CDS Result 2026 Out: UPSC CDS 2 Result PDF, SSB & Next Steps

CDS Result 2026 Out What Has Been Announced

CDS Result 2026 Out Now: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 popularly called CDS 2 2026. According to reports dated October 19, 2026 the result PDF lists the roll numbers of candidates shortlisted for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The exam was held on September 13, 2026 for 451 vacancies across the Indian Military Academy Indian Naval Academy Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

CDS Result 2026 Live Updates: Candidates can check the result on the official website upsc.gov.in by opening the written result notice and searching the PDF for their roll number.

Please read this first: The sources reviewed do not fully agree on the exact release date and none of them states how many candidates qualified. The details are set out in the section on conflicting reports below. Treat upsc.gov.in as the final authority.

CDS Result 2026 Key Highlights

Particulars	Details
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026
Exam Date	September 13, 2026
Result Status	Written result declared roll number list per reports dated October 19, 2026
Result Format	PDF with roll numbers shortlisted for SSB
Total Vacancies	451 (tentative)
Next Stage	SSB interview
Qualified Candidates	Not stated in sources reviewed
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

Conflicting Reports on the Release Date What We Found

Several sites covered this result at different times so it is worth being clear about what is and is not settled

The release date as October 19, 2026. One of them also lists 19 September in a statistics table which looks like a typo since the rest of that page says October.
A coaching-institute blog says the result was declared but its post is dated October 7, last updated October 9 and it mixes up CDS 1 and “CDS 2”.
Another source noted that as of October 9, UPSC’s own page did not yet list a written result and that a news update on October 8 described the result as still expected.

The reading that fits best is that the result came out on October 19, and earlier declared claims were premature. Since I could not open UPSC’s website directly please confirm the notice there before relying on any date.

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CDS 2 Result 2026 Is a Shortlist Not a Merit List

Many pages call the document a merit list. Based on the reports it is better understood as follows

It is a list of roll numbers of candidates who cleared the written stage and are shortlisted for the SSB interview.
It is not a ranked list and it does not show marks.
Detailed marks are expected to be released after the final result following the SSB stage.
Being on the list does not mean final selection. That depends on SSB performance medical fitness eligibility and vacancies.

How to Check CDS Result 2026 Step-by-Step

Visit upsc.gov.in.
Open the “What’s New” or Written Results section.
Click the link for Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 written result.
Download the PDF.
Press Ctrl + F and search for your roll number exactly as printed on your admit card.
Read the full notice as it carries instructions for the next stage.

Important: You do not need to enter a password date of birth or any payment detail to open the PDF. Reports differ on this point with one page mentioning a login so avoid any site asking for personal details. Always open the PDF from the official UPSC website not a file hosted elsewhere.

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CDS 2 2026 Vacancies

Academy	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun	100
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala	26
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad	32
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai	293 (275 men + 18 women, SSC)
Total	451

These figures come from the May 20, 2026 notification as reported and are tentative. UPSC may revise vacancies.

CDS Exam Pattern 2026 A Quick Recap

Academy	Subjects	Total Marks
IMA, INA, AFA	English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics	300
OTA	English, General Knowledge	200

Each paper is objective type.
Wrong answers carry negative marking of one third of the marks for that question.
Elementary Mathematics is not part of the OTA exam.

Section-wise question counts and the timing of each paper are not covered in the sources reviewed so check the official notification for them.

What Happens Next The SSB Interview

If your roll number is in the PDF the SSB interview is the next stage. Reports describe a five-day process

Day	Activity (as commonly described)
Day 1	Screening test Officer Intelligence Rating test and Picture Perception and Description test
Days 2 to 4	Psychological tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) tasks and the personal interview
Day 5	Conference round and final announcement

Not confirmed yet: SSB dates venues and the call up schedule. These depend on the instructions issued by the relevant service headquarters so watch for emails and the official joinindianarmy, joinindiannavy and careerindianairforce portals along with your registered email and SMS alerts. The exact portal and process for your service preference are given in the UPSC notice.

Also Read: AP DSC Notification 2026 Out: 2,721 Teacher Vacancies Announced, Check Post-Wise Details at tet2dsc.apcfss.in

Selection Process After the Written Result

Written examination: completed on September 13, 2026.
SSB interview: the next and most decisive stage.
Medical examination: for candidates recommended by the SSB.
Document verification: timing and venue as per the notice and service instructions.
Final merit list: prepared on the basis of written marks and SSB marks subject to medical fitness eligibility and vacancies.

