UPSC CDS Result 2026 Declared: 8,826 Candidates Qualify for SSB Interview; Download Merit List at upsc.gov.in

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 written result, with 8,826 candidates qualifying for the next stage of the selection process. The CDS I examination was conducted on April 12, 2026, and candidates whose roll numbers appear in the result have been shortlisted for interviews by the Services Selection Board (SSB) of the Ministry of Defence.

The shortlisted candidates will compete for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. The candidature of all shortlisted candidates remains provisional and is subject to verification of age, educational qualifications and other eligibility requirements prescribed by UPSC and the Ministry of Defence.

UPSC CDS Result 2026 Highlights

8,826 Candidates Shortlisted for SSB Interview

UPSC has shortlisted 8,826 candidates on the basis of their performance in the CDS I 2026 written examination.

These candidates are now eligible to appear before the Services Selection Board, subject to meeting all prescribed eligibility conditions.

The SSB process assesses candidates for officer-like qualities through a combination of psychological tests, group activities and personal interviews.

Courses Covered Under CDS I 2026

Successful candidates have been shortlisted for admission to the following courses:

The IMA, INA and AFA courses are scheduled to commence in January 2027, while the OTA courses are scheduled to begin in April 2027.

How to Check UPSC CDS I Result 2026

Candidates can check the written result by following these steps:

1. Visit the official UPSC website.

2. Open the Written Results section.

3. Click on Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026.

4. Open the result PDF.

5. Press Ctrl + F on a computer or use the search function on a mobile device.

6. Enter your roll number.

7. Check whether your roll number appears in the list.

8. Download and preserve the result PDF.

What Happens After the CDS Written Result?

Candidates who have qualified the written examination will now proceed to the SSB Interview.

The remaining selection process broadly includes:

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

The written result alone does not guarantee final selection.

SSB Interview Process

The SSB process generally lasts several days and evaluates whether a candidate possesses the qualities expected from an officer in the Armed Forces.

It normally includes:

Stage 1 Screening

Candidates undergo:

• Officer Intelligence Rating tests

• Picture Perception and Discussion Test

Only candidates clearing Stage 1 continue with the remaining SSB assessments.

Psychological Testing

The psychological assessment may include:

• Thematic Apperception Test

• Word Association Test

• Situation Reaction Test

• Self-Description Test

Group Testing Officer Tasks

Candidates participate in activities designed to assess:

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Decision-making

• Initiative

• Problem-solving ability

Personal Interview

The interviewing officer assesses the candidate's personality, education, awareness, motivation and suitability for a career in the Armed Forces.

Conference

The final SSB stage brings together the assessors to arrive at the candidate's overall recommendation.

Candidates Must Submit Original Certificates

UPSC has stated that qualified candidates must submit original certificates supporting their:

• Age

• Educational qualification

• NCC qualification, where applicable

The deadline for submission depends on the academy/course for which the candidate is being considered.

Candidates should carefully read the official result notice to avoid missing academy-specific deadlines.

Candidature Is Provisional

UPSC has clearly stated that the candidature of candidates appearing in the written result is provisional.

This means candidates can still be disqualified if:

• Required educational qualification is not met.

• Date-of-birth requirements are not satisfied.

• Documents are incomplete or invalid.

• Medical standards are not met.

• Other examination rules are violated.

CDS I 2026 Exam Pattern

The written pattern differs between IMA/INA/AFA and OTA candidates.

IMA, INA and AFA

Candidates write:

OTA

OTA candidates write:

Candidates must also clear the SSB and medical examination before they can appear in the final merit list.

CDS I 2026 Cutoff

The official CDS I 2026 cutoff has not yet been released.

UPSC normally publishes academy-wise cutoffs after completion of the selection process.

The cutoff varies for:

• IMA

• INA

• AFA

• OTA Men

• OTA Women

It depends on factors such as:

• Difficulty level of the written examination

• Number of vacancies

• Candidate performance

• Academy preference

• Final SSB performance

Candidates should avoid treating coaching-institute estimates as the official cutoff until UPSC publishes the final marks and cutoff document.

Written Marks Are Not Released Immediately

Candidates should note that UPSC does not normally publish the individual marks of every candidate immediately after the written result.

Marks and detailed cutoff information are generally released later in accordance with the Commission's result publication procedure.

Therefore, candidates who have not qualified may need to wait before seeing their final written score.

