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UPSC will mention the CDS 1 eligibility criteria 2025 in the official notification. The CDS 1 2025 notification is available for download at upsc.gov.in from December 11, 2024. The UPSC CDS 1 2025 eligibility criteria are based on age, educational qualification, nationality and a few other important aspects. Aspirants wanting to appear for the CDS exam should be between the age group of 20 to 25 years.
Candidates must read the CDS 1 eligibility criteria 2025 carefully before proceeding to fill the CDS application form online. To know more about the eligibility criteria of CDS 2025, read the entire article.
Candidates can check the some basic details about the UPSC CDS exam from the below table.
Exam name | Combined Defence Services Examination |
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
Frequency of exam | Twice a year |
Nationality | Indian |
CDS age limit | Between 19 to 24 years |
Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university |
Mode of exam | Online |
Candidates applying for the Combined Defence Services examination should go through the UPSC CDS exam eligibility guidelines before proceeding to fill the CDS 1 2025 application form. Below mentioned are some of the CDS 1 eligibility 2025.
Candidates applying for the CDS examination must fall in one of the below-mentioned nationality categories to be eligible for CDS 1. Check the table below.
Particulars |
Citizen of India |
Subject of Bhutan |
Subject of Nepal |
Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1962, with the intention to permanently settle in India |
Person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka & East African Countries with the intention to permanently settle in India. |
Note - For more detailed information on the CDS 2025 eligibility check the official notification.
The CDS age limit eligibility criteria of all aspirants for various courses are mentioned in the table below. There is no CDS age limit relaxation for reserved category candidates in the CDS examination 2025.
CDS Courses | CDS Age Limit | Marital Status |
Indian Military Academy | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried |
Indian Naval Academy | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried |
Air Force Academy | 20 to 24 years | Unmarried |
Officers' Training Academy (Men) | 19 to 25 years | Unmarried & Married |
Officers Training Academy (Women, Non-Technical) | 19 to 25 years | Unmarried, Widow & Divorcee |
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CDS recruitment is done for various courses in the three Indian Defence Services - Army, Air Force and Navy, which have different minimum educational qualification requirements. Educational requirements for all the different CDS courses are mentioned in the table.
Courses | CDS Educational Qualification |
Indian Military Academy | Bachelor's Degree (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, BBA, BCA, B.Tech etc.) from a recognised University or equivalent institute |
Indian Naval Academy | Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/ College |
Air Force Academy | Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor degree in engineering |
OTA (Men) | Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University or equivalent institute |
OTA (Women - Non-Technical) | Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University or equivalent institute |
Candidates applying for CDS should be physically fit in all aspects as prescribed by the three defence departments i.e. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Below given are a few points for the physical standards required for the CDS exam.
Applicants must be physically fit as per the prescribed physical standard of UPSC and the relevant defence department.
Applicants must be in good physical and sound mental health and free from any disease/ disability that can interfere in the performance of their duties.
There should be no evidence of bodily defects or overweight.
The minimum height requirement for male applicants is 157.5 cm. for Army, 157 cm for Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force.
The minimum height of female candidates should be 152 cm for OTA (non-technical).
For candidates belonging to Gorkhas and hills of the North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali and Kumaon, 5 cm height relaxation is provided in the minimum acceptable height. In the case of applicants from Lakshadweep, 2 cm relaxation is provided.
Applicants should have a sufficient number of natural teeth. A minimum of 14 dental points will be acceptable for CDS recruitment. If all 32 teeth are present, the total dental points are 22.
Check the vision standard for all the defence services in the tables below:
Male | Female |
Vision (corrected) better eye 6/6 and worse eye 6/12 | Vision (corrected) better eye 6/6, worse eye 6/12 |
Myopia of not more than minus 3.5 D | Myopia of not more than minus 5.5 D |
Manifest hypermetropia of not more than plus 3.5 D including Astigmatism | Manifest hypermetropia of not more than plus 3.5 D including Astigmatism. |
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Uncorrected without glass - 6/12 |
Corrected with glass - 6/6 |
Limits of Myopia - 1.5 |
Limits of Hypermetropia +1.5 |
Note: For more detailed information on the CDS eligibility criteria 2025, check the CDS 2025 official notification.
