UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026 Dates Announced: Check September 13 Timetable, Shift Timings and Exam Pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the examination schedule for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. According to the official UPSC schedule, CDS 2 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in offline mode at designated examination centres across India.

Candidates applying for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) will appear for three papers—English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Candidates seeking admission to the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) will appear only for English and General Knowledge.

UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026: Key Highlights

UPSC's official CDS II 2026 examination page confirms September 13, 2026 as the date of commencement of the examination and lists the examination duration as one day.

UPSC CDS 2 Timetable 2026

The examination will be conducted in the following schedule:

Candidates appearing for IMA, INA and AFA will need to attend all three papers.

OTA candidates will take only the first two papers.

CDS 2 Exam Date Officially Confirmed

The UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 had already listed September 13, 2026 for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), and the Commission's dedicated CDS II examination page now confirms the same date.

Candidates should therefore prepare according to the September 13 schedule unless UPSC issues any subsequent revision.

Which Candidates Have Three Papers?

Candidates applying for the following academies will appear in all three papers:

• Indian Military Academy

• Indian Naval Academy

• Air Force Academy

Their examination sequence will be:

English → General Knowledge → Elementary Mathematics

The total written examination carries 300 marks for these academies.

OTA Candidates Have Only Two Papers

Candidates applying for the Officers' Training Academy do not appear for Elementary Mathematics.

Their written examination consists of:

• English

• General Knowledge

The OTA written examination therefore carries a total of 200 marks.

CDS 2 Exam Pattern for IMA, INA and AFA

Candidates effectively spend the full examination day at the centre because of the breaks between the three papers.

CDS 2 OTA Exam Pattern

OTA aspirants can leave after completing the General Knowledge paper, subject to examination-centre instructions.

CDS 2 English Paper Timing

The first examination of the day is:

English: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

The English paper assesses areas such as:

• Vocabulary

• Grammar

• Sentence usage

• Comprehension

• Synonyms and antonyms

• Error spotting

• Sentence improvement

Candidates should practise solving English questions quickly because the paper contains a large number of objective-type questions.

General Knowledge Paper Timing

The second examination is:

General Knowledge: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

The GK paper can cover areas including:

• Current affairs

• Indian history

• Geography

• Polity

• Economics

• General science

• Defence-related developments

• International affairs

Candidates should combine static GK revision with current-affairs preparation.

Elementary Mathematics Timing

The third examination for IMA, INA and AFA candidates is:

Elementary Mathematics: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

The Mathematics syllabus is broadly based on matriculation-level concepts.

Important areas can include:

• Arithmetic

• Algebra

• Geometry

• Trigonometry

• Mensuration

• Statistics

OTA candidates do not have to appear for this paper.

CDS 2 Exam Will Be Conducted Offline

CDS is conducted as a conventional offline written examination.

Candidates receive question papers and use OMR answer sheets to record their responses.

Students should therefore practise filling OMR sheets carefully during mock tests.

Objective-Type Questions

The CDS written examination consists of objective-type questions.

Candidates need to select the correct option rather than write descriptive answers.

The objective format makes:

• Speed

• Accuracy

• Question selection

• Time management

particularly important.

Negative Marking in CDS

CDS has negative marking for incorrect answers.

Candidates should therefore avoid unnecessary guessing.

The general rule is that one-third of the marks assigned to a question can be deducted for an incorrect answer.

No penalty is applied when a question is left unanswered.

Candidates should check the current UPSC notification for the detailed marking provisions.

CDS 2 Notification Was Released in May

UPSC issued the CDS II 2026 notification on May 20, 2026.

The official examination page records:

Notification Date: May 20, 2026

Exam Date: September 13, 2026

The application deadline was subsequently extended to June 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

CDS 2 Admit Card 2026

UPSC will issue the CDS 2 admit card before the examination.

Candidates should monitor the Commission's official website for activation of the e-Admit Card facility.

