The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the final result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 on 2 November 2026 for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA). The result is academy-wise and available as a PDF containing roll numbers and names of recommended candidates. The Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) final result is not included in this release and will be declared separately.
CDS-I 2026 final result: key facts
- Exam: Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026
- Final result date: 2 November 2026
- Academies covered: IMA, INA and AFA
- Academy-wise list entries: 155 (IMA), 63 (INA), 25 (AFA) — 243 in total
- OTA: separate final result pending
- Written exam: 12 April 2026; written-qualified candidates: 8,826
Download the official UPSC merit list
Download CDS-I 2026 Final Result PDF (UPSC) · UPSC Final Results page · UPSC official website
Open the result PDF and use the document search (Ctrl+F on a computer) to locate the roll number or name in the relevant academy list. Download and retain the official file. A third-party result page or screenshot should not be used as proof of recommendation.
Academy-wise recommendations
| Academy | Recommended candidates/list entries | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun | 155 | 162nd (DE) Course |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala | 63 | Executive Branch General Service / Hydro course |
| Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad | 25 | 221 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course |
| Total list entries | 243 | IMA/INA/AFA only |
The 243 figure is the sum of academy-wise recommendations/list entries. A candidate may appear in more than one academy list, so it should not automatically be described as 243 distinct individuals. The original CDS-I 2026 notification contained 451 tentative vacancies across all courses, including OTA; the three lists released now are not the complete final result for every academy/course.
What happens after the result?
UPSC states that medical-examination results were not taken into account while preparing these merit lists. Recommended candidates remain subject to medical fitness and verification of educational qualifications, date of birth and other essential documents by the relevant Service Headquarters. Follow the instructions issued by the Army, Navy or Air Force and do not treat a name in the PDF as an unconditional joining order.
The OTA (Men and Women) final result is separate. UPSC has indicated that marks of recommended and non-recommended candidates for CDS-I 2026 will be uploaded after declaration of the OTA final result. Candidates should check the Commission’s result/marks pages rather than rely on an assumed marks-release date.
How to check and save your result
- Open the official CDS-I 2026 final result PDF.
- Choose the list corresponding to IMA, INA or AFA and search your roll number/name.
- Check the exact academy/course and any notice attached to the result.
- Save a copy of the official PDF; keep your application details and original certificates ready.
- Monitor UPSC and the concerned Service Headquarters for medical, document-verification and joining instructions.
Exam relevance and static GK
- UPSC conducts CDS; SSB interviews are conducted by the Services Selection Board under the Ministry of Defence.
- IMA is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand; INA is at Ezhimala, Kerala; AFA is at Hyderabad, Telangana.
- CDS written examination for IMA/INA/AFA includes English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; OTA has a different written-paper structure as specified in the notification.
- Distinguish written result (qualification for SSB), final academy merit list and OTA final result.
Official sources and related preparation
- UPSC CDS-I 2026 final result PDF
- UPSC Final Results
- Defence & Police Exams Preparation Hub · UPSC & State PSC Preparation Hub · Latest Articles
Result note: This release covers IMA, INA and AFA. OTA final merit, medical fitness and certificate verification remain separate/required as stated by UPSC and the relevant Service Headquarters.
