CDS

No, candidates can't apply for the CDS 2026 exam offline. The authority will activate the CDS application link on the official website. It is important for a candidate to first complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) on the website of UPSC before proceeding with the CDS application form.

The Commission released the CDS 1 2026 application form on December 10, 2025 at upsconline.nic.in. The last date to fill the registration form was December 30. 

UPSC released the final merit list for the CDS 2 2024. A total of 574 candidates comprising 510 men and 64 women qualified for admission to the OTA, Chennai. Candidates who are selected will be inducted into the 122nd Short Service Commission Course (Non-Technical) for Men and 36th Short Service Commission Women (non-Technical) course, both scheduled to commence in October 2025. 

The Commission released the CDS 1 notification at upsconline.nic.in. It was released on December 10, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 application dates are December 12 to December 30, 2025. The UPSC CDS 1 exam will be held on April 12, 2026. On the other hand,  CDS 2 notification will be announced on May 20, 2026 and the last date to apply will be June 9. The CDS 2 2026 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026. 

The Union Public Service Commission released the CDS 1 2026 notification on December 10, 2025. The CDS 1 application form 2026 was available from December 10 to December 30, 2025.  

As per the students' feedback, the overall difficulty level and good attempts of CDS 1 2025 exam are mentioned below:

There are some of the items that candidate can not take with themselves while giving the CDS examination. Such items are mobile phones, laptops, tablets, calculators, etc. That is electronic items are not allowed. If any of the candidate found with such items in the exam centre then he or she will not be allowed to sit in the exam.