UPSC CDS Final Result 2026 OUT; Check Result PDF, Merit List & OTA Selection RESULT OUT

UPSC CDS Final Result 2026: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination for admission to various defence academies, including the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

Candidates who appeared in the CDS Examination (II), 2025 and progressed through the selection stages can check the final result and merit list through the official UPSC website.

The final selection process includes performance in the written examination and Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, while medical fitness and document verification are required before joining.

In this article, candidates can find complete information about the CDS Final Result 2026, result PDF download, merit list, OTA selection, marks availability, selection process and what to do after the result.

UPSC maintains the official final-result records on its website, so candidates should rely on the Commission’s result PDF and official notices for the final status of their candidature.

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CDS Final Result 2026 (OUT) – Overview

483 Candidates Selected for 124th SSC Course (Men & Women) at OTA Chennai
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Particulars Details
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), 2025
Result Name UPSC CDS Final Result 2026
Result Release Date 07 August 2026
Course 124th Short Service Commission (Men & Women)
Academy Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
Total Qualified Candidates 483
Men’s Vacancies 276
Women’s Vacancies 19
Selection Process Written Examination, SSB Interview, Medical Examination, Document Verification
Marks Availability Within 15 Days of Result (Available for 30 Days)
Course Commencement October 2026
Official Website upsc.gov.in

CDS Final Result 2026 — What’s New

  • The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the CDS Final Result 2026 on 7th August 2026 on its official website, upsc.gov.in
  • The final result is released for candidates who appeared in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II), 2025 and then successfully cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview
  • A total of 483 candidates have been selected for admission to the 124th Short Service Commission Course (Men and Women) at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, which will start in October 2026
  • The Government has notified 276 vacancies for the Men’s course and 19 vacancies for the Women’s course
  • The merit list has been prepared without considering the medical examination, and the candidature of all selected candidates remains provisional until the verification of age and educational qualifications by the Army Headquarters
  • Candidates will also be able to check their marks on the UPSC website within 15 days of the result declaration, and the marks will remain available for 30 days

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CDS Final Result 2026 PDF Download — Direct Link

The result PDF consists of names and roll numbers of all candidates who have cleared admission to the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. Candidates can download the final merit list and search their roll number/name using Ctrl+F.

Direct Link: Click to Download UPSC CDS Final Result 2026 PDF

How to Check UPSC CDS Result 2026?

  • Go to the official website of UPSC — upsc.gov.in
  • On the homepage, click on the “What’s New” or “Final Results” section
  • Find and click on the link of “CDS Final Result 2026”
  • The result PDF will open on your screen
  • Press Ctrl + F and enter your Roll Number or Name
  • If your details appear in the PDF, you have qualified
  • Download the result PDF and save a copy for future reference

About CDS & the OTA Short Service Commission — Understanding This Result

  • The CDS exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC for admission to four academies: Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)
  • Unlike IMA/INA/AFA (which lead to a Permanent Commission), OTA offers a Short Service Commission (SSC) — open to both men and women — where officers serve for 10 to 14 years, with the option to apply for Permanent Commission if eligible
  • This particular result is for candidates selected into the 124th SSC Course at OTA Chennai, based on their performance in the CDS (II) 2025 written exam and subsequent SSB interview
  • Before officially joining, selected candidates undergo rigorous training focused on military leadership, physical fitness, tactics, and administration

CDS OTA Eligibility Criteria (For Reference)

  • Nationality: Indian citizen; subjects of Nepal/Bhutan; or Tibetan refugees settled in India before January 1962, subject to eligibility certification
  • Educational Qualification: Degree from a recognised university or equivalent
  • Marital Status: Unmarried male and female candidates are eligible for OTA (unlike IMA/INA, which are open only to unmarried males)
  • Age Limit: Broadly 19–25 years for OTA SSC Course (exact birth-date range specified separately for each CDS cycle in the official notification — commonly candidates born in a defined window covering roughly ages 19 to 25 as on the course commencement)
  • Candidates should always refer to the official CDS notification corresponding to the specific exam cycle (CDS I or CDS II) for the precise date-of-birth eligibility window

CDS OTA Written Exam Pattern (For Reference)

Paper Marks / Duration
Paper I — English 100 Marks | 2 Hours
Paper II — General Knowledge 100 Marks | 2 Hours
Total (Written) 200 Marks
SSB Interview 200 Marks
Exam Mode Offline (Pen & Paper Based)
Negative Marking 0.33 Marks Deducted per Wrong Answer
Note: Unlike IMA/INA/AFA (which also include an Elementary Mathematics paper), OTA’s written exam consists of only English and General Knowledge, since it does not require a technical/mathematics-heavy background.

CDS Selection Process — Full Stages

  • Stage 1 — Written Examination: Offline, pen-and-paper based exam (English + GK for OTA)
  • Stage 2 — SSB Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam proceed to the Services Selection Board interview, spread across multiple days including psychological tests, group tasks, and a personal interview
  • Stage 3 — Medical Examination: Conducted after SSB, to assess medical fitness as per Armed Forces standards
  • Stage 4 — Document Verification: Age and educational qualification are verified by the Army Headquarters before final confirmation
  • Final merit is based on combined Written Exam + SSB Interview marks — the medical exam and document verification are qualifying stages, not scored

What Next After CDS Final Result 2026?

