Updated: August 2026 — UPSC Annual Calendar 2027 released; CDS 1 2027 notification and exam dates confirmed. Vacancies, fee and age bands shown as expected until the official notification PDF is out.
The CDS 1 2027 notification will be published by UPSC on 2 December 2026, with the online application open until 22 December 2026 and the written exam on 11 April 2027 (per the official UPSC Calendar 2027). The exam fills officer vacancies in the IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. Reviewed by the NCA Academy faculty team, coaching defence aspirants since 1967.
| Event / Detail | CDS 1 2027 | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification date | 2 December 2026 | Confirmed (UPSC Calendar) |
| Application window | 2 Dec 2026 – 22 Dec 2026 | Confirmed |
| Written exam date | 11 April 2027 | Confirmed |
| Expected vacancies (total) | ~450 (IMA ~100, INA ~32, AFA ~32, OTA ~285) | Expected (per CDS 1 2026) |
| Age (IMA / INA / AFA) | 19–24 / 19–24 / 20–24 yrs | Expected |
| Age (OTA – men & women) | 19–25 yrs | Expected |
| Application fee | ₹200 (women, SC, ST exempt) | Expected |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in | — |
This page tracks every stage of the UPSC CDS 1 2027 cycle. Confirm your level with a free CDS mock test, and see how NCA runs CDS coaching in India and online CDS coaching. Track polity and defence news with our defence current affairs for CDS.
When is the CDS 1 2027 exam?
The CDS 1 2027 exam date is 11 April 2027 (a Sunday), confirmed in the UPSC Annual Calendar 2027. The notification opens the application on 2 December 2026 and closes on 22 December 2026. Admit cards, results and the SSB follow in the sequence below.
| Stage | Expected / Confirmed Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 2 December 2026 (Confirmed) |
| Application starts | 2 December 2026 (Confirmed) |
| Application closes | 22 December 2026 (Confirmed) |
| Correction window | Late December 2026 (Expected) |
| Admit card | Last week of March 2027 (Expected) |
| Written exam | 11 April 2027 (Confirmed) |
| Result (written) | May–June 2027 (Expected) |
| SSB Interview | June–September 2027 (Expected) |
| Final merit list | Late 2027 (Expected) |
Who is eligible for CDS 1 2027?
To be eligible for CDS 1 2027, you must be an unmarried Indian graduate within the academy-specific age band: IMA and INA 19–24 years, AFA 20–24 years, and OTA 19–25 years (men and women). Age bands and exact date-of-birth windows are expected until the official notification; the table below follows the CDS 1 2026 pattern.
| Academy | Age (expected) | Education | Marital status | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA (Army) | 19–24 yrs | Graduate (any degree) | Unmarried | Male |
| INA (Navy) | 19–24 yrs | Engineering degree (B.E./B.Tech) | Unmarried | Male |
| AFA (Air Force) | 20–24 yrs (CPL: up to 26) | Graduate + Physics & Maths at 10+2, or Engineering | Unmarried | Male |
| OTA – SSC (Men) | 19–25 yrs | Graduate (any degree) | Married/Unmarried | Male |
| OTA – SSC (Women) | 19–25 yrs | Graduate (any degree) | As per rules | Female |
See the full breakdown on our CDS eligibility page. Final-year students can apply if they submit proof of graduation by the UPSC deadline.
Eligible for CDS 1 2027? Find out where you actually stand with a full-length paper.
Take the free CDS mock test →How to apply for CDS 1 2027
Apply for CDS 1 2027 online at upsconline.nic.in between 2 December and 22 December 2026. Complete the One Time Registration (OTR), fill the form, upload documents, pay ₹200 (women, SC and ST are exempt), and submit. Follow the steps below to avoid rejection.
- One Time Registration (OTR): Create your UPSC OTR profile on upsconline.nic.in (reused for all UPSC exams).
- Fill the CDS 1 2027 form: Enter personal, educational and communication details, and choose academy preferences (IMA/INA/AFA/OTA).
- Upload documents: Photograph (recent, as per pixel/size specs), signature, and photo ID in the specified format.
- Pay the fee: ₹200 via net banking, card or UPI. Women, SC and ST candidates are exempt.
- Choose exam centre & submit: Centres are first-apply-first-allot, so apply early; download the confirmation page.
