The UPSC annual calendar for 2027 lists the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2027 with the notification on 2 December 2026, the last date for applications on 22 December 2026 and the written examination on Sunday, 11 April 2027. As of 12 October 2026 the notice itself has not been issued, and UPSC’s own note says these dates are liable to alteration. This page is checked against UPSC documents only and shows the date it was last verified.
Last verified: 12 October 2026. We refresh this page each cycle, so the address stays the same.
What are the CDS 2027 dates in the UPSC calendar?
The calendar was issued on 20 May 2026. It lists the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination and the CDS Examination together for each half of the year, so the NDA and CDS windows move together.
| Event | CDS (I) 2027 | CDS (II) 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 2 December 2026 | 12 May 2027 |
| Last date for receipt of applications | 22 December 2026 | 1 June 2027 |
| Date of examination | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
| Duration | 1 day | 1 day |
UPSC’s forthcoming examinations page already names CDS (I) 2027 and NDA and NA (I) 2027, without a notice. For the all-exams view across NDA, CDS, AFCAT and the rest, see our defence exam calendar.
Sources for the 2027 dates
How did the last two CDS cycles run?
A cycle is easier to plan around when you can see the gaps between its stages. These dates are from the UPSC notices themselves.
| Stage | CDS (I) 2026 | CDS (II) 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Notice date | 10 December 2025 (Notice No. 4/2026-CDS-I) | 20 May 2026 (Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II) |
| Last date to apply | 30 December 2025 | 9 June 2026 |
| Examination | 12 April 2026 | 13 September 2026 |
| Written result expected | May 2026, as the notice states | October 2026, as the notice states |
| Approximate vacancies | 451 in total | 451 in total |
| Courses commence | IMA, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy in January 2027; OTA in April 2027 | IMA, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy in July 2027; OTA in October 2027 |
In CDS (II) 2026 the 451 vacancies were split as 100 for IMA, 26 for the Naval Academy, 32 for the Air Force Academy, 275 for OTA men and 18 for OTA women. The notice calls these numbers tentative. No vacancy figure for CDS (I) 2027 exists yet, so treat any number you see for 2027 as unconfirmed.
Why do websites show different CDS dates?
You will find rival pages that give dates before UPSC has published anything. Some are predictions drawn from last year, and some copy each other. Service websites add to the confusion: the Navy’s officer page shows tentative months for each cycle, while the Air Force’s career page describes advertisement months in general terms. The UPSC calendar and the UPSC notice are the only sources that fix a date, and the notice overrides the calendar if the two differ.
A practical rule: if a date is not on upsc.gov.in as a calendar entry or a notice, do not plan travel or fees around it. If you want a second pair of eyes, free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757.
How do you apply for the CDS once the notice is out?
The steps below follow the CDS (II) 2026 notice. Read the 2027 notice for any change before you start.
- Create an account and register on UPSC’s online application portal at upsconline.nic.in. A Universal Registration Number (URN) is generated once and works for all UPSC examinations.
- Fill the Common Application Form, upload your photograph, capture the live photograph the form asks for, and upload your signature. The notice asks you to sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper in black ink.
- Complete the examination-specific module: pay the fee, pick an examination centre and list the services you want in order of preference. Men who choose OTA along with IMA, the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy should place OTA last, and candidates who want the Air Force Academy must give it as first choice.
- Pay the fee online. The 2026 notice sets it at ₹200, with no fee for women and SC/ST candidates.
- Submit before the last date. The 2026 notice says an application cannot be withdrawn and no field can be corrected after submission. The URN profile can be edited once, but that edit does not change an application you have already submitted.
Centres are allotted on a first-apply, first-allot basis and each centre has a ceiling, so applying early gives you more choice. The notice also advises candidates to use the Aadhaar card as their ID document.
A checklist for the 30 days after the notice
- Check yourself against the eligibility table in the notice, not against a coaching website. Our CDS eligibility guide lists the age window for each academy.
- Keep your Matriculation certificate for date of birth, your degree or provisional documents, and your photo ID ready. UPSC verifies originals only after you qualify for the SSB.
- Use an email address and mobile number that will remain active, because UPSC and the services use them to contact you.
- Apply early to improve your chance of your preferred centre.
- Plan your SSB. The notice says candidates who qualify must also register on the Directorate General of Recruiting website if the Army is their first choice. See our SSB interview process guide.
What happens between the written result and the SSB?
The notice does not leave the gap open-ended. In the CDS (II) 2026 notice, UPSC said it expected to declare the written result in October 2026. Candidates who qualify for IMA, the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy are then detailed for the SSB in February and March 2027, and candidates who qualified for the OTA course only are detailed in April to June 2027. For CDS (I), the notice for 2026 expected the result in May 2026. Qualified candidates whose first choice is the Army register on the Directorate General of Recruiting website, using the same email ID they gave UPSC, to receive their call-up information.
In other words, a candidate who sits the April paper should expect the board some months later, not weeks. Our SSB interview process guide is the place to start while you wait.
When is the CDS admit card issued?
The 2026 notices say the e-Admit Card is issued on the last working day of the preceding week of the examination date and can be downloaded from the UPSC portal. No admit card is sent by post or email. Entry to the examination venue closes 30 minutes before the start of each session, and candidates go through face authentication, so reach early.
CDS notification and dates: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhen will the CDS 1 2027 notification be released?
The UPSC calendar for 2027 gives 2 December 2026 as the date of notification for CDS (I) 2027. UPSC says dates may change, so check the notice on upsc.gov.in.
What is the CDS 1 2027 exam date?
11 April 2027, a Sunday, according to the UPSC calendar issued on 20 May 2026.
What is the last date to apply for CDS 1 2027?
22 December 2026 as per the calendar. Past notices closed applications at 6 pm on the last date.
How many vacancies are there in CDS 2027?
Not yet announced. The two 2026 notices each listed about 451, which UPSC calls tentative.
What is the CDS application fee?
₹200 in the 2026 notice. Women and SC/ST candidates are exempt.
Where do I download the CDS admit card?
From UPSC's online portal. The 2026 notice says the e-Admit Card is issued on the last working day of the week before the exam, and none is posted.
Preparing for the April 2027 paper in Dehradun? See our CDS coaching in Dehradun page for the classroom programme, or call or message us on WhatsApp at +91 70170 31757.
Admissions
