UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to conduct the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, offering recruitment opportunities in the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. Here’s a clear breakdown of the eligibility criteria for aspiring candidates:

1. Nationality:

The candidate must be unmarried and falls into one of the following categories: (i) A citizen of India (ii) A subject of Nepal (iii) A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
- Candidates from categories (ii) and (iii) need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, except for Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
- Those requiring a certificate of eligibility can be provisionally admitted to the exam, subject to obtaining the necessary certificate before UPSC result declaration.

2. Age Limit:

For IMA and Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2006, are eligible.
For Air Force Academy: Candidates must be between 20 to 24 years as of January 1, 2025, born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2005. (Upper age limit relaxed to 26 years for candidates with a valid Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA.)
- Note: Candidates below 25 years must be unmarried, and marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 can apply but won’t be provided married accommodation during training.
For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for Men): Unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2000, and January 1, 2006, are eligible.
For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): Unmarried women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees (with divorce documents) born between January 2, 2000, and January 1, 2006, are eligible.
- Note: Male divorcee/widower candidates are not considered unmarried males for admission purposes and are not eligible for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses.

3. Educational Qualification:

For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy: Degree from a recognized University or equivalent.
For Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution.
For Air Force Academy: Degree from a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
- Note: Candidates in their final year of the degree course can also apply, provided they pass the final year examination before the commencement of the CDS Exam.

Physical Standards: