CDS Officer Rank-Wise Salary Structure (2026)
| Rank |
Level |
Pay Scale (Rs.) |
| Lieutenant |
Level 10 |
Rs56,100 – Rs1,77,500 |
| Captain |
Level 10B |
Rs61,300 – Rs1,93,900 |
| Major |
Level 11 |
Rs69,400 – Rs2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Level 12A |
Rs1,21,200 – Rs2,12,400 |
| Colonel |
Level 13 |
Rs1,30,600 – rs2,15,900 |
| Brigadier |
Level 13A |
Rs1,39,600 – Rs2,17,600 |
| Major General |
Level 14 |
Rs1,44,200 – Rs2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General (HAG Scale) |
Level 15 |
Rs1,82,200 – Rs2,24,100 |
| HAG+ Scale |
Level 16 |
Rs2,05,400 – Rs2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Commander/Lieutenant General (NFSG) |
Level 17 |
Rs2,25,000 (Fixed) |
| COAS (Chief of Army Staff) |
Level 18 |
Rs2,50,000 (Fixed) |
These figures highlight the strong career and financial growth opportunities available through the CDS Examination.
CDS 2026 Admit Card
- The CDS 2026 admit card will be issued around 10 days before the examination date on the official UPSC website. Candidates should download their hall tickets early to avoid last-minute issues.
- A printed copy of the admit card is mandatory for entry to the examination centre, along with valid photo ID proof.
UPSC CDS 2026 Cut Off
UPSC releases the CDS cut-off marks separately for:
-
Written Examination
-
Final Merit List (after SSB interview)
To qualify, candidates must secure a minimum of 20 marks in each subject and also achieve the overall cut-off score set by UPSC.
Previous Year CDS Cut Off (2023)
This data helps candidates understand the expected difficulty level:
| Academy |
Written Exam Cut Off (CDS I 2023) |
Final Cut Off (CDS II 2023) |
| IMA |
132 |
257 |
| INA |
122 |
247 |
| AFA |
142 |
266 |
| OTA (Men) |
101 |
181 |
| OTA (Women) |
101 |
184 |
These trends show that the Air Force Academy (AFA) consistently has the highest cut-off due to the tougher competition.
CDS 1 2026 Exam Centres
The CDS 1 2026 written examination will be conducted across numerous centres nationwide. Candidates may select their preferred examination city during the application process.
Although UPSC may add or remove exam locations, the following centres were listed in the previous notification:
List of CDS 2026 Exam Centres
Agartala, Agra, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Aligarh, Almora (Uttarakhand), Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Bareilly, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharwad, Dispur, Faridabad, Gangtok, Gaya, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurgaon, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Panaji (Goa), Patna, Port Blair, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Puducherry, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Thane, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Warangal.
How to Apply for UPSC CDS-I 2026
-
Visit the UPSC official website or use the direct link provided in the important links section.
-
Complete the Online Registration Form with accurate personal and academic details.
-
Upload required documents, including a clear photograph and signature.
-
Pay the application fee through any approved online mode.
-
Submit the form before 30 December 2025.
Important: Candidates must carefully read the official notification before applying, especially regarding age limit, qualification, and documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. When does the UPSC CDS-I 2026 online application begin?
Ans: The registration starts on 10 December 2025.
Q2. What is the last date to submit the CDS-I 2026 application form?
Ans: The last date to apply is 30 December 2025.
Q3. What is the age limit for CDS-I Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Candidates must be between 20 and 24 years, with relaxations as per UPSC rules.
Q4. What qualifications are required for CDS-I 2026?
Ans: Candidates must hold a graduate degree, with specific requirements varying by academy.
Q5. What is the official website of UPSC?
Ans: https://upsc.gov.in/
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