CDS Exam Date 2026
CDS Exam Date 2026: Notification, Application & Important Dates
The UPSC CDS Exam Dates 2026 are officially announced through the UPSC Annual Calendar and individual notifications released on the official website upsc.gov.in. The Combined Defence Services Examination is held twice a year — CDS 1 in April and CDS 2 in September — making it one of the most frequently conducted national-level defence entrance examinations in India.
Staying updated with the exam schedule is critical, as missing the application deadline results in ineligibility for that cycle. This page covers all important CDS 2026 dates for both CDS 1 and CDS 2.
CDS 1 2026 – Important Dates
CDS 1 2026 has already been conducted. Here is a summary of all key dates:
|
Event |
Date |
|
CDS 1 2026 Notification Release |
10 December 2025 |
|
Application Form Start Date |
10 December 2025 |
|
Application Form Last Date |
30 December 2025 |
|
Admit Card Release |
2 April 2026 |
|
CDS 1 2026 Exam Date |
12 April 2026 |
|
Answer Key Release |
After exam (approx. 2–3 weeks post-exam) |
|
Result Declaration |
Expected May–June 2026 |
|
SSB Interview Dates |
After written result (July–September 2026) |
CDS 2 2026 – Important Dates (Expected)
The CDS 2 2026 notification is expected to be released in May 2026. Based on the UPSC annual calendar and previous year trends:
|
Event |
Expected Date |
|
CDS 2 2026 Notification Release |
20 May 2026 |
|
Application Form Start Date |
20 May 2026 |
|
Application Form Last Date |
~10 June 2026 |
|
Admit Card Release |
~Late August 2026 |
|
CDS 2 2026 Exam Date |
13 September 2026 |
|
Answer Key Release |
September–October 2026 |
|
Result Declaration |
November–December 2026 |
|
SSB Interview Dates |
Early 2027 |
Disclaimer: Dates for CDS 2 2026 are based on the UPSC Annual Exam Calendar and previous trends. Always verify from the official UPSC website.
CDS Notification 2026 – Key Highlights
|
Detail |
CDS 1 2026 |
CDS 2 2026 |
|
Advertisement Number |
04/2026 |
To be announced |
|
Academies |
IMA, INA, AFA, OTA |
IMA, INA, AFA, OTA |
|
Application Mode |
Online – upsconline.nic.in |
Online – upsconline.nic.in |
|
Application Fee |
₹200 (General/OBC); NIL (Female/SC/ST) |
₹200 (General/OBC); NIL (Female/SC/ST) |
|
Mode of Exam |
Offline (OMR-based) |
Offline (OMR-based) |
CDS Application Form 2026 – How to Apply
The application process for CDS 2026 is conducted entirely online through the UPSC portal:
|
Step |
Action |
|
Step 1 |
Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on upsconline.nic.in (only once; not repeated) |
|
Step 2 |
Login using OTR credentials |
|
Step 3 |
Select CDS 1 or CDS 2 2026 and fill in personal/academic details |
|
Step 4 |
Choose examination centre and academy preferences |
|
Step 5 |
Upload photo, signature, and required documents |
|
Step 6 |
Pay the application fee (online via net banking/debit/credit card/UPI) |
|
Step 7 |
Submit form and download/print the confirmation page |
Important: Changes to the application form are not permitted after final submission, except during any limited correction window provided by UPSC.
CDS 2026 Exam Timeline at a Glance
|
Month |
CDS 1 2026 Activity |
CDS 2 2026 Activity |
|
December 2025 |
Notification & Application Open |
— |
|
January 2026 |
Application Closes |
— |
|
April 2026 |
Admit Card + Exam (12 Apr) |
— |
|
May 2026 |
— |
Notification Released (20 May) |
|
June 2026 |
CDS 1 Result Expected |
Application Closes |
|
July–Sept 2026 |
CDS 1 SSB Interviews |
Admit Card (Aug) + Exam (13 Sep) |
|
Nov–Dec 2026 |
— |
CDS 2 Result Expected |
|
2027 |
CDS 1 Final Merit & Joining |
CDS 2 SSB Interviews + Joining |
How to Stay Updated on CDS Exam Dates
-
Bookmark the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
-
Check the UPSC Annual Exam Calendar published every year in November for the following year's schedule.
-
Sign up for e-mail alerts from the UPSC portal after completing OTR registration.
-
Follow official UPSC notifications; do not rely solely on third-party websites for critical dates.
Missing any deadline — especially the application form closing date — means waiting for the next CDS cycle, which is 6 months away. Keep all dates noted and set reminders well in advance to avoid last-minute disruptions.
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