UPSC declared the written result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 on 19 October 2026, and 8,956 candidates have passed the written examination. Still pending: SSB interview dates, individual marks and cut-offs, and the final merit list. I am relying on press reports of the UPSC result PDF, not a copy I opened myself.
What was announced
The exam was held on September 13, 2026, and the result came 36 days later. According to one report citing the UPSC press note, the file is named WR-CDSE-II-2026-Engl-19102026.pdf and carries roll numbers only. No names, no marks.
For comparison, last year’s equivalent written result came out on October 9, 2025, with 9,085 candidates qualifying. This year’s list is a little shorter and arrived ten days later. The vacancy counts differ between cycles, so the headcount alone says little about how competitive the SSB stage will be.
One report puts the advertised vacancies at 451 for this cycle. I haven’t confirmed that against the UPSC notification, so check the academy-wise breakdown in the official notice (Advt. No. 11/2026-CDS-II) before relying on it.
Where to check
Go to upsc.gov.in and open the What’s New section, then the written result notice for CDS (II) 2026. No login is needed. Press Ctrl+F in the PDF and search your roll number.
If you can’t find your number in one list, check the others. Reports describe the result as covering five academy lists, and the same roll number can appear under more than one, depending on the preferences you gave. Being listed under a particular academy does not mean that academy is guaranteed. It means you are eligible to be called for SSB for it.
A mix-up worth avoiding
Search for “CDS 2 result” right now and you will find two different results. One is the written result of the 2026 cycle, declared today. The other is the final result of the previous cycle: CDS II 2025 final result, declared on 30 March 2026, with 302 selected. That second one has no connection to your SSB call-up. Some aggregator pages have also given conflicting dates for that older final result, so I would not use them as a guide for timing this year’s later stages either.
The practical test: your roll number should be in a file stamped 19 October 2026. If the page you opened shows a 2025 course or a March date, you are on the wrong one.
What happens next
The written result is a shortlist. The reported next steps:
- Army first-choice candidates register on the recruiting directorate’s portal. One report says the Army SSB registration at joinindianarmy.nic.in is live. The deadline is in the official press note. In the 2022 cycle it was two weeks from the written result, but past cycles don’t fix this year’s date, so read the notice.
- The Service Headquarters schedule the SSB. As of today, one tracker states the SSB date is not announced.
- After SSB and medical, UPSC publishes the final merit list.
Missing the registration step is the most common avoidable loss at this stage. Candidates assume that a result entry means an automatic call letter. For Army first-choice candidates it doesn’t, as the portal registration is what puts you into the SSB allotment pool. Do it today, not on the last evening, when the portal tends to slow.
SSB marks are reportedly 300 for IMA, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, and 200 for OTA. That is a third-party summary, but it matches the usual scheme. The point is that the SSB carries heavy weight in the final order, so a modest written rank is not a closed door and a high one is not a guarantee.
Marks and cut-off
Not released. Past-cycle reporting says marks appear within 15 days of the final result of the OTA course, after SSB, and one tracker repeats that for this cycle. That means no one, including you, can see your written score right now, and any page showing a “CDS 2 cut-off 2026” is estimating. Treat such numbers as unofficial. The written result only tells you that you cleared UPSC’s qualifying line, not where you stand against it.
How to use the weeks before SSB
Be careful with the idea that you should now “stop studying and just do SSB prep”. The written exam is behind you, and SSB tests personality, group behaviour and officer-like qualities, which don’t improve from cramming. What does help:
- Mock group tasks with other candidates, not solo practice.
- Reading the notice for what documents you must bring, and arranging originals early. Reports from earlier cycles say you need a valid photo ID, age certificate and academic certificates.
- Medical fitness. Start checking known problem areas such as vision, flat feet or dental issues now, because medical rejection after a good SSB is the harder outcome.
UPSC CDS 2 Result 2026 – Important Links
| Link | Access |
|---|---|
| Download Written Result PDF | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
FAQs
My roll number is in the PDF but I haven’t received any email. Should I worry?
No. The result PDF is the notification. Candidate-specific SSB communication comes later from the relevant Service Headquarters, and for the Army it depends on your registration.
I’m not in the list. Is there a re-evaluation?
I did not find an official re-evaluation provision for this result. Check the instructions in the UPSC notice, and contact UPSC’s facilitation counter through the details printed there.
Can I still be selected for a different academy than the list I appear under?
The final allocation depends on the merit list, vacancies and your preferences. A listing is not an allotment.
Is the written exam score carried forward to SSB?
Reports describe final selection as written plus SSB performance. I haven’t verified the exact weighting for CDS II 2026 in the notification.