The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has extended the registration deadline for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2 and the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA) Examination 2, 2026.Candidates who have not yet applied can now submit their applications till 6 pm on June 11 through the official UPSC website, commission said in an official notice. The application process had started on May 20 and was earlier scheduled to close on June 9.The extension gives aspirants additional time to complete their registration and avoid missing the opportunity to appear for the recruitment examinations. Both exams are scheduled to be held on September 13, 2026, in offline pen-and-paper mode.According to UPSC, a total of 845 vacancies will be filled through the two examinations. Of these, 394 posts are available through NDA 2, while 451 vacancies will be filled through CDS 2 recruitment. The examinations will be conducted across multiple centres in the country. Before applying, candidates should carefully check the eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification. For CDS 2, applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, while some courses related to the Navy and Air Force require technical or engineering qualifications. For NDA 2, candidates who have passed or are appearing for Class 12 examinations can apply, subject to UPSC conditions.The CDS selection process consists of a written examination followed by an interview. The written test includes papers on English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, with each paper carrying 100 marks.For NDA, candidates will appear for a Mathematics paper carrying 300 marks and a General Ability Test carrying 600 marks. Those who qualify the written examination will be called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which carries 900 marks.Negative marking will apply to objective-type questions in both CDS and NDA examinations.
CDS 2, NDA 2: How to apply
- Visit the official UPSC website.
- Register through the One Time Registration (OTR) system if required.
- Log in and choose the CDS 2 or NDA 2 application link.
- Fill in personal, educational and communication details.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the application fee, if applicable.
- Select the preferred examination centre.
- Review the details and submit the form.
- Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
