CDS 1 Application Form 2026 - How to Apply Online, Link

CDS 1 Application Form 2026 - How to Apply Online, Link

Meghana Mohana KrishnanUpdated on 28 Jul 2025, 04:43 PM IST

Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 1 application form 2026 on December 10, 2025 on the official website, upsc.gov.in. Candidates can submit the UPSC CDS 2026 application form until December 30, 2025. Applicants need to pay the UPSC CDS 1 2026 registration fee to successfully submit their form. The candidates who are applying for the CDS exam are advised to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

This Story also Contains

  1. CDS 1 Application Form Dates 2026
  2. Who can apply for CDS 2026?
  3. What is the last date for CDS Form 2026?
  4. CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026
  5. CDS Exam Centres 2026
  6. CDS 1 Admit Card 2026
CDS 1 Application Form 2026 - How to Apply Online, Link
UPSC CDS Application Form 2026

The CDS 1 eligibility criteria will be available in the notification to check. Applicants who submit their online form will be able to download the UPSC CDS admit card 2026 7 days before the commencement of the exam. To know more about the CDS 1 registration 2026, read the article given below.

CDS 1 Application Form Dates 2026

Candidates can check the important dates to keep track of all the events related to the CDS exam 2026. For more details, check the CDS 2026 exam dates in the table below.

CDS 1 2026 Registration Dates

CDS 2026 Events

CDS exam date 2026

CDS 2026 Notification

December 10, 2025

CDS 2026 application form

December 10, 2025

CDS form last date

December 30, 2025

CDS application form correction facility

To be announced

CDS 1 2026 exam date

April 12, 2026

CDS 2 Exam Dates 2026

CDS 2026 Events

CDS 2 2026 Exam dates

CDS 2 Notification 2026

May 20, 2026

CDS 2026 Application Form date

May 20, 2026

Last date for CDS Application Form 2

June 9, 2026

CDS 2 application correction facility

To be announced

CDS application withdrawal dates

To be announced

CDS 2 Exam date 2026

September 13, 2026

Who can apply for CDS 2026?

Only those who meet the CDS exam eligibility criteria can attempt the exam. Therefore, candidates are advised to be familiar with the eligibility criteria before filling the CDS 2026 application form. The exact eligibility criteria for defence positions vary from course to course, but the common criteria is that the candidate must be an Indian national, must be within the prescribed age and must possess a bachelor's degree.

What is the last date for CDS Form 2026?

The last date for applying to the CDS 1 exam is December 30, 2025. Candidates are required to carefully submit the application form. Those who submit the CDS application form early have a greater change of getting the exam centre of their choice.

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CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Union Public Service Commission prescribes the CDS 2026 eligibility criteria, including academic qualifications and marks that candidates must score to be eligible to apply for the CDS exam 2026. Also, the eligibility comprises the nationality, age limit and the physical parameters that the candidates must meet.

CDS Eligibility Criteria

Particulars

Details

Nationality

Indian citizen

CDS age limit

Between 20 to 24 years

Educational Qualification

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university


Quick Links: How to crack different Government Exams

Documents Required to Fill the CDS Application Form 2026

Applicants must keep the following documents ready before filling out the CDS application form.

  • Photo ID proof - Aadhar Card/Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving License (Any One of these).

  • Scanned photograph, scanned signature, and ID card.

  • Enrollment and degree certificates.

  • Debit/Credit Card/Internet banking details for online application fee payment to validate the CDS apply online form 2026 etc.

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Steps to Fill the UPSC CDS Application Form 2026

Candidates can check the steps to fill the CDS online form mentioned below.

How to Fill UPSC CDS Application Form

  • Open the UPSC official website - upsconline.nic.in/ upsc.gov.in.

  • Candidates have to first login on the website before applying.

  • Online One-Time Registration (OTR)- They have to complete it by providing some basic details such as personal and contact details.

  • Login by using valid login credentials such as email ID and OTP/ password or mobile number and OTP/ password or OTR ID and OTP/ password.

  • Candidates have to fill out the UPSC CDS 1 2026 application form in two parts which include filling in other details, CDS exam 2026 fees payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document and selection of preferred exam centre.

  • Check all the details furnished in the UPSC CDS application form 2026 thoroughly and edit the details if needed.

  • Once submitted, applicants will not be able to make changes in their UPSC CDS application form.

  • After submission, a registration number will be generated. Candidates have to download it as a pdf file and take a printout for future reference.

