 2026:

Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website and complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process.

Step 2: Log in using the registered credentials and select the CDS 2 Examination 2026 application link.

Step 3: Fill in personal, educational, and communication details carefully in the application form.

Step 4: Upload scanned photographs, signatures, and required documents in the prescribed format.

Step 5: Pay the application fee through the available online payment modes.

Step 6: Review all entered details and submit the CDS 2 Application Form 2026.

CDS 2026: Exam Pattern

The written test is objective in nature, and it consists of English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics, which are 100 marks and last 2 hours. The SSB interview is called for those candidates who pass the written test.

Key Points:

• English is the language that is tested in grammar, vocabulary, and understanding.
• General Knowledge deals with history, geography, polity, current affairs, and basic science.
• Mathematics encompasses statistics, trigonometry, calculus, and algebra.

CDS 2026: Syllabus

The CDS 2026 syllabus consists of English (comprehension, grammar, vocabulary), General Knowledge (history, geography, polity, economy, science, current affairs), and Mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, mensuration, vector algebra).

CDS 2026: Admit Card

The UPSC has released the CDS Admit Card 2026 for the September session on September 3, 2026, around 10 days before the Combined Defence Services 2026 written examination. Candidates appearing on September 13, 2026, should download the e-Admit Card and verify the candidate and exam-related details printed on it, particularly their name, roll number, photograph, signature, examination venue and reporting time. Any discrepancy in the admit card should be reported to UPSC before the examination. Candidates should ensure that they have corrected the error and taken at least 2 to 3 printouts for the September 13, 2026, offline written exam.

How to Download CDS 2026 Admit Card?

To download the CDS admit card, visit the official UPSC website, open the Admit Card section, enter the candidate's registration ID and date of birth, submit the details, and download the admit card for the exam.

1. Visit the Official UPSC Website: Visit upsc.gov.in.
2. Find Admit Card Link: Click on the section of Admit Cards or on the link of the CDS 2026 notification.
3. Enter Log in Information: Enter registration ID/roll number and date of birth.
4. Submit Details: Click on the submit button to see the CDS 2026 Admit Card.
5. Download Admit Card: Verify all the information and download the PDF.
6. Print a Copy: Bring a copy of the print along with a valid photo ID to the exam center.

CDS 2026: Selection Process

The selection process includes a written exam, followed by the SSB interview, which has psychological tests, group tasks, and an interview. Candidates who clear these stages then undergo a medical test, and the final merit list is prepared based on written and SSB marks.

1. Written Exam: To be eligible for SSB, one must have qualifying marks.
2. SSB Interview: 5-day assessment, which consists of:
   • Psychological Tests
   • Group Tasks
   • Personal Interview
   • Physical Fitness Test
3. Medical Examination: Final selection will entail a medical fitness certificate.
4. Merit List: It is made based on written examination marks + SSB interview scores.

CDS 2026: Preparation Tips

The syllabus mainly includes English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. Candidates should practice previous year papers, take mock tests, stay updated with current affairs, and keep themselves physically fit for the SSB interview.

• Learn the Syllabus: Emphasize the basics of English, GK, and Maths.
• Practice Previous Papers: Practice solving past UPSC CDS papers to determine the pattern of the examinations.
• Frequent Current Affairs Reading: The newspapers, magazines, and online portals.
• Mock Tests: Practice tests, which are timed, are taken to enhance speed and accuracy.
• SSB Preparation: Improve the communication, leadership, and physical fitness.

CDS 2026: Answer Key

CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 will be released on the official website of the Union Public Service Commission. Candidates who appeared for the Tier 1 written examination conducted on April 12, 2026, were able to download the provisional answer key for all subjects. The answer key will be released for English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, allowing candidates to evaluate their performance and estimate their scores. Candidates were allowed to raise objections till April 22, 2026.

CDS 2026: Result

The UPSC CDS 2 Result 2026 will contain the roll numbers and names of candidates recommended for admission to the Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) Courses for Men and Women at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. Candidates can download the merit list from the UPSC website and use the Ctrl + F shortcut to search for their roll number quickly. Candidates whose names do not appear in the merit list can check their marks on the UPSC website, which will be made available 15 days after the declaration of the final result and will remain accessible for 30 days.

How to Check CDS 2026 Results?

To check candidates' results, go to the official UPSC website. In the “Results” section, open the CDS 2026 PDF file and look for the candidate's roll number to see if they have qualified.

1. Visit the Official UPSC Website: Go to upsc.gov.in.
2. Find the Results Section: Click on the “Examination” and “Results” tab.
3. Select CDS Result 2026 Link: Look for the CDS 1 or CDS 2 2026 result link.
4. Open the PDF: The result is usually released as a PDF file containing the roll numbers of selected candidates.
5. Check Roll Number: Search for the candidate's roll number in the PDF to see if you’ve qualified.
6. Save or Print: Download and save a copy for future reference, especially for the SSB interview.

CDS 2026: Exam Day Guidelines

During the exam, CDS candidates are required to observe the following rules on the exam day:

• Candidates must carry their admit card and one photo ID (original + photocopy).
• They can carry a clipboard, a hardboard, and a black ball pen.
• The invigilator will provide a sheet for rough work.
• Do not bring: books, notes, loose sheets, calculators, drawing tools, log tables, stencils, slide rules, or extra rough sheets.
• No mobiles, Bluetooth, pagers, or other communication devices are allowed inside the exam center.

CDS 2026 Exam FAQs