  • Candidates whose names appear in the CDS Merit List will proceed with the remaining admission formalities
  • Selected candidates have to complete the medical examination and document verification, conducted by the concerned authorities
  • The final appointment will be confirmed only after candidates are declared medically fit and all eligibility conditions are verified
  • After completing these formalities, candidates will join the 124th Short Service Commission Course at OTA, Chennai, as per the notified schedule (commencing October 2026)

CDS OTA — Training Stipend & Post-Commission Salary

Stage Amount
Stipend During Training (OTA) ₹56,100 per month (approx.)
Post-Commission Pay Level Level-10, 7th CPC
Post-Commission Salary Range ₹56,000 – ₹1,77,500 per month (approx.)
Additional Benefits Military Service Pay, Grade Pay, Kit Maintenance Allowance, Dearness Allowance, Travel Allowance, Uniform Allowance, Free Accommodation & Medical Facilities during training
Career Progression (Illustrative): Officers are typically considered for promotion to Captain after 2 years of service, and Major after 6 years of service, subject to vacancy and performance-based selection.

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How Can I Contact UPSC After the CDS Final Result 2026?

Candidates who have any queries regarding the UPSC CDS Final Result can contact the UPSC Facilitation Counter or the respective training academy.

Authority Contact Details
UPSC Facilitation Counter Examination Hall Building, UPSC Campus (Working Days: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
UPSC Candidate Help Desk 011-24041001, 011-40303444 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, All Days)
IMA/OTA 011-26175473 | joinindianarmy.nic.in
Indian Naval Academy (INA) 011-23010097 | joinindiannavy.gov.in
Air Force Academy (AFA) 011-23010231 (Ext. 7645/7646/7610) | careerindianairforce.cdac.in

Documents Required for Joining Formalities

  • CDS Final Result Printout with Roll Number
  • SSB Interview Recommendation Letter
  • Original Graduation Degree Certificate & Marksheets
  • Class 10 & Class 12 Marksheets/Certificates (Date of Birth Proof)
  • Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Voter ID)
  • Character Certificate from School/College/Employer
  • Unmarried Status Affidavit/Declaration, as applicable
  • Medical Fitness Documents/Reports
  • Category Certificate (if applicable, for relevant relaxation)
  • Recent Passport-Size Photographs

Note: The exact document checklist for joining OTA will be specified in the official joining instructions sent to selected candidates by the Army Headquarters/OTA.

Important Points for Selected Candidates

  • The merit list is provisional — candidature is subject to age and educational qualification verification by the Army Headquarters, so keep all original documents ready and error-free
  • Since the medical examination was not considered while preparing this merit list, ensure you meet the required medical fitness standards well in advance to avoid last-minute disqualification
  • Check your detailed marks on the UPSC website within the 15-day window after result declaration — this is useful for candidates who didn’t make the cut this time and want to plan for the next CDS attempt
  • Keep monitoring your registered email and phone for joining instructions from OTA Chennai, as the course is set to commence in October 2026 — a relatively short preparation window
  • Non-selected candidates who cleared the written exam but not SSB, or vice versa, should start preparing early for the next CDS cycle (CDS I 2026), given the twice-yearly exam frequency

important links

Download CDS Final Result PDF 2026 click here
UPSC Official Website click here
Join Indian Army (IMA/OTA) click here
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When was the UPSC CDS Final Result 2026 declared?
The UPSC CDS Final Result 2026 was declared on 7th August 2026.

Q2. How many candidates have qualified in the CDS Final Result 2026?
A total of 483 candidates have qualified in the CDS Final Merit List — 276 for the Men’s course and 19 for the Women’s course, into the 124th Short Service Commission Course at OTA Chennai.

Q3. Where can I download the CDS Result 2026 PDF?
Candidates can download the CDS Result PDF from the official website of UPSC, i.e., upsc.gov.in.

Q4. When will UPSC release CDS 2026 marks?
UPSC CDS marks will be available within 15 days of the final result declaration, and it will remain online for 30 days.

Q5. What happens after the CDS Final Result 2026?
Eligible candidates have to undergo a medical test and document verification before joining the course at OTA Chennai, which is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

Q6. Is this merit list final, or can candidature still be cancelled?
The merit list has been prepared without considering the medical examination, and the candidature of all selected candidates remains provisional until age and educational qualifications are verified by the Army Headquarters.

Q7. What is the difference between OTA and other CDS academies like IMA or INA?
OTA offers a Short Service Commission open to both men and women, with a service tenure of 10 to 14 years, whereas IMA and INA lead to a Permanent Commission and are open only to unmarried male candidates.

Q8. What is the written exam pattern for OTA under CDS?
The OTA written exam consists of two papers — English (100 marks) and General Knowledge (100 marks), each of 2 hours’ duration, totalling 200 marks, followed by an SSB interview of 200 marks.

Q9. What stipend do candidates receive during training at OTA?
Officer cadets receive a stipend of approximately ₹56,100 per month during their training period at OTA, along with free accommodation, meals, and medical facilities.

Q10. What is the salary after commissioning as an SSC officer?
After successful completion of training, officers are placed in Pay Level-10 of the 7th CPC, with a salary ranging from approximately ₹56,000 to ₹1,77,500 per month, along with military service pay, grade pay, and other allowances.

Q11. Whom should I contact for queries regarding the CDS Final Result?
Candidates can contact the UPSC Facilitation Counter, the UPSC Candidate Help Desk (011-24041001 / 011-40303444), or the respective training academy (IMA/OTA, INA, or AFA) using the contact details provided on their official websites.

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