CDS Admit Card 2027: Release Date, Download Link and Instructions
This guide explains the expected CDS Admit Card 2027 release date for both CDS 1 and CDS 2, the steps to download it, the details printed on it, and the exam-day rules you should know.
The CDS Admit Card 2027 for CDS 1 is expected around 2 April 2027, as UPSC releases the e-admit card on the last working day of the week before the exam. The CDS 1 2027 exam is on 11 April 2027. You can download the CDS e-admit card from upsconline.nic.in using your Registration ID or Roll Number and Date of Birth. No admit card is sent by post or email.
CDS Admit Card 2027: Overview
Please note: Defence Study is not affiliated with UPSC. We share updates based on official notices, and candidates should always confirm details on the UPSC website.
CDS Admit Card Release Date
The CDS notification clearly states when the admit card comes out. As per the CDS II 2026 notice, UPSC issues the e-admit card on the last working day of the week before the exam. This makes the CDS admit card release date quite easy to estimate.
The notification, application and exam dates are from the UPSC Annual Calendar 2027. The admit card dates are expected dates based on the rule in the latest notification. For reference, the CDS 1 2026 admit card came out in early April 2026 for the 12 April exam, and the CDS 2 2026 admit card came out in the first week of September 2026 for the 13 September exam.
CDS Admit Card 2027 Download Link
The CDS 1 admit card link will be available only on the official UPSC website, upsconline.nic.in, under the "e-Admit Card" section. A notice about it also appears in the "What's New" section of upsc.gov.in.
We recommend using only the official website. Links shared on social media groups may not always be reliable, and UPSC does not charge any fee to download an admit card. We will add the direct link here as soon as it goes live.
How to Download CDS Admit Card 2027
It takes only a few simple steps:
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Visit upsconline.nic.in.
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Click on the e-Admit Card link for Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2027.
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Read the instructions on the next page and click "Yes" or "Proceed".
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Choose your login option: Registration ID or Roll Number.
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Enter your details, your Date of Birth and the captcha code.
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Click Submit. Your admit card will appear on the screen.
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Download the PDF and take at least two clear printouts.
Try to download CDS admit card copies on the first day of release. The website may slow down closer to the exam, when many candidates log in at the same time.
Forgot your Registration ID? You can log in with your Roll Number instead. Your Registration ID is also mentioned in the email and SMS you received from UPSC after applying, and in your UPSC account on upsconline.nic.in.
Details Printed on the CDS E-Admit Card
Once you download it, please check every detail carefully:
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Candidate's name, photograph and signature
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Roll number
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Exam name and date
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Session timings for each paper
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Exam venue name and full address
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Important instructions for exam day
Match your name and date of birth with your Class 10 certificate. UPSC has also noted that the name on the admit card may sometimes be shortened for technical reasons, which is not a problem.
What If There Is an Error in Your CDS Hall Ticket?
If you notice a wrong detail, a blurred photo or a missing signature on your CDS hall ticket, contact UPSC right away. For the CDS II 2026 exam, UPSC shared the email ID e16section-upsc@gov.in for discrepancies. Please check the admit card instructions for the email ID given for CDS 2027.
If you have not received your CDS 1 admit card 7 days before the exam, contact UPSC immediately. The Facilitation Counter helpline numbers are 011-24041001 and 011-40303444.
If your photo on the admit card is unclear, carry an original photo ID and three recent passport-size photographs (one for each session), along with the undertaking mentioned in the instructions.
Can the exam centre be changed now? No. You must appear only at the venue printed on your admit card. Papers written at any other venue are not evaluated.
CDS Exam Timings 2027
Based on the CDS II 2026 pattern, here are the session timings:
OTA candidates write only English and GK. IMA, INA and AFA candidates write all three papers.
CDS Exam Day Guidelines
These CDS exam day guidelines are taken from the latest notification. Please read them carefully:
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Entry closes 30 minutes before each session. No candidate is allowed in after that.
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Face authentication is mandatory at all UPSC exam venues. Reach early to allow time for it, along with identity checks and frisking.
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Use a black ballpoint pen only to fill the OMR sheet. Pencils and ink pens are not allowed.
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Fill your roll number and test booklet series carefully. Mistakes can lead to the answer sheet being rejected.
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No scribe is allowed. Candidates must write the papers themselves.
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Negative marking applies. One-third of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer.
What to Carry with Your CDS Admit Card 2027
Packing a day early helps you stay calm in the morning. Carry:
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A printed copy of your admit card. A phone copy is not accepted.
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An original photo ID such as Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN card, passport or driving licence. It should be the same ID you gave in your application.
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Black ballpoint pens (keep two or three).
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Passport-size photographs, if your admit card photo is unclear.
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A simple analog watch, if you like.
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A clip board or hard board with nothing written on it.
Items Not Allowed at the Exam Venue
UPSC does not allow these items inside the exam venue, even if switched off:
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Mobile phones, smart or digital watches, and AI-enabled glasses
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Bluetooth devices, pen drives, cameras or other electronic items
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Calculators, log tables and geometry instruments
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Bags, books, notes and loose papers
Since there is no safe-keeping facility at the venue, it's best to leave these at home.
After the Exam: Keep Your Admit Card Safe
Please keep your CDS Admit Card 2027 safe until the final result. You will need your roll number to check the written result, and the admit card is also useful during SSB and document verification. Qualified candidates will also need to register on the relevant service website for SSB dates.
FAQs
When will the CDS Admit Card 2027 be released?
The CDS 1 2027 admit card is expected around 2 April 2027, and the CDS 2 2027 admit card around 10 September 2027. UPSC releases it on the last working day of the week before the exam.
Where can I download the CDS Admit Card 2027?
You can download it from the official UPSC website, upsconline.nic.in.
What details are needed to download the CDS e-admit card?
Your Registration ID or Roll Number, along with your Date of Birth.
Will UPSC send the CDS hall ticket by post?
No. UPSC issues the admit card online only. It is not sent by post or email.
What is the reporting time for the CDS exam?
Entry closes 30 minutes before each session. As per the CDS II 2026 pattern, that was 8:30 AM for English, 12:00 PM for GK and 3:30 PM for Maths.
What should I do if I haven't received my admit card?
If you don't have it 7 days before the exam, contact UPSC at once through the Facilitation Counter on 011-24041001 or 011-40303444.
Can I change my exam centre after the admit card is released?
No. You must appear at the venue printed on your admit card.
