Post Date / Update: 16 September 2026 | 05:25 PM
UPSC CDS II Exam 2026 – Information
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the provisional answer key for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II 2026. The CDS II examination was conducted for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
Candidates who appeared in the examination can now check and download the subject-wise answer key. The recruitment notification was originally issued in May 2026, and online applications were accepted from 20 May 2026 to 11 June 2026.
Candidates should check the important dates, eligibility, vacancy details and useful links given below.
UPSC CDS II Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Defence Services Examination II 2026 |
| Advertisement | CDS II Examination 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 Posts |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 11 June 2026 |
| Examination Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Status | Available |
| Answer Key Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Official Website | UPSC Official Website |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Begin | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 11 June 2026 |
| Last Date for Examination Fee | 11 June 2026 |
| Correction Window | As per UPSC Schedule |
| CDS II Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Admit Card Available | 03 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Available | 16 September 2026 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹200/- |
| SC / ST / Female | ₹0/- |
The examination fee can be paid through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or E-Challan, as applicable.
UPSC CDS II Eligibility 2026
The educational qualification varies according to the academy selected by the candidate.
Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Officers Training Academy (OTA)
Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree in any stream from a recognized university or institution.
Indian Naval Academy
Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
Air Force Academy
Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level.
Candidates should read the official notification for complete qualification requirements and post-wise conditions.
UPSC CDS II Age Limit
Age calculated as on 01 July 2027:
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 24 Years
- Post-wise age conditions may vary.
- Age relaxation is applicable as per UPSC rules.
Candidates are advised to check the official notification for detailed age requirements.
UPSC CDS II Vacancy Details 2026
Total Vacancies: 451 Posts
| Academy / Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy | 26 |
| Air Force Academy | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) | 293 |
| Total | 451 |
UPSC CDS II 2026 Answer Key
UPSC has released the provisional answer key for the CDS II 2026 examination.
The answer key is available separately for the subjects:
- English
- General Knowledge
- Elementary Mathematics
Candidates can use the answer key to compare their attempted answers with the official answers and get an estimated idea of their performance.
Download Subject-Wise Answer Key
- English Answer Key: Download English Answer Key
- General Knowledge Answer Key: Download General Knowledge Answer Key
- Elementary Mathematics Answer Key: Download Elementary Mathematics Answer Key
How to Download UPSC CDS II Answer Key 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to download the answer key:
- Visit the official UPSC website.
- Look for the CDS II 2026 answer key or examination-related notice.
- Select the required subject.
- Open the corresponding answer key PDF.
- Download the PDF to your device.
- Match your answers with the official answer key.
- Calculate your expected marks according to the applicable marking scheme.
How to Fill UPSC CDS II Online Form 2026
Candidates who applied for the examination were required to complete the online application process through the UPSC online portal.
Before submitting the application, candidates should have:
- Read the official CDS II notification carefully.
- Checked their educational qualification and age eligibility.
- Kept their identity and address details ready.
- Prepared scanned photographs, signatures and other required documents.
- Carefully checked all entered information before final submission.
- Paid the applicable examination fee, if required.
- Downloaded or printed the final submitted application form for future reference.
UPSC CDS II Admit Card 2026
The CDS II 2026 admit card was made available on 03 September 2026.
Candidates who need to access their admit card or related examination information can visit the UPSC online portal.
Admit Card: UPSC Online Portal
UPSC CDS II Exam Schedule 2026
Candidates can check the official examination timetable released by UPSC for detailed paper timings and examination-related information.
Exam Time Table: Download CDS II Exam Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions – UPSC CDS II 2026
The UPSC CDS II 2026 is the Combined Defence Services examination conducted by UPSC for admission to various defence academies.
There are 451 vacancies according to the supplied recruitment details.
The examination was conducted on 13 September 2026.
The answer key was made available on 16 September 2026.
Candidates can download the subject-wise answer key from the official UPSC website. The direct links are provided in the Important Links section below.
The supplied answer key links cover English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
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