Combined Defence Services Exam (CDSE)
Uttarakhand Defence Academy
Combined Defence Services (CDS)
CDS 2026 Age Limit, Educational Qualification & Exam Pattern
- Indian Military Academy / Indian Naval Academy / Officers’ Training Academy: Male candidates should be unmarried.
- Air Force Academy: Candidates’ age should be between 20 to 24 years, as prescribed by UPSC for CDS 2026.
- Indian Military Academy (IMA) / Officers’ Training Academy: The required educational qualification is Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Indian Naval Academy (INA) – Candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognized university.
- Air Force Academy – Candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognized university and must have studied Physics and Mathematics in 12th standard.
- CDS Exam Pattern 2026: The CDS examination has two phases – the CDS Written Examination and the SSB Interview.
| CDS Exam Pattern (IMA / INA / AFA & OTA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Test Type | IMA, INA & AFA | OTA |
| Written Test | English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics | English and General Knowledge |
| Written Test Marks | 300 | 200 |
| Interview Test | SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT) Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference | |
| Interview Test Marks | 300 | 200 |
Overview
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026
| CDS Eligibility Highlights – 2026 Notification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Notification (2026) | CDS I 2026 notification released on 10 December 2025 | |
| Exam Date | CDS I 2026 written exam on 12 April 2026 | |
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| Number of Attempts | Unlimited attempts until age limit is reached | |
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| Experience | Not Required | |
| Application Fee |
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| Important Points |
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CDS II Eligibility 2026
Before applying for CDS recruitment, candidates must carefully check the detailed CDS II eligibility criteria. The UPSC conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination twice every year to recruit candidates as Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for CDS, subject to the prescribed conditions. To appear for the examination, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Candidates must be permanently settled in India.
- Candidates must have completed graduation or be in the final year of their degree course.
- The minimum age limit is 19 years.
- Candidates must generally fall within the 20 to 24 years age bracket, with age limits varying according to the academy.
- The maximum age limit varies by academy: IMA & INA – up to 24 years; AFA – up to 25 years (26 years for CPL holders); OTA – up to 25 years.
- Female candidates are eligible only for OTA (Short Service Commission).
CDS Eligibility for Female Candidates
Female candidates must fulfil all eligibility conditions prescribed for the CDS examination. If any discrepancy is found at any stage, the candidature is liable to be cancelled. Female candidates are eligible only for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
| CDS Eligibility Criteria for Women | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Candidates must fall within the prescribed age range for OTA (generally 19–25 years, with specific date-of-birth limits as notified) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
| Nationality | Citizen of India / subject of Nepal or Bhutan / Tibetan refugee (before 1 January 1962) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried women, widows not remarried, and divorcees not remarried (with valid documentary proof) |
| Physical Standards | Minimum acceptable height for female candidates: 152 cm |
CDS Eligibility - Nationality/Citizenship
In order to fit the CDS exam eligibility a candidate who can give the CDS exam must be either be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 to settle permanently, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, or East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanent settlement in India.
CDS Age Limit, Gender & Marital Status
The age limit and marital status criteria differ for male and female candidates.
- Female candidates can apply only for OTA (Non-Technical).
- Male candidates can apply for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA, subject to eligibility.
- Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of training (specific relaxations apply only for OTA women candidates).
| Academy | Age Criteria |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Candidates within the notified date-of-birth range (generally 19–24 years) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Same as Indian Military Academy (IMA) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20–24 years (Candidates holding valid CPL are eligible up to 26 years) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Men) | 19–25 years |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Women) | 19–25 years |
CDS Eligibility – Educational Qualification
Educational qualification is a crucial component of the CDS eligibility criteria and varies according to the academy. Candidates applying for the CDS 2026 examination must have completed their graduation or be appearing in the final year of their degree programme at the time of application. It is important to note that only those candidates who fulfil all the prescribed eligibility conditions are issued the CDS admit card.
The required educational qualifications for different academies are provided below to help candidates understand the force-wise CDS educational requirements
| Armed Force | Educational Requirement |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Graduation from a recognised university |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Engineering degree from a recognised university or institution |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR B.E./B.Tech |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) | Graduation from a recognised university |
CDS Medical Eligibility
Candidates applying for the CDS examination must be physically and mentally fit as per the medical standards laid down by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). Medical fitness is a crucial stage of the selection process, and candidates declared medically unfit at any stage are not permitted to join the academy, even after clearing the written examination and SSB interview.
The medical examination is conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Board (AFMB) after the SSB interview. Candidates are strongly advised to undergo a pre-medical check-up before applying to avoid rejection at the final stage.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Physical Standards | Minimum height standards apply (minimum 152 cm for women; higher standards apply for specific entries and regions) |
| Medical Fitness | Candidates must meet the comprehensive medical standards prescribed by AFMS |
| Vision Standards | Vision requirements vary according to the academy and branch; correctable vision limits apply |
| Hearing Standards | Normal hearing ability without the use of hearing aids |
| Body Proportions | Weight must be proportionate to height and age as per medical standards |
| Medical Examination | Conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Board (AFMB) |
| Mental Health | Candidates must be free from any psychological or mental disorders |
Common Medical Grounds for Rejection:
Candidates are commonly declared medically unfit due to the following conditions:
- Overweight or underweight beyond permissible limits
- Under-sized chest
- Piles
- Excessive ear wax
- Deviated nasal septum (DNS)
- Chronic tonsillitis
- Gynaecomastia
- Varicocele
- Hydrocele / Phimosis
- Flat feet or knock knees
- Poor dental health or severe malocclusion
- Colour blindness or poor visual acuity