UPSC CDS 2 result 2026 out; 8,956 candidates pass written exam

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today, October 19, 2026, released the results for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. Candidates who appeared for the examination can download the result PDF, containing the roll numbers of shortlisted candidates, from the official website, upsc.gov.in.

A total of 8,956 candidates have qualified in the written examination, which serves as the initial stage for entry into various branches of the Indian Armed Forces. The next step for these candidates is the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.

UPSC CDS 2 2026 Examination and Result Overview

The UPSC conducted the Combined Defence Services (CDS 2) examination on September 13, 2026. This examination is a crucial step for aspiring officers seeking to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

The written result PDF (WR-CDSE-II-2026-Engl-19102026.pdf) was uploaded on October 19, 2026. It includes only the roll numbers of candidates who have cleared this stage; individual marks or detailed scorecards are not part of this initial declaration. The provisional answer key for the examination was released on September 16, 2026.

Next Steps for Qualified Candidates

Candidates who have qualified in the written examination and indicated Army (IMA/OTA) as their first choice are required to register on the official Indian Army recruitment website, joinindianarmy.nic.in, to receive information regarding their SSB interviews. This is non-negotiable for all qualified candidates to keep original documents ready for verification during the SSB interview process.

These documents include proof of date of birth, educational qualification certificates, and any relevant category or NCC documents. Final selection for entry into the Indian Armed Forces will depend on merit, eligibility criteria, medical fitness, and the availability of vacancies.

Important Dates and Previous Trends

The notification for CDS 2 2026 was issued on May 20, 2026, with the application window closing on June 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The e-Admit Cards were uploaded on September 3, 2026, and the examination timetable was made available on August 10, 2026. Question papers for English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics were uploaded on September 14, 2026.

The UPSC typically announces written results within a few weeks of the examination. For comparison, in the CDS II 2025 cycle, 9,085 candidates qualified for the SSB interview stage. The marks-sheet for candidates from the CDS 2 2026 examination will be accessible on upsconline.nic.in within 15 days from the date of publication of the final result of the OTA course and will remain available for 30 days.

Further reading

• Download your admit card today, October 18, 2026
• BTE UP re-evaluation result 2026 for June exam declared: check
• UPSC NDA, NA II 2026 result declared; register for SSB interview by October 23
• NDA 2 2026 written exam results out: register for SSB interview by October 23

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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