Specification of photograph and signature to be uploaded

Document

Specification

Signature

20 KB to 300 KB

Photograph

20 KB to 300 KB

Specification about payment of CDS form fees

Payment Method

Payment Gateways

Offline

Bank Challan

Online

Credit/Visa/RuPay/Master/Debit Card and net banking

Also read: How to crack different Government Exams

Note: In case of any difficulty while filling the CDS application form, candidates can get in touch with the UPSC’s Facilitation Counter near gate C of its campus in person or over the phone at 011-23385271/ 011-23381125/ 011-23098543.

Is there a CDS 1 Application Form 2026 Correction Window?

Yes, UPSC will provide a chance to make corrections in the CDS 1 2026 application formfor a certain duration of time. Candidates are required to fill the UPSC CDS application form carefully and then submit.

Also Read:

CDS Exam Centres 2026

The examination will be conducted across the country at 78 CDS 2026 exam centres. The list of exam centre cities will be given in the CDS notification 2026. Aspirants have to provide the choice of their preferred city while filling the UPSC CDS application form 2026. The complete address of the CDS 2026 exam centre, exam dates and reporting time will be mentioned in the admit card.

CDS 1 Admit Card 2026

The CDS 2026 admit card will be released in online mode 7 days before the commencement of the exam. The CDS admit card will only be available for those candidates who successfully submit the CDS 1 application form 2026. Candidates will have to download the UPSC CDS admit card and carry it along with a valid and original ID proof to the CDS exam centre. The CDS admit card contains details like candidate’s name, roll number, registration, reporting time, exam centre address, exam centre guidelines and the subject of the exam mentioned in it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the CDS 1 application form 2026 release date?
A:

The release date of CDS 1 application form 2026 is December 10, 2025.

Q: When is the UPSC CDS application correction window 2026?
A:

UPSC will provide the UPSC CDS 2026 correction facility to make changes in the application form.

Q: What mode of fee payment is accepted for CDS 2026?
A:

The application fee has to be paid either via online mode (Debit/ Credit Card/ Rupay/ Visa/ MasterCard/ Maestro) or SBI Internet Banking) or offline mode (bank challan).

Q: How can I apply for CDS 1 Exam 2026?
A:

To apply for CDS 1, aspirants must visit upsconline.nic.in/ upsc.gov.in and fill it out from there.

Q: What is CDS 2026 application fee?
A:

The CDS 1 2026 application form fee is Rs 200.

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Questions related to CDS

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CDS ?

Hello aspirant,

No, after tenth grade, you are not eligible to take the CDS exam.  Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in order to sit for the CDS exam.  It is intended for people who are in their last year of graduation or who have finished their college education.  You must finish your 12th grade before you can graduate if you recently passed the 10th.  You can then apply for the CDS exam to become an officer in the Indian Armed Forces.

Thank you

Hey! Since your date of birth is 07 Nov 2006 and you will complete graduation in 2029, here’s how many chances you’ll get for CDS (INA, IMA, AFA) and AFCAT:

For CDS exams, the age limit is usually 19–24 years.

For AFCAT, Flying Branch requires 20–24 years and Ground Duty goes up to 26 years.

By 2029, you will be around 22–23 years old, so you’ll be perfectly eligible at that time. Since CDS requires a graduate degree, you can only start applying after 2029 once you finish graduation. From that year onwards, you’ll have around 2–3 years window where you can appear for CDS (IMA, INA, AFA) as well as AFCAT.

Dear Candidate,

You are eligible for CDS 2026, but for IMA, INA and AFA post, you must be born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008.

For OTA ( male and female ), all 2003 born candidates are eligible.

Hi dear candidate,

The age limit for various roles in CDS are:

1) IMA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.

2) INA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.

3) OTA: 19 TO 25 years of age, 10 to 11 attempts.

This is all considering your DOB as of 26 Oct, 2005 as you are 19 years old in Aug 2025.

Know more at:

CDS Exam Dates 2025 (Out) - Check UPSC CDS 2 Complete Exam Schedule

CDS Selection Process 2025 - Written Exam, SSB Interview, DV, Pay Scale

BEST OF LUCK

Yes, you will be eligible for CDS-1 2027 under OTA (SSC Women – Non-Technical Course). The age limit for OTA is 19–25 years (you must be born between 2nd Jan 2001 and 1st Jan 2007). Since your date of birth is 4 July 2002, you will be 24 years old at that time, so you fall within the required age range.

But you will not be eligible for IMA, INA or AFA, because their upper age limit is 24 years, and by 2027 you will cross that limit.