The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 Final Result. Candidates who appeared in the written examination and subsequent Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews can now check the list of qualified candidates through the official result announcement.
According to the official announcement published on 2 November 2026, a total of 243 candidates have qualified for admission to the 162nd (DE) Course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun; the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala; and the Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad, for the Pre-Flying Training Course.
The final result is based on the written examination conducted by UPSC in April 2026 and the SSB interviews conducted by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence.
Candidates can check their roll numbers in the result PDF and download a copy for future reference. The commission has also clarified that medical examination results have not been considered in preparing the merit lists.
UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 |
| Result Type | Final Result |
| Result Status | Declared |
| Result Announcement Date | 2 November 2026 |
| Candidates Qualified | 243 |
| Written Examination | April 2026 |
| Selection Interview | Services Selection Board (SSB) |
| Academies Covered | IMA, INA and AFA |
| Result Format | |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026 – Academies Covered
The final result contains merit lists for candidates qualified for admission to the following defence training courses.
| Academy | Location | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | 162nd (DE) Course |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Ezhimala, Kerala | Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Hyderabad, Telangana | Pre-Flying Training Course – No. 221 F(P) Course |
The official announcement states that there are common candidates across the three lists. Therefore, the number of entries across the lists should not be treated as the number of unique candidates.
UPSC CDS I 2026 – Vacancies
The official result announcement provides the following vacancy figures for the courses covered by the result.
| Academy | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 26 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 32 |
| Total across these courses | 158 |
The IMA vacancies include 13 reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Army Wing) holders. The INA vacancies include six for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Naval Wing) holders and one Hydro vacancy. The AFA vacancies include three reserved through NCC Special Entry for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders.
These figures relate to the academy courses listed in this final-result announcement and should not be confused with the total vacancies notified for the broader CDS recruitment cycle.
How to Check UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to check their qualifying status:
- Visit the official UPSC website at https://upsc.gov.in/.
- Open the Examinations or Results section.
- Find the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 Final Result notice.
- Open the result PDF.
- Search for your roll number using the PDF search function.
- Check the roll number carefully against the published list.
- Download the PDF or save a copy for future reference.
Candidates can also use the official Press Information Bureau announcement linked below to access the result release.
Important Instructions for Qualified Candidates
Candidates whose roll numbers appear in the final result should note the following instructions:
- The results of medical examinations have not been taken into account while preparing the published merit lists.
- Verification of candidates’ dates of birth and educational qualifications is still under process by the respective service headquarters.
- The candidature of selected candidates remains provisional regarding the verification of these details.
- Candidates must forward the required original certificates, along with attested photocopies, to the relevant Army, Naval or Air Headquarters according to their first choice, as instructed by UPSC.
- Candidates should promptly inform the relevant headquarters if their postal address changes.
- Marks of candidates will be made available on the UPSC website after declaration of the final result for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) course under CDS Examination (I), 2026.
Candidates should read the official result announcement carefully and follow the instructions issued by the commission and the respective service headquarters.
UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026 – Helpdesk Details
Candidates seeking clarification regarding the examination can contact UPSC through the following channels.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| UPSC Facilitation Counter | UPSC campus |
| In-person Assistance | Working days, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Candidate Helpdesk | 011-24041001 |
| Alternative Helpdesk Number | 011-40303444 |
| Telephone Assistance | 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, all days |
For the latest updates, candidates should rely on the official UPSC website and the result announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Has UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026 been declared?
Yes. UPSC declared the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 Final Result on 2 November 2026.
Q2. How many candidates qualified in the UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026?
A total of 243 candidates qualified across the IMA, INA and AFA merit lists.
Q3. Where can I check the CDS I Final Result 2026?
Candidates can access the official result announcement through the UPSC website or the Press Information Bureau release linked in this article.
Q4. Which academies are covered by this result?
The result covers admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy courses specified in the official announcement.
Q5. Has the medical examination result been considered in preparing the final merit lists?
No. The official announcement states that medical examination results have not been taken into account while preparing these lists.
Q6. Are the selected candidates’ documents fully verified?
No. UPSC has stated that verification of dates of birth and educational qualifications is still in process, and candidature remains provisional regarding these details.
Q7. When will UPSC publish candidates’ marks?
The commission has stated that marks will be available after the final result of the Officers’ Training Academy course for CDS Examination (I), 2026 is declared.
Q8. How can candidates contact UPSC for clarification?
Candidates can contact the UPSC Candidate Helpdesk at 011-24041001 or 011-40303444, or visit the Facilitation Counter during the specified working hours.
Important Links
| Particulars | Links |
|---|---|
| UPSC CDS I Final Result 2026 – Official Release | Check Result |
| UPSC Results Portal | View Results |
| UPSC Official Website | Visit Website |
| Latest Admission Updates | View Updates |
| Latest Exam Results | Check Results |
| Admit Cards and Hall Tickets | View Admit Cards |
| Latest Recruitment and Jobs | View Jobs |
| Exam Notifications and Answer Keys | View Exam Updates |
| Telegram Channel | Join Telegram |