Difference Between Written Result and Final Result

The current announcement is the written result, not the final recommendation list.

Written Result

It identifies candidates eligible for SSB interviews.

Final Result

It is prepared after:

• Written examination marks

• SSB performance

• Medical fitness

• Eligibility verification

The final merit list determines which candidates are recommended for admission to the respective academies.

CDS II 2025 Final Result Was Also Declared Earlier

For context, UPSC had declared the CDS II 2025 final result on March 30, 2026, recommending 302 candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.

The breakdown was:

• 190 candidates recommended in the IMA list

• 85 candidates in the INA list

• 27 candidates in the AFA list

Some candidates appeared in more than one list because academy lists can overlap.

CDS II 2025 Merit Order Was Later Revised

UPSC subsequently issued a revised order of merit on April 7, 2026 after applying the examination's rule on rounding marks to two decimal places.

Importantly, the revision involved only minor changes in the inter-se ranking of selected candidates and did not change the overall composition of the result.

This distinction is useful for candidates following CDS results because the Commission can issue corrections or revised merit orders even after publication.

What Successful Candidates Should Do Now

Candidates shortlisted in CDS I 2026 should focus immediately on SSB preparation.

They should:

• Check their result PDF.

• Preserve their roll number and application details.

• Complete any required SSB registration.

• Monitor call-letter updates.

• Keep original certificates ready.

• Start preparing for psychological tests.

• Practise group discussion and communication.

• Maintain physical fitness.

• Prepare for the personal interview.

• Review current national and international affairs.

Documents to Keep Ready for SSB

Candidates should generally prepare:

• CDS admit card

• UPSC application details

• Class 10 certificate

• Class 12 marksheet

• Graduation certificate/marksheets

• Valid photo identity proof

• Passport-size photographs

• NCC certificate, if applicable

• Other documents specified in the SSB call letter

Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree should carefully follow the documentary requirements applicable to them.

Medical Examination After SSB

Candidates recommended by the SSB must undergo a medical examination.

Medical standards vary depending on the academy and service.

The assessment can include:

• Height and weight

• Vision

• Hearing

• Cardiovascular health

• Musculoskeletal fitness

• General physical health

• Service-specific medical requirements

Being recommended by the SSB does not automatically mean final selection if the candidate does not meet the prescribed medical standards.

How Final Merit Is Prepared

The final merit list considers the candidate's:

Written examination marks + SSB marks

Candidates must separately clear the prescribed qualifying standards.

Final selection then depends on:

• Overall merit

• Academy preference

• Number of vacancies

• Medical fitness

• Eligibility

• Course-specific requirements

This is why a candidate can be SSB recommended but still not receive a final academy allocation if their merit position falls below the available vacancies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has UPSC declared the CDS 2026 result?

Yes. UPSC declared the CDS I 2026 written result, with 8,826 candidates qualifying for SSB interviews.

When was CDS I 2026 conducted?

The examination was conducted on April 12, 2026.

How many candidates qualified?

A total of 8,826 candidates have qualified for the next stage.

What is the next stage after the CDS result?

Qualified candidates must appear for the Services Selection Board interview conducted under the Ministry of Defence.

Does clearing the CDS written exam guarantee selection?

No. Candidates must also clear the SSB interview, medical examination and final merit requirements.

Which academies accept CDS I 2026 candidates?

The result covers candidates for:

• Indian Military Academy

• Indian Naval Academy

• Air Force Academy

• Officers Training Academy – Men

• Officers Training Academy – Women

When will the CDS I 2026 cutoff be released?

UPSC will publish the official cutoff later in the recruitment process. Candidates should wait for the Commission's official cutoff document.

Where can candidates download the result?

The result is available through the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.

Final Update

The declaration of the UPSC CDS I 2026 written result moves 8,826 defence aspirants into the next and more intensive phase of the selection process. Candidates who qualified in the April 12 examination will now face the Services Selection Board interview for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy.

Qualified candidates should shift their attention from written preparation to SSB psychology tests, group tasks, communication, current affairs, physical readiness and personal-interview preparation. They should also keep original academic and eligibility documents ready because their candidature remains provisional until all requirements are verified.

The current result is only the written-stage result. Final entry into India's defence academies will depend on SSB performance, medical fitness, academy preferences, vacancies and overall merit, making the upcoming selection stages just as important as clearing the CDS examination itself.