UPSC URN and CAF Registration: Complete It Before the NDA and CDS

Every year, aspirants lose time in the last days of the NDA and CDS application window because they start their UPSC registration only after the notification is out. The good news is that most of the process can be finished earlier. This guide explains URN, CAF and the older OTR name in plain terms, lists the documents you need, and shows how to be ready for NDA I and CDS I 2027.

Key dates from the UPSC Calendar 2027: The NDA & NA (I) and CDS (I) 2027 notification is scheduled for 2 December 2026, the last date to apply is 22 December 2026, and the exam is on 11 April 2027. For the second cycle, the notification is on 12 May 2027, the last date is 1 June 2027 and the exam is on 19 September 2027. The Commission can change these dates, so check the notification.

What Are OTR, URN and CAF?

UPSC's application on upsconline.nic.in now has four modules. Three are common to all exams and can be completed before any notification. Only the fourth depends on the exam.

1. Account Creation: You create a login with your email and mobile number.

2. Universal Registration (URN): You enter your personal and educational details, and the system generates your Universal Registration Number (URN). It is common to all UPSC exams and is registered only once.

3. Common Application Form (CAF): This holds your details, photograph, live photograph, signature and ID, which are reused for every exam.

4. Examination-specific form: You fill this for NDA or CDS only while the notification is open. It asks for exam details such as the fee, centre and academy or service preference, and gives you a separate Application Number.

You may still see the first steps called OTR (One Time Registration), which is the older name and what many websites and aspirants still search for. UPSC's current notices use "Universal Registration" and "URN".

Why Complete Registration Before the Notification?

The NDA and CDS window is short. For NDA I and CDS I 2027, it runs from 2 December to 22 December 2026, and the last date in recent cycles has closed at 6:00 PM. If you start from scratch that week, you have to fill in your details, prepare your photo and signature, capture a live photo and then complete the exam form, all under deadline pressure and possible portal congestion.

If Account Creation, URN and CAF are done in advance, you only fill the fourth module when the notice opens. That leaves time to read the notification carefully, choose your centre early and pay the fee without rushing.

Documents and Files You Need

Keep these ready before you begin:

• Photo ID: UPSC recommends Aadhaar for verification. If you don't use Aadhaar, upload another valid photo ID.

• Class 10 certificate: Your name and date of birth must match it exactly.

• Educational details: Class 12 (appearing or passed) for NDA, or graduation (or final year) for CDS.

• Photograph: A clear recent photo that meets UPSC's size and format rules.

• Live photograph: You will capture it on the portal while filling in the CAF, and it must match your uploaded photo.

• Triple signature: Sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper in black ink, and upload the image.

For CDS, the recent specifications I found were a JPG photo of about 20 to 200 KB and a triple signature of about 20 to 100 KB at 350 to 500 pixels, with a photo ID file of 20 to 200 KB if you skip Aadhaar. Sizes can vary, so check the portal's Instructions and FAQs > Photos and Signature page before you upload.

Step-by-Step: How to Register on upsconline.nic.in

1. Create your account. Visit upsconline.nic.in and register with an email address and mobile number you will still use years from now.

2. Complete Universal Registration. Enter your details exactly as on your Class 10 certificate. When it is done, save your URN in at least two places.

3. Fill the CAF. Upload your photograph, capture the live photo, upload the triple signature and your ID and education details.

4. Review everything. Errors in these common forms carry over into every application you file later, so check name, date of birth and category carefully.

5. Wait for the notification. When it opens, log in and fill the exam-specific form for NDA or CDS.

One profile covers both exams. You do not register separately for NDA and CDS.

Filling the Exam-Specific Form

When NDA I or CDS I 2027 opens, log in and select the exam. You will then:

• Confirm the details carried over from your CAF

• Choose your exam centre (centres have been allotted on a first-apply basis in recent cycles, so apply early if you care about the city)

• Select your service or academy preferences (for example, Army, Navy and Air Force wings for NDA)

• Pay the fee online and submit

In the 2026 notices, the fee was Rs. 100 for NDA and Rs. 200 for CDS, with exemptions for women and SC/ST candidates (NDA also exempts sons of JCOs, NCOs and ORs). Check the 2027 notification for the current fee. After submitting, download and keep a copy of the confirmation and your Application Number.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Name or date of birth mismatch: Enter them exactly as on your Class 10 certificate.

• Photo and live photo not matching: Use a recent, clear photo, and capture the live photo in good light.

• Wrong signature format: The signature must be signed three times on white paper in black ink, and the image must be readable.

• Starting during the window: Doing your URN and CAF in the last week leaves no buffer for technical issues.

• Assuming you can fix errors later: The 2026 notices reviewed allowed no withdrawal after submission, so verify every field first.

FAQs

What is the difference between UPSC OTR, URN and CAF?
UPSC's application now has four modules: Account Creation, Universal Registration, the Common Application Form (CAF) and the exam-specific form. Universal Registration generates your URN (Universal Registration Number), which is common to all UPSC exams. OTR (One Time Registration) is the older name for this one-time registration. The CAF holds your details, photograph and signature, and you fill the exam-specific form separately for each exam.

When should I complete URN registration for NDA 1 and CDS 1 2027?
As early as possible, before the notification. The UPSC calendar lists 2 December 2026 as the notification date and 22 December 2026 as the last date for NDA I and CDS I 2027. Account Creation, URN and CAF can be completed before the notification, so only the exam-specific form is left for the application window.

What documents do I need for UPSC registration for NDA and CDS?
Keep your Aadhaar (UPSC recommends it for verification) or another valid photo ID, your Class 10 certificate for name and date of birth, your Class 12 or graduation details as per the exam, a clear photograph, and a signature signed three times on white paper in black ink. Also be ready to capture a live photograph.

Can I correct mistakes after submitting the UPSC application?
The 2026 examination notices I reviewed allowed no withdrawal after submission, so check every field before you submit. Always read the notice for the current exam to see whether any correction window is offered.

What is the application fee for NDA and CDS?
In the 2026 notices, the fee was Rs. 100 for NDA and Rs. 200 for CDS. Women and SC/ST candidates were exempt, and NDA also exempts sons of JCOs, NCOs and ORs. Check the 2027 notification for the fee and exemptions.

What happens if I skip registration and wait for the notification?
You can still register once the notification is out, but you will have to complete every module inside the application window. Doing Account Creation, URN and CAF early leaves you only the exam-specific form to fill and avoids last-minute upload or server problems.