The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Final Result for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 [CDS (I) 2026] on 2 November 2026. Based on performance in the written examination held in April 2026 followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews conducted by the Ministry of Defence, a total of 243 candidates (155 + 63 + 25) have been recommended in order of merit.

These candidates have qualified for admission into:

1. 162nd (DE) Course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
2. Executive Branch (General Service/Hydro) at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala
3. No. 221 F(P) Course (Pre-Flying Training Course) at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad

The official merit list PDF is now available for download on the UPSC portal at upsc.gov.in. Below is a complete breakdown of the results, academy-wise seat distribution, merit list toppers, certificate submission rules, and OTA result updates.

1. UPSC CDS 1 Final Result 2026: Fast Facts & Overview

2. Academy-Wise Qualified Candidates vs Notified Vacancies

While 243 candidates have secured positions on the final merit roll, the central government has notified 158 vacancies across the three premier training academies. There are common candidates appearing across multiple academy lists based on their qualifying preferences.

3. UPSC CDS (I) 2026 Toppers: Top 5 Rankers

In an extraordinary achievement, Lohitaksh Mahajan (Roll No. 0500513) has secured All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) across all three branches: Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy.

Top 5 Candidates – Indian Military Academy (IMA)

1. AIR 1: Lohitaksh Mahajan (Roll No: 0500513)
2. AIR 2: Lakshya Verma (Roll No: 1402694)
3. AIR 3: Shubham Parmar (Roll No: 7900100)
4. AIR 4: Sumit Kumar (Roll No: 0805121)
5. AIR 5: Naman Singh (Roll No: 2604187)

Top 5 Candidates – Indian Naval Academy (INA)

1. AIR 1: Lohitaksh Mahajan (Roll No: 0500513)
2. AIR 2: Naman Singh (Roll No: 2604187)
3. AIR 3: Aayush Raghav (Roll No: 5901027)
4. AIR 4: Udit (Roll No: 3500571)
5. AIR 5: Aditya Sharma (Roll No: 6300481)

Top 5 Candidates – Air Force Academy (AFA)

1. AIR 1: Lohitaksh Mahajan (Roll No: 0500513)
2. AIR 2: Aditya Sharma (Roll No: 6300481)
3. AIR 3: Ashwani Pawar (Roll No: 7800330)
4. AIR 4: Aryan (Roll No: 6300349)
5. AIR 5: Sourav Sharma (Roll No: 3401258)

4. Important Guidelines for Recommended Candidates

Qualifying candidates must take immediate note of the following statutory instructions issued by the Commission:

1. Medical Examination Status: The declared merit lists do not account for the outcomes of medical fitness boards. Joining letters will be issued by Service Headquarters only to candidates certified medically fit by competent military medical authorities.
2. Provisional Candidature: The candidature of all 243 candidates remains strictly provisional pending complete verification of their original educational certificates and Date of Birth (Matriculation/Secondary certificate).
3. Submission of Original Documents: Candidates must urgently dispatch their original certificates along with clear, self-attested photostat copies directly to Army Headquarters / Naval Headquarters / Air Headquarters depending on their highest priority preference.
4. Address Updates: Any candidate who has changed residential or correspondence contact details must communicate the revision directly to their chosen Service Headquarters without delay.

5. What About OTA Results and Individual Marks?

• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) Merit List: The results for the Men and Women SSC Non-Technical Courses at OTA Chennai for CDS (I) 2026 will be declared separately upon conclusion of the remaining SSB and administrative formalities.
• Release of Marks Sheets: As per UPSC policy, individual marks sheets of qualified and non-qualified candidates will be uploaded on upsc.gov.in within 15 days after the declaration of the final OTA results.

6. How to Download the UPSC CDS 1 Final Result 2026 PDF

Follow these simple steps to access and download your result:

1. Navigate to the official UPSC portal at upsc.gov.in.
2. On the home page, locate the “What’s New” section.
3. Click on the link titled “Final Result: Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026”.
4. Open the PDF link to display the official Press Note containing the roll numbers and names of qualified candidates.
5. Press Ctrl + F (on desktop) or use the search icon on mobile, type your Roll Number or Full Name, and press enter to check your merit standing.
6. Save or print the PDF for future joining correspondence.

7. UPSC Facilitation Counter & Helpline Numbers

For any clarifications regarding the CDS (I) 2026 final merit lists, candidates can reach out through the official support channels:

• In-Person Facilitation Counter: Located near Gate ‘C’ at the UPSC Campus, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110069 (Operational from 10:00 AM to 05:30 PM on official working days).
• Telephone Helpdesk:
  • 011-24041001
  • 011-40303444
    (Available all 7 days from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM).

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

9. Direct Official Downloads & Important Links