The minimum educational qualification required for this position is Graduate / B.E. / B.Tech (refer to the official notification for the exact discipline, stream or trade required). Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination may apply provisionally, provided they can produce the marksheet at the document verification stage.
Nationality requirement: the candidate must be a citizen of India (or hold the eligibility documents specified by the recruiting body). This is an All-India recruitment, so eligible candidates from any state of India may apply.
Application fee
General / OBC₹200
Female / SC / ST₹0 (Exempt)
At a glance
OrganizationUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC)
CategoryLatest Jobs
Post / examUPSC CDS 2 2026: Apply Online for 451 Defence Posts
Total posts451
QualificationGraduate / B.E. / B.Tech+
LocationAll India
Pay scale₹56,100/month (Stipend during training, Level 10)
Apply modeOnline
Extended Last Date to Apply11 Jun 2026
Key highlights
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the latest jobs update for UPSC CDS 2 2026: Apply Online for 451 Defence Posts.
451 total vacancies are on offer.
Extended Last Date to Apply: 11 Jun 2026 — don't miss the deadline.
Apply or check online through the official portal — direct links are below.
Overview
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is now accepting applications for the UPSC CDS 2 2026: Apply Online for 451 Defence Posts recruitment. A total of 451 vacancies have been opened in this recruitment cycle. Candidates who meet the Graduate / B.E. / B.Tech eligibility can apply through the official portal before 11 Jun 2026.
Selected candidates will be placed in the ₹56,100/month (Stipend during training, Level 10) pay scale, along with Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other applicable allowances as per government rules.
Always confirm the final details in the official notification — it is the binding source for eligibility, dates, and fees.
Why apply for this post
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selections are conducted under a transparent competitive examination process at national scale. Successful candidates are placed across central government departments, ministries, and field offices with a structured cadre review, time-bound promotions, and the prestige of clearing one of India's most contested recruitment cycles.
The starting pay scale for this post is ₹56,100/month (Stipend during training, Level 10). Salaries increase through annual increments and time-bound promotions, and the package includes Dearness Allowance (revised twice a year), House Rent Allowance based on posting city, and other government benefits applicable to the cadre.
Vacancy details
451
total posts (approx). Category-wise reservation and post-wise breakup are listed in the official notification.
Salary / pay scale
₹56,100/month (Stipend during training, Level 10) — plus DA, HRA & allowances. Final in-hand pay depends on posting and deductions.
Vacancy breakdown (category-wise)
IMA – 163rd DE Course100
INA – Executive Branch (General Service) / Hydro26
AFA – 222 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course32
OTA Chennai – 126th SSC Men (NT)275
OTA Chennai – 126th SSC Women (NT)18
Documents required
Degree certificate or proof of final-year enrolment from recognised University
Valid photo identity proof
Caste/category certificate (if applicable for fee exemption)
Nationality/eligibility certificate from Government of India (if applicable for migrant origin candidates)
Scanned passport-size photograph as per UPSC specifications
Scanned signature as per UPSC specifications
How to apply
The entire application is online — candidates register on the official portal, fill the form, upload documents, pay the fee online, and download the confirmation. Follow the numbered steps below carefully, because once submitted most fields cannot be edited.
The Extended Last Date to Apply for this application is 11 Jun 2026. We strongly recommend completing the application at least 2-3 days before the deadline — the official portal usually sees heavy load on the last day, and payment-gateway timeouts in the final hours can cause submissions to fail.
The application fee varies by category and is listed in the Application Fee section below. Payment can be made online using debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI, or any accepted digital wallet. Save the payment receipt — you will need it if the system requires manual verification.
1Open the official UPSC online portal at upsconline.nic.in.
2Select 'Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC' and choose CDS II 2026.
3Complete Part I registration by entering your personal details and obtaining a Registration ID.
4Log in and complete Part II — fill educational qualifications, course preference, exam centre choice, and upload your photograph and signature.
5Pay the examination fee online (General/OBC candidates); fee-exempt categories proceed without payment.
6Review all entries carefully and submit before 11 Jun 2026.
7Print or save the final submitted application for future reference.
Selection process
The selection process is conducted in 3 stages: Written Examination (Objective Type) – 13 Sep 2026, SSB Intelligence & Personality Test (Five-day process, conducted by Ministry of Defence SSBs) and Medical Examination. Candidates must clear each stage to be eligible for the next, and the final merit list is prepared on the combined performance across all stages. Detailed marking schemes, qualifying cut-offs, and any tie-breaker rules are listed in the official notification linked above.
Written Examination (Objective Type) – 13 Sep 2026SSB Intelligence & Personality Test (Five-day process, conducted by Ministry of Defence SSBs)Medical Examination
Preparation tips
1Cover English grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary thoroughly — it is common to both IMA/OTA and AFA/INA papers.
2For General Knowledge, focus on current affairs, Indian history, geography, polity, and basic science from the past 12 months.
3IMA, INA, and AFA aspirants must practise Elementary Mathematics up to Class 10 NCERT level, paying special attention to mensuration, algebra, and statistics.
4Negative marking applies — avoid random guessing; attempt only questions you can answer with reasonable confidence.
5For SSB preparation, work on personality development, situational judgement, and group discussion skills well before the written result.
UPSC has extended the application deadline to 11 Jun 2026. The original closing date was 09 Jun 2026 (6:00 PM).
A total of 451 vacancies have been announced across IMA (100), INA (26), AFA (32), OTA Men (275), and OTA Women (18). These numbers are tentative and may change at the discretion of Services HQ.
For IMA and OTA, a graduate degree from a recognised university is required. For INA, an Engineering degree or B.Sc. with Physics is needed. For AFA, a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or a B.E. is required. Final-year students may also apply.
Yes, female candidates are eligible but only for the OTA Chennai 126th SSC Women (NT) course, which has 18 vacancies.
All candidates undergoing training at IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA receive a monthly stipend of ₹56,100 (Level 10 starting pay).
The written examination for UPSC CDS 2 2026 is scheduled for 13 Sep 2026. The tentative written result is expected in October 2026.
General and OBC candidates pay ₹200. Female candidates and those belonging to SC/ST categories are fully exempt from the examination fee.
All applications must be submitted online only through the official UPSC portal at upsconline.nic.in. No offline or postal applications are accepted.
You've read the details above — now head to the official portal to complete your application. The button below takes you straight to the official application page.
Sarkari Result Central is a private information platform and is NOT a government website or affiliated with any government body. Dates, fees and vacancy numbers can change — always verify on the official website before applying.
