Combined Defence Services Eligibility Criteria

The UPSC released the CDS 1 2025 notification on the official website on December 11, 2024. The CDS eligibility 2025 was also released along with the notification. UPSC released the CDS 1 and 2, 2025 important dates. The CDS 1 2025 notification was released on December 11, 2024. The last date to apply for CDS 1 2025 is December 31, 2024 (6 PM). The CDS 1 2025 exam will be conducted on April 13, 2025 as per the exam schedule provided by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). However, the CDS 2 2025 notification will be announced on May 28, 2025. The last date to apply for CDS 2 2025 is June 17, 2025. The CDS 2 2025 exam will be conducted on September 14, 2025. To apply for the CDS exam, candidates need to fulfil CDS 2025 eligibility which comprises nationality, educational qualification, age, marital status, and physical conditions. According to the CDS eligibility, only unmarried candidates between the ages of 19 to 25 years are eligible to write the CDS 2025 exam.

CDS's full form is Combined Defence Services. The CDS exam is conducted twice a year to recruit candidates for the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), and Indian Air Force Academy (AFA). The selection process for the CDS exam comprises a written exam which is followed by an SSB interview. 

Candidates must go through the CDS 2025 syllabus and the exam pattern to get a complete idea of the exam. The syllabus will help the candidate to make an exam strategy to secure good marks in the CDS exam.

CDS 1 2025 Eligibility

To choose applicants to become Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, UPSC administers the CDS exam twice a year. Applications for the CDS vacancy 2025 are open to both men and women. Candidates must meet the following requirements in order to be qualified to take the exam:

• Candidates must reside in India permanently.
• Applicants must have completed their education or be in their last year of study.
• The exam has a minimum age requirement of 19 years old.
• Candidates that are women can apply for OTA.
• Women who are divorced or without children are eligible to take the test.
• IMA, INA, and AFA are open to BTech graduates.
• Candidates must fulfill the physical requirements.

Discussed below are the four eligibility conditions for CDS exam:

• CDS age limit, gender and marital status
• CDS educational qualification
• CDS Nationality
• CDS physical standards

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025: Nationality

To be eligible for the CDS Exam 2025, candidates must fulfil the given criteria:

(i) An individual of Indian descent who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam) with the goal of settling permanently in India; (ii) a subject of Bhutan; (iii) a subject of Nepal; or (iv) a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India prior to January 1, 1962.

Candidates who fall within (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) should be those whose names the Indian government has issued a certificate of eligibility for.

In Nepal, Gorkha candidates must additionally have a certificate of eligibility.

CDS Qualification 2025

The educational qualification prescribed by UPSC for admission to various defence academies is given below.

Important Points:

• Graduates with the first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are required to submit provisional certificates of graduation on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at SSB centres
• Those who are in their final year of graduation can also apply

Can 12th Pass Apply for CDS?

No, to be eligible for CDS 2025 exam candidates must have cleared graduation from a recognised university. Go through the educational qualification criteria given below before applying for the CDS 1 2025 exam:

• For IMA and OTA, candidates must have a degree from a recognised University or equivalent
• For INA, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
• For AFA, candidates must have a degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering
• Aspirants who are in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally

Which Graduation is required for CDS?

The candidates must go through the points given below to know about the streams and subjects required to apply for the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA:

• Candidates for AFB must have earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree or a Class 12 diploma in mathematics and physics.
• Candidates for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA) must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• Candidates for the Indian Naval Academy (INA) must have earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from an accredited university.

CDS Age Limit 2024 & Marital Status

Only unmarried candidates are eligible for the CDS exam. The age limit is given below for candidates who wish to apply for the exam:

CDS 1 Age Limit 2025

The age limit for the CDS 1 exam is given below:

• For Indian Military Academy (IMA), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• For the Indian Naval Academy (IMA), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• Candidates applying for the Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years, as on January 1, 2025. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2005
• For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2000 and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates should be unmarried and born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2006

The age limit criteria for the CDS 1 exam have been given below for the candidates. The candidates must go through the table to know the age limit and other criteria to apply for the CDS 1 exam:

CDS 2 2025 Age Limit 

• IMA: Candidates for IMA should be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2002, and not later than January 1, 2007.
• INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2002, and not later than January 1, 2007, can apply for INA.
• AFA: To apply for AFA, the age of candidates should be between 20 and 24 years. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2002, and not later than January 1, 2006. The upper age limit of candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 yrs (i,e born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2006).
• OTA (SSC Course for men): To apply for the OTA course (SSC Men), candidates must be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than Jnauary 1, 2007.
• OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees who have not remarried are eligible to apply. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2007.

