Defence - CDS

CDS Eligibility 

The UPSC published the CDS Eligibility criteria along with the CDS Notification on the official website. To be eligible to apply for the CDS Exam, candidates must meet the CDS Eligibility Requirements, which include Nationality, Educational Qualifications, Age, Marital Status, and Physical fitness standards.

According to the CDS Eligibility Criteria, only unmarried individuals aged between 19 and 25 can take the CDS examination. Please note that there is a different Age Limit for each academy that you can check in detail in this article below.

The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined defence Services (CDS) examination twice yearly, in April and September. This examination serves as a platform for recruitment by the Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. Candidates undergo a written test and an interview to get selected for the Indian Armed Forces through CDS.

Candidates who qualify for the CDS Selection Process will be invited to the appropriate Academies based on merit and preference. The UPSC has established specific CDS Eligibility Criteria, and Interested Applicants are advised to read the entire article to understand the Age Limit and other Eligibility Requirements specified by the UPSC for the CDS Exam. Candidates must read this article to know everything important related to CDS Eligibility , including Nationality, Educational Qualification, Age, Marital status, and Physical Standards.

CDS Eligibility Overview

The CDS Exam is one of the most sought-after examinations as it provides an opportunity for candidates aspiring to join any of the three armed forces of India. Meeting all the Eligibility requirements is essential for a candidate to be considered eligible for the CDS exam. However, there are specific CDS Eligibility Criteria for recruitment in each of the three Indian Academies. Please refer to the table below for an overview of the CDS 1 Eligibility 2025.

CDS Eligibility 

The Union Public Service Commission publishes the CDS Eligibility Criteria for the Combined Defence Services Exam (CDS) along with the official Recruitment Notification. It is essential for interested candidates to carefully understand the CDS Eligibility Criteria before filling  out the CDS Application Form, as those who do not meet the specified parameters will be disqualified from the examination. To ensure final selection, candidates must fulfill all the CDS eligibility requirements, including:

• CDS Age limit
• CDS Educational Qualification
• CDS Medical conditions
• CDS Nationality

To assist you in determining your eligibility for the CDS Exam, we have provided a detailed explanation of all the parameters for CDS Eligibility below.

CDS Exam Eligibility

To effectively prepare for the CDS Exam, Candidates must prefer to CDS Syllabus. For CDS Exam, men and women both are eligible to apply with certain required conditions. Before applying for the CDS Exam, candidates should take note of the following crucial aspects.

• Applicants must have a permanent residence in India.
• Candidates must have completed their studies or be in their final year or semester.
• The Minimum Age Requirement for CDS Exam is 19 years.
• Women Candidates are eligible to apply for OTA only.
• Candidates need to be in suitable physical condition.
• Eligibility for OTA is restricted to unmarried females, widows who have not remarried, and divorcees who have not remarried, provided they possess the necessary divorce documents. Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for IMA, INA, and AFA.

CDS Eligibility for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA

Candidates who are applying for the examination must verify that they meet all the CDS Eligibility Requirements for admission. Admission at every stage of the examination will be strictly provisional and depends on meeting the specified eligibility requirements.

The issuance of an Admission Certificate to a candidate does not signify that the Commission has definitively approved their candidature. The verification of eligibility conditions, concerning the original documents, will only be conducted after the candidate has qualified for the interview/Personality Test. Below, we have provided the qualifications necessary for CDS.