Government & Defence Entrance Exam

Candidates can provide their preference in the application form for the CDS exam by choosing the IMA, INA, AFA, OTA.

The Commission will release the CDS 1 2026 notification on December 10, 2025 at upsconline.nic.in. The online application link will be available from Dec 10 to Dec 30, 2025. Candidates can download notification via direct link provided below.

The OTR stands for One Time Registration. The UPSC introduced this system to simplify the application process for several UPSC examinations, including CDS. Candidates will be able to register their basic details and documents once. This information can be reused by the candidates for future UPSC exam applications, which saves time and effort.

Yes, final-year candidates are eligible to apply for the CDS exam. But they need to produce the degree certificate when called upon, mainly during the SSB (Services Selection Board) phase.

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.