Common rejection reasons: mismatched name/DOB versus certificates, wrong photo/signature specs, blurred uploads, unpaid fee, and applying for an academy whose subject/gender criteria you do not meet.
CDS 1 2027 exam pattern & syllabus
The CDS 1 2027 written exam has three papers for IMA/INA/AFA — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks each) — and two papers for OTA (English and GK, 200 total). Each paper is 2 hours with 1/3 negative marking.
| Paper | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 marks | — | 2 hours |
| Total (written) | 300 marks | 200 marks | |
| SSB Interview | 300 marks | 200 marks | 5 days |
Syllabus in brief: English (comprehension, error spotting, vocabulary, sentence arrangement); GK (current affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economics, General Science, defence awareness); Elementary Mathematics (Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics — matriculation level). See the complete CDS syllabus for the topic-wise list.
Vacancies & last year’s cutoff (reference)
CDS 1 2027 vacancies are expected around 450, similar to CDS 1 2026 (457 posts). The table below shows CDS 1 2026 actuals as a reference; CDS 1 2027 numbers will be confirmed in the official notification.
| Academy (CDS 1 2026 reference) | Vacancies | Indicative written cut off |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, Dehradun | ≈100 | ≈120–130 /300 |
| INA, Ezhimala | ≈32 | ≈115–125 /300 |
| AFA, Hyderabad | ≈32 | ≈130–140 /300 |
| OTA (SSC Men) | ≈275 | ≈95–105 /200 |
| OTA (SSC Women) | ≈17 | ≈95–105 /200 |
Cut-offs are indicative written qualifying marks for reference only; UPSC publishes official figures after the final result.
How toppers structure 6 months of CDS prep
With the CDS 1 2027 exam on 11 April 2027, a six-month plan from October 2026 is ideal: build the syllabus first, shift to daily sectional tests and current affairs, then peak with full mocks. Below is the week-by-week structure NCA faculty use in the classroom and live-online batches.
| Phase | Weeks | Focus | NCA resource used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 1–8 | Cover English, GK & Elementary Maths from scratch | Classroom (Mohali) / live-online lectures |
| Application | 9–16 | Daily sectionals, weak-area fixing, current affairs | Ghatak current-affairs series + topic tests |
| Peak | 17–24 | Full-length mocks under exam conditions, revision | Free & graded CDS mock tests |
| SSB awareness | Ongoing | Build Officer-Like Qualities early | SSB mentoring by ex-officers |
Keep current affairs going daily with our defence current affairs for CDS, and check the CDS salary & career page to stay motivated. NCA runs both classroom (SCO-71, Sector 91, Mohali) and live-online CDS batches.
Ready to train with a structured CDS 1 2027 plan and ex-officer mentors?
Explore NCA’s CDS program →Frequently Asked Questions — CDS 1 2027
When will the CDS 1 2027 notification be released?
The CDS 1 2027 notification will be released by UPSC on 2 December 2026, as per the official UPSC Annual Calendar 2027, on upsc.gov.in.
What is the CDS 1 2027 exam date?
The CDS 1 2027 written exam is scheduled for 11 April 2027, confirmed in the UPSC Calendar 2027.
Can a final-year student apply for CDS 1 2027?
Yes. Final-year graduates can apply for CDS 1 2027 provided they submit proof of passing their degree by the date specified by UPSC in the notification.
What is the age limit for CDS 1 2027 for IMA?
For the IMA, the expected age limit is 19 to 24 years for unmarried male graduates, based on the CDS 1 2026 pattern; exact date-of-birth limits are confirmed in the official notification.
Is there negative marking in CDS?
Yes. CDS has 1/3 negative marking — one-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each wrong answer in every paper.
How many attempts are allowed for CDS?
There is no limit on the number of CDS attempts. A candidate can appear as many times as they wish, as long as they are within the age limit for the chosen academy.
What is the CDS 1 2027 application fee?
The CDS application fee is ₹200 for general and OBC male candidates. Women, SC and ST candidates are exempt from the fee.
Can women apply for CDS 1 2027?
Yes. Women graduates can apply for the Officers Training Academy (OTA) through CDS 1 2027, leading to a Short Service Commission.
Reviewed by the NCA Academy faculty team, coaching defence aspirants since 1967. Always confirm final dates and criteria on upsc.gov.in.
