UPSC Examination 2026

Eligibility Criteria :

Nationality :
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries such as Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and certain East African nations (including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam.
In certain cases, an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India is required. However, Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from this requirement.

Educational Qualification :

IMA & OTA (Army) :
A candidate must possess a degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government.

Indian Naval Academy (INA) :
A candidate must hold a degree in Engineering OR a Bachelor of Science degree with Physics as a main or elective subject. Additionally, Physics and Mathematics must have been studied at the 10+2 level.

Air Force Academy (AFA) :
A candidate must hold a degree from a recognized university with Physics and Mathematics studied at the 10+2 level, OR possess a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Final Year Candidates :
Candidates who are in the final year or final semester of their degree course are eligible to apply provisionally.
However, they must ensure ;
They successfully complete their degree within the prescribed deadline.
Proof of passing must be submitted by ;
01 July 2027 for IMA/INA.
13 May 2027 for AFA.
01 October 2027 for OTA.
A bonafide certificate from their institution must be produced during the SSB interview.

Physical Standards :
Candidates must meet the physical and medical fitness standards prescribed by the Armed Forces.
Medical fitness will be assessed after SSB recommendation. Permanent tattoos are permitted only on limited areas such as the inner forearm and the back of the palm, while tattoos on other parts of the body are not allowed.

Debarment Conditions :
A candidate will be considered ineligible if he/she has been debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any commission in the Armed Forces or fails to meet any prescribed eligibility requirement at any stage of selection.

Age Limit & Marital Status :
Age eligibility is strictly determined based on the date of birth recorded in the matriculation certificate. No other document will be accepted.
IMA (Indian Military Academy) ;
Eligible candidates must be ;
Between 19 and 24 years of age.
Unmarried male candidates only.
INA (Indian Naval Academy) ;
Eligibility conditions are identical to IMA ;
19 to 24 years of age.
Unmarried male candidates only.
AFA (Air Force Academy) ;
Candidates must be ;
Between 20 and 24 years of age.
Male candidates only.
Generally unmarried below 25 years, with limited exceptions above 25.
CPL holders may apply up to 26 years of age.
OTA (Officers Training Academy) ;
SSC Men ;
19 to 25 years of age.
Unmarried male candidates only.
SSC Women ;
19 to 25 years of age.
Includes unmarried women, issueless widows (not remarried), and issueless divorced women (not remarried with valid legal documents).

Marital Status Rule :
Marriage is strictly not permitted during training. Candidates who marry after applying will be disqualified, and those who marry during training will be removed from the academy and required to refund all government expenditure incurred on their training.
Male divorcees and widowers are not considered unmarried and are therefore not eligible.

Application Fee :
The application fee structure is as follows ;
Male candidates (General / OBC / EWS): ₹200.
SC / ST candidates: Exempted.
Female candidates (all categories): Exempted.
The fee once paid is strictly non-refundable.

Selection Process :
Selection for CDS consists of three successive stages ;
1. Written Examination :
Conducted by UPSC, consisting of objective-type papers assessing English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (for eligible courses).
2. SSB Interview ;
A comprehensive personality assessment conducted over multiple days, evaluating intelligence, leadership qualities, psychological traits, and officer-like attributes.
3. Medical Examination ;
Candidates recommended by SSB undergo a detailed medical fitness examination conducted by Armed Forces Medical Boards. Final selection depends on being medically fit as per service standards.

Exam Pattern :
Objective-type questions only.
Negative marking of one-third for incorrect answers.
Calculators and electronic aids are not permitted.
Answers must be marked using black ball pen only.
Face authentication is mandatory at examination centres.

SSB Process Overview :
Stage I :
Initial screening involving intelligence testing and picture perception-based assessment.
Stage II ;
Detailed evaluation through personal interview, group tasks, psychological testing, and final conference review.

Medical Examination Stage :
Candidates who clear SSB are subjected to a thorough medical evaluation conducted by Armed Forces medical authorities.
Medical fitness standards are strict, and the final decision is binding. Candidates may appeal through prescribed review procedures if declared unfit.

Training Structure :
Selected candidates are trained at ;
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala.
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad.
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.
Successful completion leads to commissioning as officers in the respective Armed Forces.

Examination Centres :
The examination is conducted across multiple cities in India. Allocation is done on a first-come, first-served basis, and once allotted, the examination centre cannot be changed.

Important Guidelines :
No modification is allowed after application submission.
Admit cards are available only online.
Entry to examination centres closes 30 minutes before commencement.
Electronic devices are strictly prohibited.
Any violation may lead to disqualification or permanent ban.