The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has extended the registration deadline for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination II and the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA/NA) Examination II, 2026. Candidates can now submit their applications until June 11, 2026.
The extension comes as a relief for aspirants who were unable to complete the registration process before the earlier deadline. Interested candidates can apply through the UPSC online application portal after ensuring they meet the eligibility criteria specified in the official notification.
Vacancies announced for CDS II and NDA II
According to the UPSC notification, CDS II 2026 aims to fill 451 vacancies across various defence academies, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
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Meanwhile, NDA/NA II 2026 has announced 394 vacancies for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Naval Academy.
Exam scheduled for September
Both the CDS II and NDA/NA II examinations are scheduled to be conducted on September 13, 2026, at centres across the country.
Candidates are advised to complete their applications well before the revised deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Exam pattern for NDA II
The NDA written examination consists of two objective-type papers:
Mathematics – 300 marks
General Ability Test (GAT) – 600 marks
Candidates who qualify the written examination will be called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, followed by medical examinations.
Exam pattern for CDS II
The CDS written examination varies depending on the academy selected by the candidate.
For IMA, INA and AFA, candidates must appear for:
English
General Knowledge
Elementary Mathematics
For OTA, candidates are required to take:
English
General Knowledge
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Successful candidates will proceed to the SSB interview and subsequent medical assessment.
How to apply
Candidates can submit their applications through the UPSC online portal before the revised deadline of June 11. UPSC has advised applicants to carefully review eligibility conditions, educational qualifications and other instructions before completing the registration process.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for UPSC CDS II and NDA II 2026?
UPSC has extended the registration deadline for both CDS II and NDA II 2026 examinations till June 11, 2026.
When will the CDS II and NDA II 2026 exams be conducted?
Both examinations are scheduled to be held on September 13, 2026.
