UPSC CDS 2026 Exam: CDS 1 Notification (Dec 10), Application Form, Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Question Papers

The UPSC will release the CDS 1 2026 notification on December 10 on the official portal at upsc.gov.in. Along with the notification application process will also begin. The last date to apply is December 30. Scroll down to know more about the CDS 2026 exam.

CDS 2026 Exam

UPSC CDS 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will publish the CDS 1 2026 notification on December 10 at upsc.gov.in. The CDS application form will be available until December 30, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 exam dates were released. The authority will conduct the UPSC CDS 1 exam on April 12, 2026. Those candidates who will fulfil the eligibility will be able to fill out the application form online for the CDS 1 exam. 

On the other hand, the CDS 2 notification 2026 will be released on May 20, 2026. The application form for the CDS 2 exam will be available from May 20 to June 9, 2026. The CDS 2 exam will be conducted on September 13. Scroll down to know more about the CDS 2026 exam. 

CDS Exam Highlights 2026

Candidates can check below more about the CDS exam.

CDS Important Dates 2026

CDS important dates consists of the list of events related to the exam are provided below.

CDS Notification 2026

The Commission will release the CDS notification in the form of PDF at upsc.gov.in. It consists of the details of the examination like application process, syllabus, pattern of an exam, etc. Candidates before submitting the apply online form are advised to read the notification properly. 

CDS Application Form 2026

The application form for the CDS 1 2026 will be available from December 10 to December 30, 2025. Candidates are required to keep all the essential documents ready before submitting out the application form. The details related to the apply online form will be available in the notification PDF. The CDS 2 application dates are May 20 to June 9. Candidates required to create the one time registration ID before submitting the online form. After creating the OTR ID, aspirants can apply for the CDS exam. This is the one time process. The ID will be valid for applying to the examinations conducted by the UPSC. The application fee is INR 200 where as SC/ST/PWD/Female Candidates are exempted from the fees. Candidates can pay the fees through online/offline mode via Net Banking, Master Card/ Debit Card or Cash deposit in any branch of SBI Bank. 

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026

It is important for the candidates to fulfil the eligibility before applying for the CDS exam. The CDS 2026 eligibility criteria in detailed will be provided in the official notification. If a candidate does not meet the eligibility then he or she will be disqualified. Candidates can check below it in detail:

CDS Vacancies 2026

CDS Admit Card 2026

The CDS call letter will be released around one week prior to the exam. Candidates will be able to download their hall tickets by logging with the required credentials. The hard copy will not be sent to the candidates by post through the authority. It is mandatory to carry the printed copy of the CDS admit card along with the one photo-identity proof to the examination centre. Without the admit card, candidate will not be allowed to sit in the exam. 

CDS Exam Pattern 2026

CDS exam consists of written exam and SSB Interview. The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy respectively. CDS exam pattern is provided below:

CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA and AFA

CDS Exam Pattern for OTA

SSB Interview

SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: I and II. Only those candidates who qualify the stage I are permitted to appear in stage II. The details of both stages are given below: 

• Stage I consists ofOfficer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT).
• Stage II consists of Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences. These tests are conducted over days.

CDS Syllabus 2026

CDS exam syllabus is decided by the examination authority. CDS syllabus is provided below.

English: Sentence Arrangement, Synonyms and Antonyms , Jumble Words, Idioms and Phrases, Ordering Sentences, Ordering Words, Fill up the blanks, Comprehension, Vocabulary, etc. 

Maths: Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics, etc.

General Knowledge: Current Affairs, History, Polity, Geography, Physics , Chemistry, Biology, Sociology, Defence Related Awareness, Sports and Culture and Environmental Studies.

CDS Exam Centres 2026

Candidates will be able to select the UPSC CDS Exam centres while submitting out the application form. It is crucial for the candidates to choose the centre carefully. Candidates once filled the examination centre will not be able to change it. 

CDS Exam Preparation 2026

It is important for a candidate to prepare the CDS exam with the a proper strategy. Check below the preparation plan:

Know the pattern of an exam.

• Go through the syllabus
• Give Mock Tests
• Solve previous years papers
• Do frequent revision
• Work on weak areas
• Learn from mistakes

Also Read: CDS Preparation

CDS Question Papers 2026

The UPSC will release the CDS Question papers 2026 for all the sets on the official portal at upsc.gov.in. Candidates will also get the question papers and solutions from the websites of some coaching institutes. Therefore, the CDS 1 question paper will be available after the completion of an examination. 

CDS Answer Key 2026

The UPSC will release the CDS answer key after the announcement of the final result. Candidates will be able to download the UPSC CDS answer key in the form of PDF from the official portal. Various coaching institutes also releases the answer key after the completion of an examination.

CDS Result 2026

The Commission will declare the UPSC CDS 1 result on the official portal. The result will be announced in the form of PDF and will consists of the list of the qualified candidates. It will be expected to be declared within the month of the conduction of an exam. 

CDS Selection Process 2026

The CDS selection process consists of a written exam and SSB interview. Those who will clear both rounds will get selected as an officers in the Army or Navy or Airforce. 

Read More:

CDS Books

CDS Salary