CDS updates

CDS Salary & Career Path 2026

CDS-selected candidates train at their allotted academy before commissioning as officers, with pay following the defence officer pay matrix.

Facts last verified 4 July 2026

CDS vs NDA entry (illustrative)

CDS: Graduate entry — shorter training, faster commissioning
NDA: Post-12th entry — longer combined academy training

Source

Official links

UPSC official portalNotifications, admit card and result links UPSC exam calendarPublished notification/exam dates for the year

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CDS overviewNotification, exam date & vacancy Apply onlineAdmit cardResultAnswer keyDefence exam prep

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Common questions

CDS Salary FAQ

Is CDS pay different from NDA pay after commissioning?

Once commissioned, officers from both CDS and NDA entry follow the same defence officer pay matrix for their rank — the difference is mainly in entry age and training duration, not final pay scale.