Rojgar Jobalerts.com Latest Update: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the UPSC CDS-I Exam Date 2026 for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2026 (Advertisement No. 04/2026). As per the official timetable, the written examination is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 12 April 2026. This examination is conducted for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA) for a total of 451 vacancies.

Note: The exact age calculation date and category-wise vacancy distribution should be confirmed from the detailed official notification PDF of Advertisement No. 04/2026.

Payment Mode: Online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, or UPI.

Candidate must be:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Bhutan, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or
• A person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanent settlement in India.

• IMA and INA: Unmarried male candidates only.
• Air Force Academy: Unmarried male candidates only (and must undertake not to marry until completion of full training).
• OTA (Men): Unmarried male candidates.
• OTA (Women): Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried.

The selection for the Combined Defence Services is a three-stage process:

1. Written Examination: Offline (Pen & Paper) test conducted by UPSC on 12 April 2026.
2. SSB Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which includes:
   • Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests & Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).
   • Stage II: Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO), and Personal Interview.
3. Medical Examination: Final selection is subject to passing the stringent medical examination as per the standards of the respective service.

The written exam is offline (OMR based) and consists of three papers. The pattern varies for different academies:

Marking Scheme: There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the UPSC CDS written exam.

Language: Question papers are set in English only.

1. Visit the official UPSC website: https://upsc.gov.in/
2. Click on the "Admit Card" link in the 'What's New' section.
3. Find and click on the link: "Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026".
4. You will be redirected to the admit card download page.
5. Enter your Registration ID / Roll Number and Date of Birth.
6. Your admit card will be displayed on the screen. Verify all details: Name, Roll Number, Exam Date, Time, Venue, and Instructions.
7. Download the admit card and take 2-3 printouts. Also carry a valid photo ID proof (original) to the exam centre.

• For Written Exam: UPSC CDS-I Admit Card 2026, Original Photo ID Proof (Aadhar Card, Voter ID, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, etc.).
• For SSB Interview (if qualified):
  • 10th & 12th Class Mark Sheets & Certificates
  • Graduation Degree/Provisional Certificate & Mark Sheets
  • UPSC CDS-I Written Exam Scorecard
  • Domicile Certificate / Category Certificate (if applicable)
  • NCC Certificate (if applicable)
  • Sports Certificate (if applicable)
  • Passport Size Photographs
  • Printout of the online application form

Clearing the UPSC CDS exam leads to a prestigious career as a commissioned officer in the Indian Armed Forces. Officers enjoy immense respect, leadership roles, and opportunities for professional growth in diverse fields.

Training & Commission: Successful candidates undergo rigorous training at respective academies (IMA: 1.5 years, INA: 4 years, AFA: 1.5 years, OTA: 49 weeks) and are commissioned as:

• IMA/INA/AFA: Permanent Commission (PC) Officers.
• OTA: Short Service Commission (SSC) Officers for 10+4 years.

Approximate Salary (7th CPC): The starting salary (Stipend during training) is approximately Rs. 56,100/- per month. After commissioning, the monthly in-hand salary for a Lieutenant/Equivalent is approximately Rs. 70,000 - Rs. 80,000 including various allowances (DA, Military Service Pay, Kit Maintenance, Transport, etc.).

Benefits: Subsidized accommodation, medical facilities for self & family, canteen facilities, travel concessions, generous leave, insurance cover, pension (for PC officers), and post-retirement benefits.

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