Per the reports marks are expected to be released within about 15 days after the final OTA result and to remain available for 30 days. Courses are reported to begin in July 2027 for IMA, INA and AFA and October 2027 for OTA. These timelines are indicative and may change.

Documents to Keep Ready for the SSB and Later Stages

Printout of the result and your e-admit card
Application form copy
Identity proof Aadhaar, passport or similar
Educational certificates and marksheets matriculation onwards, as required
Category certificate if applicable
NCC certificate if you hold one and wish to claim any benefit
Passport-size photographs

The exact list is issued with the SSB call-up so follow that list. Do not rely on this checklist alone.

CDS Cut-Off 2026 What We Know

No official cut-off has been published in the sources reviewed. UPSC does not usually release academy wise cut-offs at the shortlist stage and marks are normally disclosed after the final result. Any cut-off figure you see before that is an estimate.

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SSB Preparation Tips for Shortlisted Candidates

Start now. SSB calls can arrive quickly so do not wait for the date.
Know your own profile. Be ready to explain your background, studies, hobbies strengths and weaknesses honestly.
Practise the screening tests. Picture perception group discussion basics and the screening-day format reward preparation.
Work on fitness. GTO tasks and the overall assessment value stamina and teamwork.
Read current affairs relevant to defence and national security since interviewers often ask about them.
Be natural in the interview. Consistent honest answers matter more than rehearsed ones.
Check your medical fitness early including vision and any condition that could cause rejection since the medical examination can end a candidacy after a good SSB.

What If Your Roll Number Is Not in the List?

If you cannot find your roll number

Re-check the number on your admit card and search again including any other lists in the notice.
Confirm you are looking at the CDS (II) 2026 result not another year or the CDS (I) notice.
Wait for the marks and the final outcome if applicable. Marks for non shortlisted candidates may be published at a later date as per UPSC’s practice.
Plan the next attempt since the CDS is held twice a year and review the next notification for eligibility and age limits.

Which Academy Should You Choose if You Get a Choice?

The shortlist covers all four academies and the course you are finally considered for depends on your preference and your performance. A simple way to think about it

IMA, INA and AFA are the permanent-commission routes, and they test Elementary Mathematics along with English and General Knowledge 300 marks.
OTA leads to Short Service Commission and its written paper has two subjects 200 marks.
OTA has the largest share of vacancies (293 of 451) so it is the biggest intake while INA (26) and AFA (32) are the smallest.

Service specific rules such as eligibility fitness standards and the commission type are set in the official notification. Check them before you finalise your preferences because they can affect which stages you are called for.

Also Read: SSC GD Result 2026 Out @ssc.gov.in Download Constable Merit List PDF, Check Cut Off & PET/PST Schedule

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Relying on social media posts for dates. Use upsc.gov.in and your registered email.
Entering personal details on unofficial “result login” pages.
Treating the shortlist as final selection.
Ignoring the SSB call-up email since missing a reporting date can mean losing the chance for that cycle.
Assuming vacancies are fixed. They are tentative and can change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is the CDS Result 2026 out? Reports dated October 19, 2026 say UPSC has declared the written result of CDS (II) 2026 as a roll number PDF. Confirm on upsc.gov.in.

Q2: Where can I check the CDS 2 result 2026? On the official website, upsc.gov.in in the written results section.

Q3: When was the CDS 2 2026 exam held? On September 13, 2026.

Q4: How many vacancies are there in CDS 2 2026? 451 (tentative): IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32 and OTA 293.

Q5: How many candidates have qualified? The sources reviewed do not state this. Check the PDF or the official notice.

Q6: Is the result a merit list? No. It lists the roll numbers shortlisted for the SSB interview. It is not a ranked list and does not show marks.

Q7: What is the next stage after the result? The SSB interview followed by a medical examination and document verification.

Q8: How long does the SSB interview last? Reports describe a five-day process.

Q9: When will the SSB dates be announced? Not confirmed yet. Watch your registered email and the official service recruitment portals.

Q10: When will the final result and marks be released? After the SSB and medical stages. Marks are reportedly released within about 15 days of the final OTA result but no date is confirmed.

Also Read: UPSC NDA 2 2026 Result OUT: Check Merit List PDF, Roll Number & Direct Link

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports as of October 19, 2026, and on sources that differ on some details. Candidates should verify the result dates and instructions on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in which is the final source of truth.

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Abdul

Abdul is the lead editor at Exam Results Updates bringing over 7 years of experience covering education news board exam results and admission updates across India. He's passionate about making exam related information fast accurate and easy to access for students and parents alike.

CDS Result 2026 Out: UPSC CDS 2 Written Result PDF, SSB Interview Process and Next Steps at upsc.gov.in