The Union Public Service Commission has announced the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026, with 8,956 candidates qualifying for the next stage of selection for officer-training courses in the Indian Armed Forces.
The written examination was conducted on September 13, 2026. According to the official announcement, the successful candidates have qualified to be considered for interviews by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: UPSC declared the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.
Location: Nationwide examination; the result covers candidates seeking entry to military training academies in Dehradun, Ezhimala, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Authority/Organisation: Union Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Defence’s Services Selection Board.
Action Taken: A total of 8,956 candidates qualified in the written examination for consideration at the SSB interview stage.
Impact: Qualified candidates must now follow service-specific instructions, ensure required registration and submit supporting certificates within the prescribed deadlines.
The selection process covers entry to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala, the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad and the Officers’ Training Academy in Chennai. The relevant training courses are scheduled to begin in 2027.
The result is based on roll numbers published in the official result document. Candidates should check the relevant list carefully and confirm their details through the official UPSC website rather than relying on social media posts or unofficial result summaries.
The commission has also stressed that the candidature of the candidates listed in the result remains provisional. Qualifying in the written examination does not mean that a candidate has secured final admission or a commission in the Armed Forces. Candidates must complete the remaining stages and satisfy the applicable eligibility and documentation requirements.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Defence careers: The result advances thousands of candidates to the next stage of officer selection. Immediate action: Army first-preference candidates need to ensure that the required recruiting-website registration is complete. Document compliance: Missing the applicable certificate deadline can put candidature at risk. Career planning: Candidates should understand that written qualification is not the same as final selection. Reliable information: Checking the official roll-number PDF helps candidates avoid misinformation from unofficial result posts.
What Does the UPSC CDS II Written Result Mean?
The Combined Defence Services examination is a route for eligible graduates to seek entry into specified officer-training programmes of the Indian Armed Forces.
The written examination is an important stage, but it is not the final selection. Candidates whose roll numbers appear in the result are eligible to proceed to the SSB interview stage, subject to the relevant requirements.
The SSB process assesses a candidate’s suitability for officer-level responsibilities. Written-examination qualification should therefore be understood as progression to the next stage, rather than a guarantee of selection.
Candidates should follow the instructions for the academy or service they selected and monitor official communications for interview-related information. They should also ensure that their contact details remain current with the relevant defence headquarters.
Which Academies Are Covered?
The result concerns candidates seeking admission to the following training programmes:
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: The result covers the 163rd Regular Course, scheduled to commence in July 2027.
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala: The relevant course is scheduled to begin in July 2027.
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: The result includes candidates for the Pre-Flying Training Course, scheduled to commence in July 2027.
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai: The result includes the 126th Short Service Commission courses for men and women, scheduled to commence in October 2027.
The official result contains separate roll-number lists for the relevant courses. Some candidates appear in more than one list because they may have been considered for multiple course preferences. The official notice specifies that there are common candidates among the four lists, except for the OTA Women’s list.
Candidates should consult the original result document to identify the list or lists relevant to their application.
Important Step for Army-Preference Candidates
The official notice specifically instructs candidates who qualified in the written examination and selected Army as their first preference for IMA or OTA to register on the Indian Army recruiting directorate’s website.
This registration enables candidates to receive SSB interview call-up information. Candidates who have already registered are advised not to register again.
This is a practical step that should not be overlooked. Candidates should use the official recruiting website and check the information associated with their application. They should avoid paying third parties who claim to guarantee an interview call or influence selection.
Candidates with a different first preference should follow the relevant instructions for the Navy or Air Force and use the official contact channels listed in the UPSC announcement if they need clarification.
Document Verification: Provisional Qualification Is Not Final Admission
Candidates whose roll numbers appear in the result must submit original certificates supporting the information they claimed, including age, educational qualifications and applicable NCC certificates.
The documents must be sent to the relevant defence authority, depending on the candidate’s first-choice service and course. The UPSC has specifically stated that original certificates should not be sent to the commission itself.
The announced deadlines are:
- IMA and INA: Not later than July 1, 2027.
- Air Force Academy: Not later than May 13, 2027.
- Short Service Commission courses: Not later than October 1, 2027.
Candidates should read the official notice in full to identify the correct authority and submission procedure for their specific preference. They should not assume that one deadline or address applies to every candidate.
Failure to submit the required certificates within the prescribed period may result in cancellation of candidature, according to the official notice.
How to Check the UPSC CDS II 2026 Result
Candidates can check their written-examination result through the following steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website.
- Open the results or examination section.
- Locate the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 written-result notice.
- Open the official PDF containing the roll numbers.
- Use the document’s search function to locate the candidate’s roll number.
- Read the instructions about SSB interviews, registration and document submission.
Candidates should verify the result using the official document, particularly if a screenshot or forwarded message claims that a candidate has qualified.
The official result document contains roll numbers rather than a simple list of candidates’ names. Candidates should therefore use their examination roll number when checking the PDF.
When Will the Marks Be Available?
The UPSC announcement states that marksheets will be available on the commission’s online application portal within 15 days after publication of the final result for the OTA course, following the SSB interviews.
The marksheets will remain available for 30 days. This means candidates should not assume that their written-examination marks will be published at the same time as the written result.
Candidates should monitor the official UPSC website for subsequent updates about the final result and marksheet availability.
What Candidates Should Do Now
Candidates who qualified should focus on the next formal requirements rather than treating the written result as the end of the process.
They should verify their roll number, check the instructions applicable to their first preference, complete any required recruiting-website registration, keep their contact details updated and prepare the original certificates needed for verification.
Candidates should also follow official communications for SSB interview scheduling. The announcement of the written result does not, by itself, establish a specific interview date for every candidate.
For those whose roll numbers do not appear in the published lists, the official result document and UPSC’s examination guidance remain the appropriate sources for understanding the outcome and any available clarification process.
