CDS or Combined Defence Services Examination the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) organizes the Examination to recruit commissioned officers in the Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Military Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, etc. Under the eligibility criteria, many requirements are related to age, educational qualifications, nationality, and medical and physical standards.
The UPSC has released the CDS notification twice a year in the months of April and September. The recruitment notification of CDS will be released for vacancies from time to time. Aspirants should note that the number of vacancies in the notification is tentative and may be changed at any stage by the Services.
CDS Highlights
|
Name of the Authority |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|
Name of the Examination |
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) I 2023 |
|
For Admission In |
Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Military Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, etc. |
|
Mode of Registration |
Online |
|
Selection Procedure |
Written Examination and Intelligence & Personality Test |
|
Category |
Admissions |
|
Official Web Portal |
upsconline.nic.in |
Eligibility Criteria for CDS
1. The Union Public Service Commission has set a minimum level of education qualification that a candidate must possess to be eligible for NDA examination.
2. The required age for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is 18 years to 28 years old.
3. The minimum qualification required to appear for the CDS exam is Graduation/Bachelor’s from a Government recognised university. The detailed CDS education qualification required is highlighted below:
|
Age |
Varies from 20 to 25 years for different Forces |
|
Educational Qualification |
Graduation Degree |
|
Nationality |
A Citizen of India, or A subject of Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee, or Nepal, or India origins migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and East African Countries of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, and Ethiopia or Vietnam to settle in India permanently. |
|
Number of Attempts |
Till Age Permits |
|
Marital Status |
Unmarried |
|
Experience |
Not Required |
|
Important Points |
Women Candidates (Unmarried) are eligible only for Short Service Commission at OTA (Officers Training Academy). Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable for up to 26 yrs. (Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during their training period they neither have married accommodation nor will they live with their family outside the premises) |
Educational Qualifications for CDS
|
Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) |
Bachelor’s Degree From a recognised university |
|
Indian Naval Academy (INA) |
Bachelors in Engineering from a recognised University |
|
Air Force Academy (AFA) |
Graduation (with Physics and Mathematics in Class 12) or Bachelor of Engineering |
