New Delhi, 03 November 2025 – The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the final results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025. Exactly 365 candidates have made it to the merit list after successfully clearing both the written examination and the gruelling Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews – a feat that places them one medical examination away from donning the coveted uniforms of the Indian Armed Forces.

These 365 names are now provisionally recommended for the following prestigious courses commencing in 2026:

• 160th (DE) Course – Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala
• Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad (Pre-Flying Training)

Important: Medical examination results have not been factored into this list. Final induction remains subject to medical fitness and document verification.

From 4,138 Written Qualifiers to 365 SSB Champions

The journey began on 13 April 2025 when lakhs wrote the objective-type papers. UPSC shortlisted:

• 2,560 for IMA
• 942 for INA
• 636 for AFA

Only the crème de la crème survived the five-day SSB crucible of psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews conducted by the Army Headquarters.

Academy-Wise Toppers Who Stole the Show

UPSC released separate toppers’ lists for each academy. Two names dominate multiple lists – proof of extraordinary all-round brilliance.

Indian Military Academy (IMA)

1. Chirag Guar
2. Arya Umesh Dharmatti
3. Satya Prakash Tiwari

Indian Naval Academy (INA)

1. Arya Umesh Dharmatti
2. Rehan Singh Dhaka
3. S Lalith Adityan

Air Force Academy (AFA)

1. Rehan Singh Dhaka
2. Akshat
3. Atul Goyat

Arya Umesh Dharmatti and Rehan Singh Dhaka are the only two candidates to secure top-3 ranks in two academies each.

What Happens Next?

1. Document Verification – Send original certificates (10th, 12th, Degree, NCC ‘C’ if applicable) to the respective HQ within 14 days.
2. Medical Examination – Report to allotted centres; only “Fit” candidates proceed.
3. Training Commences – IMA (Jan 2026), INA & AFA (Feb 2026).
4. Marks Release – Individual scorecards will go live after OTA final results are declared.

How to Download the Official PDFs

1. Visit upsc.gov.in
2. Examinations → Active Examinations → CDS-I 2025
3. Click “Final Result: Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025”
4. Open the three PDFs:

• IMA Merit List
• INA Merit List
• AFA Merit List

1. Press Ctrl + F → type your Roll No.

Direct shortcut (as on 03 Nov 2025):
IMA PDF | INA PDF | AFA PDF (Links live on UPSC homepage under “What’s New”)

A Word to the 365

You have conquered paper and personality. Now conquer the medical board and the parade square. The nation awaits its next generation of leaders.

To every aspirant still in the race for CDS 2 2025 or NDA 2026 – let these 365 roll numbers remind you: consistency + courage = commission.

Jai Hind!

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Disclaimer: This merit list is provisional. Always refer to upsc.gov.in for the latest updates.

  final results, merit, merti, UPSC