UPSC CDS-I Final Result 2026 Released – Download IMA, INA & AFA Merit List PDF Result 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially declared the UPSC CDS-I Final Result 2026 for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 (Advt. No. 04/2026) on 2 November 2026. The Merit List covers admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA), recommending a total of 243 candidates on the basis of the written examination held on 12 April 2026 and the SSB interviews. The final result for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) has not been announced yet. Candidates can check their roll number or name directly in the official Merit List PDF on upsc.gov.in.

UPSC CDS-I Final Result 2026 – Overview Table

Direct Merit List Download Links

Grab your result now – click the links below:

• 👉 Download Final Result PDF (IMA, INA & AFA)
• 👉 Check Official Notice on UPSC What's New
• 👉 Visit UPSC Official Website

UPSC CDS-I 2026 Final Result – What the Official Notice Says

UPSC has released the final merit lists for the three academies — IMA, INA and AFA — that are filled through the CDS examination and the SSB conducted for them. The lists are prepared on the basis of marks in the written examination and the Services Selection Board interview.

Importantly, this result is not the final result for the entire CDS-I 2026 recruitment. The 451 vacancies mentioned in the notification include seats for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA), whose final result will be declared separately. The 243 recommended candidates therefore cannot be compared directly with the total vacancy count.

The earlier written result, declared on 8 May 2026, had shortlisted 8,826 candidates for the SSB interview across all academies. The final result is the next and last merit stage for the IMA, INA and AFA lists.

CDS-I 2026 Final Result – Academy-Wise Recommended Candidates

The table below shows how many candidates qualified in the written examination for each academy and how many have been recommended in the final result.

UPSC CDS-I 2026 Final Merit List Topper

Lohitaksh Mahajan secured the first rank in the merit lists of all three academies — IMA, INA and AFA. The complete rank-wise list is available only in the official PDF.

How to Check UPSC CDS-I Final Result 2026 Online?

1. Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in.
2. Open the "What's New" section on the homepage.
3. Find the notice for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 Final Result.
4. Click the result link to open the PDF merit list.
5. Choose the academy list you applied for: IMA, INA or AFA.
6. Press Ctrl + F and search your roll number or name in the list.
7. Download the PDF and save a copy for future reference.

UPSC CDS-I 2026 Cut Off Marks

The cut off marks and marks sheets for the CDS-I 2026 written examination will be released by UPSC after the OTA final result is declared. As of 2 November 2026, the cut off marks are not yet available. Candidates are advised to check the official UPSC website regularly for updates. No category-wise or subject-wise cut off table is available at this time.

Selection / Merit List Details – How Was the Merit List Prepared?

The UPSC CDS-I 2026 final merit list has been prepared on the following basis:

• Written Examination Marks: Candidates who appeared for the CDS-I written exam on 12 April 2026 were evaluated on their aggregate marks across all applicable subjects.
• SSB Interview Marks: Shortlisted candidates (8,826 total) attended the Services Selection Board interview, and their performance contributed to the final ranking.
• Combined Merit Ranking: The final score is a combination of written and SSB interview marks. Candidates ranked in order of their combined scores have been placed on the academy-wise merit lists.
• Academy-Wise Lists: Separate merit lists have been issued for IMA, INA, and AFA. A candidate may appear in multiple lists but will be considered for admission only as per UPSC's medical and document verification norms.

Only 243 candidates have been recommended across IMA, INA and AFA in this final result.

What Happens After the CDS-I 2026 Final Result? (Next Steps)

The recommended candidates will be considered for admission to:

• IMA 162nd (DE) Course – Dehradun
• INA Executive Branch General Service / Hydro Course – Ezhimala
• AFA 221 F(P) Pre-Flying Training Course – Hyderabad

The earlier written-result notice listed these courses as commencing in January 2027.

Important: The current notice does not announce a joining date, reporting instructions or document-verification schedule. Recommended candidates should:

• Follow instructions sent by the concerned service headquarters or academy.
• Check the official PDF for any condition attached to the recommendation.
• Prepare all original documents (educational certificates, ID proof, medical certificate) for document verification at the academy.
• Complete the medical examination requirements specified by the respective academy.

UPSC CDS-I 2026 – Important Dates

UPSC CDS-I 2026 – Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – UPSC CDS-I Final Result 2026