CDS-1 2026 Final Merit List Released: Download PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially declared the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS 1) 2026 Final Result on 2 November 2026. Candidates who appeared for the written examination and successfully completed the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview can now check their final merit list on the official UPSC website.

The CDS 1 2026 written examination was conducted on 12 April 2026 across various examination centres in India. Following the written examination, shortlisted candidates appeared for the SSB interview conducted by the Ministry of Defence.

According to the official announcement, a total of 243 recommendations (155 for IMA, 63 for INA and 25 for AFA) have been made for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA).

Candidates can download the academy-wise merit list PDF and search for their roll numbers or names to check their selection status.

Particular	Details
Examination Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026
Conducting Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Notification Release Date	10 December 2025
Last Date to Apply	30 December 2025
Written Examination Date	12 April 2026
Written Result Date	8 May 2026
Final Result Declaration	2 November 2026
Total Vacancies	451
Total Recommendations	243
IMA Candidates Recommended	155
INA Candidates Recommended	63
AFA Candidates Recommended	25
Selection Process	Written Examination and SSB Interview
Official Website	www.upsc.gov.in

Candidates should note that the 243 recommendations cover the IMA, INA, and AFA merit lists. The OTA selection process has a separate final result.

CDS 1 2026 Final Merit List – Academy-Wise Candidates Recommended

Based on the written examination and SSB interviews conducted by the Ministry of Defence, UPSC has published three academy-wise merit lists.

The recommendations are distributed as follows:

Academy	Candidates Recommended
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	155
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	63
Air Force Academy (AFA)	25
Total	243

Some candidates appear in more than one academy merit list because of their academy preferences.

Courses Offered Under CDS 1 2026

The recommended candidates will be considered for admission to the following courses:

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: 162nd Direct Entry Course, commencing January 2027.
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala: Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro Course, commencing January 2027.
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: No. 221 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course, commencing January 2027.

CDS 1 2026 Vacancy Details

The Government of India notified a total of 451 vacancies under CDS 1 2026 across four defence training academies, with separate vacancies for male and female candidates at OTA.

The academy-wise vacancy distribution is given below:

Academy	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	26
Air Force Academy (AFA)	32
Officers Training Academy (OTA) – Men	275
Officers Training Academy (OTA) – Women	18
Total	451

NCC Special Entry Reservations

Certain vacancies are reserved for eligible NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders.

13 vacancies in IMA for Army Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders.
6 vacancies in INA for Naval Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders.
1 vacancy in INA for the Hydro course.
3 vacancies in AFA for Air Wing NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders through NCC Special Entry.

These reservations are included within the respective academy vacancy figures.

Candidates Qualified in CDS 1 2026 Written Examination

UPSC declared the CDS 1 2026 written examination result on 8 May 2026.

According to the official press release, a total of 8,826 candidates qualified in the written examination for the next stage of the selection process.

The academy-wise written examination figures for IMA, INA, and AFA were:

Academy	Candidates Qualified
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	2,601
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	770
Air Force Academy (AFA)	640
Total (All Academies)	8,826

These candidates were shortlisted for the SSB interview conducted by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence.

The written examination qualification does not guarantee final selection. Candidates must also qualify in the SSB interview and meet the prescribed eligibility and medical standards.

CDS 1 2026 Selection Process

The CDS recruitment process consists of two major stages: the written examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.

1. Written Examination

The CDS written examination evaluates candidates in different subjects depending on their academy preference.

For IMA, INA and AFA:

English
General Knowledge
Elementary Mathematics

For OTA:

English
General Knowledge

Candidates who secure the required qualifying marks are shortlisted for the SSB interview.

2. Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview

The SSB interview evaluates a candidate’s personality, leadership potential, intelligence, communication skills, and Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs).

The selection process generally includes:

Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests
Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT)
Psychological Tests
Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
Personal Interview
Final Conference

The SSB assessment is generally conducted over five days. Candidates recommended by the SSB must also satisfy the prescribed medical and eligibility requirements.

Prepare for CDS Written Examination with Centurion Defence Academy

Clearing the CDS examination requires consistent preparation, strong conceptual understanding, and effective examination strategies.

Centurion Defence Academy provides structured coaching programs for candidates preparing for CDS, NDA, AFCAT, and other defence entrance examinations.

The CDS preparation program focuses on:

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

These preparation methods help candidates strengthen their subject knowledge and improve their examination performance.

SSB Interview Preparation at Centurion Defence Academy

Qualifying for the written examination is only the first step towards becoming an officer in the Indian Armed Forces. The SSB interview plays an important role in the final selection process.

Centurion Defence Academy offers specialised SSB interview preparation programs at its centres in Lucknow and Dehradun.

The academy provides:

14-Day SSB Course in Lucknow.
14-Day SSB Course in Dehradun.
Psychological test preparation, including TAT, WAT, and SRT.
Practical training for GTO tasks.
Personal interview preparation.
Communication and personality development.
Individual mentoring and performance feedback.

For candidates with limited preparation time, a 14-day fast-track SSB program is also available.

These programs are designed to help candidates understand the SSB assessment process and develop the qualities required for a career as an officer in the armed forces.

Medical Examination and Document Verification

UPSC has clarified that the results of the medical examination have not been considered while preparing the CDS 1 2026 IMA, INA, and AFA merit lists.

Therefore, candidates recommended in the final merit lists must fulfil the prescribed medical fitness standards before joining their respective academies.

The verification of candidates’ date of birth and educational qualifications is also underway.

The candidature of recommended candidates remains provisional until the required verification is completed.

Candidates must submit their original certificates and attested photocopies to the appropriate service headquarters according to their first academy preference.

Academy	Verification Authority
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	Army Headquarters
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Naval Headquarters
Air Force Academy (AFA)	Air Headquarters

Candidates should follow the official instructions issued by the concerned headquarters regarding certificate submission and further admission formalities.

When Will UPSC Release CDS 1 2026 Marks?

UPSC has clarified that the marks of candidates will be published on its official website after the declaration of the final result for the Officers Training Academy (OTA) course under CDS 1 2026.

The marks will include the candidates’ performance in the written examination and SSB interview.

Candidates should regularly visit the official UPSC website for updates regarding the OTA final result and marks publication.

Final Words

The declaration of the UPSC CDS 1 2026 Final Result on 2 November 2026 is an important milestone for candidates aspiring to become officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

A total of 243 recommendations have been announced for IMA, INA and AFA, with academy-wise lists containing 155, 63 and 25 candidates, respectively.

Candidates who have been recommended should carefully follow the instructions regarding document verification, medical fitness and further admission procedures.

For future CDS aspirants, this result is a reminder that success requires consistent preparation, discipline, conceptual clarity and the right guidance. Along with written examination preparation, candidates should also focus on developing communication skills, confidence, leadership qualities and overall personality for the SSB interview.

Centurion Defence Academy continues to support defence aspirants through structured CDS coaching and specialised SSB interview preparation programs.