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UPSC NDA
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
- Age
- 16.5–19.5
- Qualification
- 12th pass
- Next
- 2 Dec 2026
Combined Defence Services Examination
UPSC CDS · also known as CDS exam
Overview
Twice-yearly entry for graduates into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and the Officers' Training Academy (short service commission).
Posts: IMA (Army), INA (Navy), AFA (Air Force), OTA (Army, short service, men and women).
Important dates
| What | Date | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | 13 Sept 2026 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2026 |
| Notification | 2 Dec 2026 in 23 days | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 22 Dec 2026 | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2027 |
| Exam | 11 Apr 2027 | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2027 |
| Notification | 12 May 2027 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 1 Jun 2027 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2027 |
| Exam | 19 Sept 2027 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2027 |
From the UPSC calendar (source). Dates can change.
Usual yearly cycle
| Notification | December and May |
|---|---|
| Applications | December–January and May–June |
| Exam | April and September |
| Result | 1–2 months after the exam |
Eligibility
Age
19–25 years. IMA 19–24, INA 19–22, AFA 20–24, OTA 19–25 (by birth-date window in the notice). IMA, INA and AFA: unmarried.
| Category | Upper age limit | Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| General | 25 years | No limit |
| EWS | 25 years | No limit |
| OBC | 25 years | No limit |
| SC | 25 years | No limit |
| ST | 25 years | No limit |
| PwBD (General) | 25 years | No limit |
PwBD candidates from OBC/SC/ST get their category relaxation on top (central government rules). Ex-servicemen and some departmental candidates get further relaxation as per the notice.
Qualification
IMA and OTA: any degree. INA: Engineering degree. AFA: a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 12th, or an Engineering degree.
Nationality
Citizen of India (some posts also accept subjects of Nepal or Bhutan and certain persons of Indian origin, as the notice states).
Exam pattern
1. Written exam
OTA candidates take only English and General Knowledge.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | 100 | 2 hours | ⅓ |
| General Knowledge | — | 100 | 2 hours | ⅓ |
| Elementary Mathematics | — | 100 | 2 hours | ⅓ |
2. SSB interview
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSB interview | — | 300 (IMA, INA, AFA) / 200 (OTA) | — | — |
Syllabus
An outline of the main topics. The official notification has the full syllabus.
English
- Grammar and usage
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
- Sentence arrangement
General Knowledge
- Current events
- History, Geography, Polity, Economy
- General Science
Elementary Mathematics (Class 10 level)
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Geometry and mensuration
- Statistics
Selection process
Written → SSB interview → medical.
Salary and vacancies
Pay: Stipend of ₹56,100 during training; Lieutenant (Level 10) on commissioning (approx.).
Vacancies: About 450 seats per exam (across the four academies).
Latest notices
- Result
- Result
Frequently asked questions
Can women apply?
Yes, for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA), and for some other academies as the notice states.
This page summarises the most recent official notification and is approximate: age limits, pattern, fees and vacancies change from year to year. Always read the official notification on upsc.gov.in before applying.