CDS-2 2025 Final Merit List Released – Check Now

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Final Result on its official website www.upsc.gov.in for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS-II) 2025. The written examination was conducted on 14 September 2025, and the last date to submit the application form was 20 June 2025.

After successfully clearing the written examination and completing the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview process, shortlisted candidates have now been included in the final merit list. Candidates who appeared in the recruitment process can check their Final Result in PDF format on the official UPSC website. The result can be accessed using details such as Roll Number or Name, and the direct link to download the merit list is provided below.

CDS-II 2025 Final Result – Key Highlights

Particular	Details
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS-II) 2025
Conducting Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Notification Release	28 May 2025
Last Date to Apply	20 June 2025
Written Examination	14 September 2025
Admit Card Release	04 September 2025
Written Result Announcement	09 October 2025
Final Merit List	30 March 2026
Total Vacancies	453
Candidates Recommended	302
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

Candidates can download the result PDF and verify their selection.

CDS-2 2025 Final Merit List – Candidates Recommended

Based on performance in the written examination and the SSB interviews conducted by the Ministry of Defence, 302 candidates have been recommended for admission to defence training academies.

These candidates will join the following courses:

161st (DE) Course at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad – Pre-Flying Training Course No. 220 F(P)

Academy-wise Candidate Distribution

Academy	Candidates Selected
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	190
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	85
Air Force Academy (AFA)	27
Total	302

UPSC has clarified that some candidates may appear in multiple lists depending on their academy preferences.

CDS-2 2025 Vacancy Details

The Government of India had notified 453 vacancies across four training academies under CDS-II 2025.

Academy	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	26
Air Force Academy (AFA)	32
Officers Training Academy (OTA)	295
Total	453

NCC Special Entry Reservations

Certain vacancies were reserved for candidates applying through NCC ‘C’ Certificate entries.

13 seats in IMA for Army Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders
6 seats in INA for Naval Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders
2 seats in INA Hydro Branch
3 seats in AFA for Air Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders

Candidates Shortlisted in the Written Examination

After the written examination result was declared, candidates were shortlisted for the SSB interview stage.

Academy	Candidates Qualified
IMA	2666
INA	814
AFA	636

These candidates were invited to appear for the Services Selection Board interview, which assesses their suitability for a career in the armed forces.

CDS-2 2025 Selection Process

The CDS recruitment process consists of two main stages.

Written Examination

The written exam conducted by UPSC evaluates candidates in the following subjects.

For IMA, INA and AFA:

English
General Knowledge
Elementary Mathematics

For OTA candidates:

English
General Knowledge

Candidates who meet the required cutoff marks are shortlisted for the interview stage.

Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview

The SSB interview is a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate a candidate’s personality, leadership potential, and officer-like qualities.

The process usually lasts five days and includes:

Psychological Tests
Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks
Personal Interview
Final Conference

Only candidates recommended by the SSB are considered for the final merit list.

Preparing for CDS Written Exam and SSB Interview

Success in CDS requires more than just academic knowledge. Candidates must also demonstrate confidence, leadership ability, and strong decision-making skills, especially during the SSB stage.

Many aspirants choose to prepare under expert guidance to improve their chances of success. One institute that has gained recognition for defence exam preparation is Centurion Defence Academy.

The academy offers structured programs designed specifically for candidates preparing for CDS, NDA, AFCAT, and SSB interviews.

Prepare for the CDS Written Exam with Centurion Defence Academy

For aspirants aiming to strengthen their written exam preparation, Centurion Defence Academy provides dedicated CDS preparation courses that focus on:

Comprehensive coverage of English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics
Regular practice tests and mock examinations
Detailed analysis of previous exam papers
Concept-focused classroom sessions
Performance tracking and personalised feedback

Such structured training helps candidates improve both conceptual clarity and exam strategy.

SSB Interview Preparation at Centurion Defence Academy

Clearing the written exam is only the first step; the SSB interview stage plays a decisive role in final selection.

To support candidates at this stage, Centurion Defence Academy offers specialised SSB training programs at its centres in Lucknow and Dehradun.

The academy conducts a 21-day SSB course in Lucknow and 14-day SSB course in Dehradun that includes:

Training for psychological tests such as TAT, WAT, and SRT
Practical sessions for Group Testing Officer tasks
Personal interview guidance
Communication and personality development
Individual mentoring and performance feedback

For candidates who have limited time before their SSB date, a 14-day fast-track program is also available.

These programs aim to help aspirants develop the Officer-Like Qualities required for recommendation.

Medical Examination and Document Verification

UPSC has stated that medical examination results were not considered while preparing the merit list. However, candidates must still meet the medical fitness standards prescribed by the armed forces before joining the academy.

In addition, verification of date of birth and educational qualifications is currently underway. Therefore, the candidature of selected candidates remains provisional until the verification process is completed.

Candidates must submit their original certificates and attested copies to the respective headquarters:

Academy	Verification Authority
IMA	Army Headquarters
INA	Naval Headquarters
AFA	Air Headquarters

How to Check CDS-2 2025 Final Result

Candidates can follow these steps to download the result:

Visit the official UPSC website www.upsc.gov.in
Go to the Examinations section and open Final Results.
Click the link titled “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025 – Final Result.”
Open the result PDF file.
Use Ctrl + F to search your roll number or name.
Download and save the file for future reference.

When Will UPSC Release Candidate Marks?

UPSC has announced that the marks of candidates will be published later on the official website. These marks will become available after the final result of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) course for CDS-II 2025 is declared.

Once released, candidates will be able to view their written exam marks and SSB interview scores.

Final Words

The announcement of the CDS-II 2025 Final Merit List marks an important milestone for candidates who successfully cleared the selection process. The recommended candidates will soon begin officer training at India’s premier defence academies, moving one step closer to serving the nation in uniform.

For future aspirants preparing for CDS, NDA, AFCAT, or SSB interviews, consistent preparation, discipline, and the right mentorship can significantly improve the chances of success. Structured training programs and expert guidance can help candidates build the confidence and skills required to succeed in these competitive defence examinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CDS-2 2025 final merit list prepared only based on written marks?

No, the final merit list is prepared based on the combined performance in the written examination and the SSB interview. Both stages play an important role in determining the final selection of candidates.

Can a candidate appear in multiple academy merit lists in CDS?

Yes, some candidates may appear in more than one academy list depending on their preferences and eligibility. For example, a candidate may appear in both the IMA and INA lists if they meet the criteria for both academies.

When will training start for the CDS-2 2025 selected candidates?

Candidates recommended in the CDS-II 2025 final merit list will receive joining instructions from their respective academies. Training usually begins with the next scheduled course at IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA.

Which coaching institute is best for CDS and SSB preparation?

Many defence aspirants prefer structured training to improve their chances of success. Institutes like Centurion Defence Academy offer specialised coaching programs for CDS written exam preparation and SSB interview training, with centres in Lucknow and Dehradun.

Are medical examination results included in the CDS-2 2025 merit list?

No. UPSC has clarified that medical examination results were not considered while preparing the final merit list. However, candidates must still meet the medical fitness standards of the armed forces before joining the academy.