Result update: 20 October 2026. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. The Press Information Bureau published the result notice on 19 October 2026. According to the official announcement, 8,956 candidates have qualified for interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB) of the Ministry of Defence. The written examination was held on 13 September 2026. Qualification at this stage is provisional and candidates must follow the document-submission and SSB instructions for their chosen service.
Official result PDF: Download UPSC CDS II 2026 written-result roll-number list (PDF). Read the full notice on the official PIB release and check the UPSC website for any later instructions.
What happened?
UPSC announced the written result of CDS II 2026 on 19 October. The result identifies candidates eligible to proceed to the SSB interview stage for the notified courses at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The PDF contains roll numbers grouped by course; candidates should search the complete document and verify their own details carefully.
Key facts
| Particular | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 |
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Written exam date | 13 September 2026 |
| Result notice | 19 October 2026 |
| Candidates qualified for SSB interview | 8,956 |
| Result type | Written result; not final selection |
| Result document | Official roll-number PDF |
Courses covered by the result
The official notice lists five course routes:
- Indian Military Academy, Dehradun: 163rd Direct Entry course, commencing July 2027.
- Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala: course commencing July 2027.
- Air Force Academy, Hyderabad: Pre-Flying Training Course 222 F(P), commencing July 2027.
- Officers Training Academy, Chennai: 126th Short Service Commission (Men, Non-Technical) course, commencing October 2027.
- Officers Training Academy, Chennai: 126th Short Service Commission (Women, Non-Technical) course, commencing October 2027.
The release notes that some candidates appear in more than one of the four lists for different courses, except the OTA Women list. Therefore, 8,956 should be read as the official number of qualified candidates, not as a count of unique selections for each academy or as the number of final appointments.
How to check the CDS II 2026 written result
- Open the official result PDF using the link above.
- Use the PDF search function to find your roll number. Check the digits carefully; similar-looking numbers can be mistaken.
- Confirm that you are checking the correct course list and retain a copy of the notice for reference.
- Read the instructions after the roll-number lists. Do not treat inclusion in the PDF as final appointment.
- Monitor the relevant service’s official recruitment channel for SSB call-up and further candidate instructions.
What qualified candidates must do next
Army as first choice (IMA/OTA): candidates who qualified in the written examination and gave Army as their first choice must register on the Recruiting Directorate website at joinindianarmy.nic.in to receive SSB interview call-up information. Candidates who have already registered should not register again.
Naval or Air Force first choice: follow the service-specific instructions in the official notice. The release provides contact routes for the Navy and Air Force, and candidates should use those channels for SSB-related questions rather than relying on unofficial intermediaries.
Keep documents ready: the notice says candidature remains provisional. Candidates must submit original certificates supporting date of birth, educational qualifications and applicable NCC certificates to the designated service authority—not to UPSC—by the stated dates. The published deadlines are:
| Course group | Deadline for original certificates |
|---|---|
| IMA and INA | 1 July 2027 |
| AFA | 13 May 2027 |
| OTA courses | 1 October 2027 |
These dates relate to submission of the specified certificates under the result notice; they are not SSB interview dates. Candidates should read the complete notice and follow any course-specific communication received later. UPSC expressly states that original certificates must not be sent to the Commission.
Written result versus final result
The CDS written result is a stage-wise shortlist. Candidates still need to complete the SSB process and meet the applicable eligibility, medical and merit conditions. A roll number in the written-result PDF does not itself establish final selection, academy admission or appointment. The final outcome follows the subsequent selection process and official merit rules.
The notice also explains that marksheets will be made available on the UPSC online portal within 15 days of publication of the final result of the OTA course, after SSB interviews, and will remain available for 30 days. This is a later-stage marksheet window, not a marksheet release for the written result announced on 19 October.
Why the result matters
CDS is a national-level officer-entry examination for graduates and eligible candidates seeking commission routes through the Army, Navy and Air Force. The written result is important because it moves qualified candidates from the examination stage to the SSB assessment stage, where suitability for officer training is assessed through a different process. For candidates, the immediate priorities are accurate result verification, registration on the correct service portal, timely document preparation and monitoring official communications.
What happens at the SSB stage?
The SSB stage is not another written paper. It is designed to assess suitability for officer training through a combination of screening, psychological assessment, group tasks, personal interview and a final conference, with the detailed process governed by the relevant service’s instructions. Candidates should read the call-up letter carefully because it controls the reporting date, location, travel or stay instructions, and documents to bring. A written-result qualification does not guarantee recommendation by the SSB, and an SSB recommendation does not remove the requirement to meet medical, merit and eligibility conditions.
Preparation should be practical rather than scripted. Candidates can review their application details, educational record, interests, current affairs and reasons for choosing a service. They should be able to discuss their own experiences honestly, listen to others during group tasks and follow the instructions given by assessors. Memorised answers and exaggerated claims are less useful than clear communication, sound judgement and consistency with the candidate’s actual record.
Static GK connection
The result connects to four officer-training institutions: the Indian Military Academy is in Dehradun, Uttarakhand; the Indian Naval Academy is at Ezhimala in Kerala; the Air Force Academy is in Hyderabad, Telangana; and the Officers Training Academy is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. UPSC conducts the competitive examination, while the Service Selection Board interview process is conducted under the respective service authorities. Candidates should distinguish the Commission’s role in the written examination from the service authorities’ role in SSB and subsequent selection.
Candidate checklist before the SSB call-up
- Save the result PDF and confirm the correct course list and roll number.
- Confirm whether Army, Navy or Air Force is the first-choice service and use the corresponding official contact channel.
- Keep date-of-birth, educational and applicable NCC certificates ready; submit originals to the designated service authority by the deadline in the notice.
- Update a change of postal address directly with the relevant service headquarters, as instructed.
- Use only official websites and communications for call-up details; do not rely on unverified agents or forwarded messages.
Common errors to avoid
- Confusing a written-result shortlist with a final merit list.
- Searching the wrong course list or overlooking a digit in the roll number.
- Registering a second time on the Army recruiting portal when already registered.
- Sending original certificates to UPSC despite the notice directing submission to the relevant service authority.
- Assuming certificate-submission deadlines are the same as SSB interview dates.
- Sharing login credentials or paying an intermediary for a call-up that should be checked through official channels.
Official sources
- CDS II 2026 written-result PDF
- PIB official result announcement, 19 October 2026
- UPSC official website
- Indian Army Recruiting Directorate
- Join Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force officer recruitment
Related resources
- Competitive Exam Results and Official Result Links
- Defence and Police Exams Preparation Hub
- UPSC and State PSC Preparation Hub
- UPSC NDA and Naval Academy II 2026 written-result guide
Candidate reminder: the official notice and later service-specific communications control the process. Recheck the official portals before taking action, particularly for SSB dates, certificate instructions and marksheet availability.
