UPSC NDA, CDS 2026 registration begins for over 840 vacancies, apply here

UPSC NDA CDS 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially begun the recruitment process for two of India's most prestigious defence entry schemes. The application window for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Naval Academy (NA), and Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2026 opened on December 10, 2025.

Prospective candidates aiming for a career as commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces can submit their applications online at the official UPSC portal, upsconline.nic.in, until December 30, 2025. This recruitment cycle presents a significant opportunity, with a combined total of more than 840 vacancies announced across both examinations.

As per the official notification, the vacancy distribution is as follows:

UPSC NDA & NA Exam (I) 2026: A total of 394 vacancies are available for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA and the Indian Naval Academy Course.

UPSC CDS Exam (I) 2026: Over 450 vacancies are announced for courses at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).

Prospective applicants must carefully note the distinct educational requirements for each academy:

Indian Military Academy & Officers' Training Academy: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

Indian Naval Academy: A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized institution.

Air Force Academy: A Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 standard or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the 12th standard with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (for Air Force and Naval Wings) or any stream (for Army Wing) from a recognized board.

The application fee varies between the two examinations:

NDA/NA: General/OBC candidates are required to pay ₹100. SC, ST, female candidates, and sons of serving/ex-JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempt.

CDS: The application fee is ₹200 for General/OBC candidates. SC, ST, and female candidates are not required to pay the fee.

The selection process for both NDA and CDS follows a rigorous two-stage procedure:

• Written Examination: Conducted by UPSC across various centres in India.
• SSB Interview: Only candidates who qualify in the written exam will be called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which includes intelligence and personality tests.

Interested and eligible candidates are advised to follow these steps:

Step 1. Visit the official UPSC website at upsconline.nic.in.

Step 2. Navigate to the "Online Application for Various Examinations" link.

Step 3. Register and fill out the respective application form for NDA or CDS (I) 2026.

Step 4. Upload scanned copies of the required documents, including photograph and signature.

Step 5. Pay the application fee online (if applicable) and submit the form.

Step 6. Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.

Aspiring candidates are encouraged to read the detailed official notifications available on the UPSC website for comprehensive information on age limits, physical standards, syllabus, and exam patterns.