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

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

Upcoming Event

CDS Exam Date:14 Sep' 25 - 14 Sep' 25

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.

Quick Links

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 ?

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.


As per the CDS OTA eligibility criteria, for female candidates applying to the Officers Training Academy (OTA), the age limit is 19 to 25 years (unmarried females only).

Since your date of birth is 16th June 2005, you will turn:

21 years old in June 2026,

25 years old in June 2030.

CDS exam is conducted twice every year, so you’ll be eligible from the year you complete graduation (2026) till you turn 25 in 2030.

Your eligible attempts:

CDS 2 2026

CDS 1 2027

CDS 2 2027

CDS 1 2028

CDS 2 2028

CDS 1 2029

CDS 2 2029

CDS 1 2030 (maybe last)

So, you will have around 7 to 8 attempts to appear for CDS OTA before you cross the maximum age limit.

Hello ,

If your goal is to appear for CDS Exam, then here’s what you need to know:

  • For IMA, INA, and AFA: A regular full-time degree from a recognized university is required. So, regular B.Tech is perfectly valid.
  • For OTA :  Any recognized Bachelor’s degree (even BCA) is acceptable. But since you mentioned Online BCA, note that CDS does not accept distance/online degrees unless UGC-DEB approved and equivalent to a regular course.

So, a regular B.Tech is a safer and more accepted option for all CDS branches. Online BCA may work only if it's recognized, but always double-check the latest UPSC CDS eligibility rules before applying.

Best wishes !

Thank you.

Hi dear candidate,

To be eligible for CDS 1 Exam 2026, your age should fall between 20 to 24 years old. And with your date of birth of 21 December 2002, means that you will be 23 years old as of 1st January, 2026. CDS 1 exam 2026 is expected to take place in April 2026.

Considering the above:

Yes, you will be able to give exam for CDS 1 in 2026.

ALL THE BEST !

Yes, You are eligible to apply for CDS OTA 2026(April exam) Based on your date of birth

Make sure you also:

  • Graduation degree from a recognised(Or are in the final year).
  • Or unmarried(For OTASSC non-technical entry).
  • Meet the required, medical and physical standard as per SSB/UPSE Norms .