The admit card will contain important information such as:

• Candidate name

• Roll number

• Examination venue

• Exam date

• Reporting instructions

• Photograph details

• Other exam-day guidelines

How to Download UPSC CDS 2 Admit Card

Once released:

1. Visit upsc.gov.in.

2. Open the e-Admit Cards section.

3. Select Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.

4. Read the instructions.

5. Log in using the required candidate details.

6. Download the admit card.

7. Verify the examination centre.

8. Print a clear copy.

Candidates should retain the admit card until the recruitment process is completed.

What to Check on the Admit Card

After downloading it, verify:

• Name

• Roll number

• Photograph

• Registration details

• Exam centre

• Exam date

• Reporting instructions

Any error should be brought to UPSC's attention through the official communication channel.

Reach the Centre Early

Candidates should not plan to arrive just before 9:00 AM.

Security and identity verification take place before the examination.

The final admit card will specify:

• Reporting time

• Entry closing time

• Permitted items

• Identity requirements

Candidates arriving after the prescribed gate-closing time may not be allowed to enter.

Documents to Carry

Candidates should follow the admit-card instructions, but the exam-day requirements generally include:

• Printed CDS 2 admit card

• Original valid photo identity proof

• Other documents specifically requested by UPSC

Candidates should carry the same photo ID details used where required during the application process.

Items to Avoid

Candidates should avoid carrying prohibited electronic devices such as:

• Mobile phones

• Smartwatches

• Bluetooth devices

• Electronic communication devices

• Calculators unless specifically permitted

UPSC examination centres enforce strict rules relating to unfair means.

CDS Selection Process

The complete selection process broadly follows:

Written Examination → SSB Interview → Medical Examination → Final Merit List → Academy Allocation

Passing the written exam does not automatically secure admission to a defence academy.

Candidates must also qualify the SSB and medical examination.

What Is the SSB Interview?

Candidates clearing the written cutoff are shortlisted for the Services Selection Board interview.

The SSB process evaluates officer-like qualities through stages such as:

• Officer Intelligence Rating

• Picture Perception and Discussion Test

• Psychological testing

• Group tasks

• Personal interview

• Conference

The assessment focuses on qualities including leadership, communication, decision-making and teamwork.

Stage I of SSB

The first screening stage usually consists of:

• Officer Intelligence Rating

• Picture Perception and Discussion Test

Candidates who fail Stage I are generally sent back without participating in the remaining assessment.

Stage II of SSB

Candidates clearing screening proceed to:

• Psychology tests

• Group Testing Officer tasks

• Interview

• Conference

This process evaluates suitability for commission in the Armed Forces.

Medical Examination After SSB

Candidates recommended by the SSB must satisfy the medical standards applicable to the academy and service.

Medical examination can assess:

• Height

• Weight

• Vision

• Hearing

• General fitness

• Musculoskeletal condition

• Other service-specific standards

Final selection remains subject to medical fitness.

How Final Merit Is Prepared

The CDS final merit broadly considers:

Written Examination Marks + SSB Marks

subject to candidates separately clearing:

• Written qualifying requirements

• SSB requirements

• Medical standards

• Eligibility verification

The final merit position and number of available vacancies determine academy allocation.

CDS 2 Exam Preparation Strategy

With the examination scheduled for September 13, candidates should now focus on structured revision.

A useful plan is:

Concept Revision → Previous-Year Questions → Timed Section Tests → Full-Length Mocks → Error Analysis

Candidates should spend proportionally more time on areas where their mock-test accuracy remains low.

English Preparation

For English, focus on:

• Reading comprehension

• Vocabulary

• Grammar

• Sentence correction

• Synonyms

• Antonyms

• Idioms

• Previous CDS questions

Daily reading can also help improve comprehension speed.

General Knowledge Preparation

Divide preparation between:

Static GK

• History

• Geography

• Polity

• Science

• Economics

Current Affairs

Focus on recent developments involving:

• India

• International affairs

• Defence

• Economy

• Science and technology

• Sports

• Government initiatives

Revision is more important than trying to memorise every current-affairs event.