CDS Age Limit for Females

Women candidates are now eligible to apply for the CDS OTA exam. The CDS age limit for Females should be 19 to 25 years.

CDS Age Limit for OBC

OBC candidates can also apply for the CDS 2 2025 exam. As we know, there is no caste-based reservation in the CDS exam. So, the CDS Age Limit for OBC is also the same as per the other castes, i.e., 19 to 25 years. 

CDS Eligibility 2025: Physical Standards For Male & Female Candidates

Candidates applying for CDS recruitment should be physically fit, as per the physical standard guidelines. Several candidates get rejected on medical grounds. Candidates are advised to get themselves medically examined before submitting their applications. Check below the physical standards for the CDS exam:

CDS Height & Weight Parameters for Males

The minimum acceptable height for male candidates is 157.5 cm (157 cm for Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force). For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to North-Eastern regions, Garhwali and Kumaon, the minimum height will be 5 cm less. In the case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm.

CDS Height & Weight Parameters for Females

For women candidates, the minimum height is 152 cm. The height and weight parameters for females are given below.

Weight Parameters

Visual Parameters

Vision Standards for Naval Candidates

Other Visual Standards

General Guidelines Related to CDS Medical Standards

Candidates can check below some general guidelines related to CDS medical standards for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA:

• Candidates should be free from any medical conditions
• There should be no proof of weak constitution, imperfect development of any system, any congenital deformities/ diseases/syndrome, or malformation
• There should be no swellings including tumours/cysts/swollen lymph node/s anywhere on the body 
• Candidates must not have sinus/fistula anywhere on the body 
• There should be no hyper or hypopigmentation or any other disease/syndrome/disability of the skin
• No hernia anywhere on the body
• No scars which can impair functioning and cause significant disfigurement.
• No arterio-venous malformation anywhere in/on the body
• No malformation of the head and face including asymmetry, deformity from fracture or depression of the bones of the skull; or scars indicating old operative interference and malformation like sinuses and fistulae, etc. 
• No impairment of vision including colour perception and field of vision
• No hearing impairment, deformities/disabilities in-ears vestibule-cochlear system
• There should not be an impediment of speed due to aetiology
• No disease/disability/ congenital anomaly/syndrome of the bones or cartilages of the nose, palate, nasal polyps, or disease of the nasopharynx, uvula, and accessory sinuses. There should be no nasal deformity and no features of chronic tonsillitis
• No disease /syndrome/disability of the throat, palate tonsils or gums, or any disease or injury affecting the normal function of the either mandibular joint
• No disease /syndrome/disability of the heart and blood vessels including congenital, genetic, organic incl hypertension, and conduction disorders
• No evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis or previous history of this disease or any other disease /syndrome/disability chronic disease of the lungs and chest including allergies /immunological conditions, connective tissue disorders, musculoskeletal deformities of the chest
• No disease of the digestive system including any abnormality of the liver, or pancreas including endocrine, congenital, hereditary, or genetic diseases /syndromes and disabilities
• No diseases/syndrome/disability of any endocrine system, reticuloendothelial system
• No diseases/syndrome/disability of the genito-urinary system including malformations, atrophy/hypertrophy of any organ or gland
• No active, latent or congenital venereal disease
• No history or evidence of mental disease, epilepsy, incontinence of urine, or enuresis
• No disease/deformity/syndrome of the musculoskeletal system and joints, skull, spine, and limbs
• There is no congenital or hereditary disease/ syndrome/disability

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025: Disqualification or Debarment 

The candidates appearing for the upcoming CDS 1 exam on April 13, 2025, must follow the instructions given by the UPSC CDS to take the exam or they will be disqualified or debarred for the exam. The actions that can lead the candidate to disqualification or debarment have been given below:

• The candidates must submit the correct details of their academics and identity as UPSC examines every aspect minutely. In case, any candidate is found presenting the wrong or illegal documents they can be led to debarment. 
• If a candidate is found to be guilty of any misconduct then they will be disqualified and legal action may be taken against him/her
• If a candidate is unable to meet the requirements of the CDS then he/she will be disqualified at any stage of the CDS exam

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025: Important Points

Some of the important points related to CDS eligibility criteria are given: 

• UPSC has the right to reject the candidature of the applicant at any stage of recruitment if he/she is not fulfilling the eligibility criteria
• Mere issue of the admission certificate does not imply that the candidature has been accepted by the examination authority
• Document verification is conducted at the end of the recruitment process where the original documents are verified, if anyone does not meet the eligibility criteria will be rejected

CDS Eligibility 2025 FAQs