Mathematics Preparation

Candidates appearing for IMA, INA or AFA should prioritise:

• Arithmetic

• Algebra

• Geometry

• Trigonometry

• Mensuration

• Statistics

Formula revision and timed numerical practice are especially useful.

Practise a Full Exam-Day Schedule

Because IMA/INA/AFA candidates sit three papers from morning until evening, endurance matters.

Candidates should occasionally simulate:

9–11 English

12:30–2:30 GK

4–6 Mathematics

during mock practice.

This helps them understand how concentration changes across a long examination day.

Don't Ignore the Breaks

Candidates have significant gaps between papers.

Use these breaks to:

• Eat light food

• Stay hydrated

• Relax

• Avoid discussing answers extensively

• Mentally prepare for the next paper

Spending the entire break analysing mistakes from the previous paper can affect performance in the next session.

Previous-Year CDS Papers

UPSC provides previous examination papers through its official website.

Candidates should practise them because they help identify:

• Question style

• Difficulty level

• Repeated concepts

• Time pressure

• Topic distribution

Previous-year papers should form a major part of final-stage preparation.

What Candidates Should Do Now

Candidates should:

1. Note September 13, 2026.

2. Memorise the three paper timings.

3. Complete syllabus revision.

4. Solve previous-year papers.

5. Attempt timed mock tests.

6. Monitor UPSC for the admit card.

7. Keep identity documents ready.

8. Plan travel once the exam centre is known.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Candidates should avoid:

• Assuming OTA has a Mathematics paper.

• Forgetting negative marking.

• Reaching the centre late.

• Preparing only current affairs for GK.

• Ignoring previous-year questions.

• Spending too long on difficult Mathematics questions.

• Guessing excessively.

• Depending on unofficial admit-card dates.

• Bringing prohibited electronic devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026?

UPSC will conduct CDS II 2026 on September 13, 2026.

What day is CDS 2 2026?

September 13, 2026 falls on a Sunday, as also listed in UPSC's official Annual Calendar 2026.

What is the CDS 2 English exam timing?

The English paper will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

What is the General Knowledge timing?

General Knowledge will be held from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.

What is the Elementary Mathematics timing?

Elementary Mathematics is scheduled from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Do OTA candidates appear for Mathematics?

No. OTA candidates appear only for English and General Knowledge.

How many papers are there for IMA, INA and AFA?

There are three papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.

What is the total written score for IMA/INA/AFA?

The three papers together carry 300 marks.

What is the OTA written exam total?

English and General Knowledge together carry 200 marks.

Is there negative marking in CDS?

Yes. Incorrect answers attract negative marking under the UPSC examination rules.

Is the CDS 2 admit card out?

Candidates should check UPSC's official e-Admit Card section for the latest release status. The exam itself is scheduled for September 13.

Where can candidates check the official timetable?

Candidates should use the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. UPSC's CDS II examination page confirms the September 13 date.

What’s Next?

The immediate sequence for candidates is:

Complete Revision → Check UPSC Admit Card → Verify Centre → Appear on September 13 → Check Written Result → Attend SSB if Shortlisted

Final Update

The UPSC CDS 2 Exam 2026 will be conducted on September 13, 2026, with all written papers scheduled on the same day. UPSC's official Annual Calendar and the dedicated CDS II examination page both confirm the date.

Candidates applying for IMA, INA and AFA will appear for English from 9 AM to 11 AM, General Knowledge from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and Elementary Mathematics from 4 PM to 6 PM. OTA candidates will appear only for English and General Knowledge.

With just over a month remaining, candidates should now prioritise previous-year questions, high-yield revision, full-length mock tests and accuracy under negative marking while monitoring upsc.gov.in for the CDS II 2026 admit card and final examination-centre instructions.