Check the eligibility criteria for other exams conducted by UPSC
The Union Public Service Commission has released the CDS 1 application form 2025 on December 11, 2024 at the official website. Aspirants who meet the CDS 2025 eligibility criteria will be eligible to fill the CDS application form till December 31, 2024. To apply for the CDS 1 2025 examination, candidates first need to complete the One Time Registration (OTR) themselves and then fill out the CDS exam form. To successfully complete the CDS application process, candidates must pay a fee of Rs 200 if belonging to the general category and NIL if they are from the reserved category and female.
The minimum CDS 1 2025 age limit required to appear for the CDS exam is 20 years.
Yes, girls are eligible to appear for the CDS examination 2025.
No, there is no CDS age limit 2025 relaxation in the CDS exam for any category.
Yes, UPSC will conduct the physical test for CDS 2025.
Aspirants must have completed their graduation to be eligible for CDS 1 exam 2025.
The CDS 2 notification 2025 is released in their official website, upsc.gov.in in the form of pdf on December 11, 2024.
Application Date:12 April,2025 - 11 May,2025
Advertisement Date:25 April,2025 - 25 April,2025
Advertisement Date:27 May,2025 - 27 May,2025
Dear aspirant !!
Hope you are doing well !!
For CDS (Combined Defence Services) exams, the eligibility criteria regarding age depend on the specific course you are applying for. Here’s a breakdown based on your date of birth (08-05-2001) and the requirements for CDS 2 2025:
For 2025 cds 2;-
Indian Military Academy (IMA) :
Indian Naval Academy (INA) :
Air Force Academy (AFA) :
Officers Training Academy (OTA) :
You can attempt CDS 2 2025 for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) , Air Force Academy (AFA) , and Officers Training Academy (OTA) . However, you are not eligible for the Indian Naval Academy (INA) .
for details,visit the below link ;-
Careers360
https://competition.careers360.com
https://competition.careers360.com/articles/cds-eligibility-criteria
Thanks for asking
hello,
yes, a distance degree from Swami Vivekanand University(SVU) is valid for UPSC CDS (IMA/OTA) if it is UGC and DEB approved. ensure that the university and its distance courses are recognized at the time of admission to avoid issues in SSB verification. always check the UGC website for the latest approval status before applying.
For a cost-effective BA program in Hyderabad while preparing for NDA/CDS, consider government colleges offering BA programs and supplementing your preparation with coaching from reputable NDA/CDS institutes.
Here's a breakdown to help you choose:
1. BA Colleges in Hyderabad (Government vs. Private):
Government Colleges:
Pros: Lower fees, potentially better academic rigor.
Cons: May have limited course options or placements.
Examples: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Osmania University.
Private Colleges:
Pros: Wider course options, potentially better infrastructure and placement opportunities.
Cons: Higher fees.
Examples: Sreenidhi Institute of Science & Technology, Swami Vivekananda Degree & PG College.
2. NDA/CDS Coaching Institutes in Hyderabad:
Reputable Institutes:
Hyderabad Defence Academy: Offers NDA and CDS coaching, along with intermediate education.
Sri Netaji Study Circle: A popular institute for NDA coaching.
Impact Academy Of Human Excellence: Another well-regarded institute for NDA preparation.
Dice Academy: Known for its coaching for NDA and CDS.
Yuvatarang Defence Academy & Junior College: Offers NDA and CDS coaching.
Consider these factors when choosing a coaching institute:
Faculty: Experienced and qualified teachers.
Infrastructure: Study materials, library, and other facilities.
Fees: Compare the cost of different institutes.
Location: Choose a location that is convenient for you.
3. Balancing BA Studies with NDA/CDS Preparation:
Time Management:
Effective time management is crucial to balance studies and coaching.
Study Groups:
Form study groups with fellow aspirants to share resources and motivate each other.
Online Resources:
Utilize online platforms for additional study materials and practice tests.
Physical Training:
Don't neglect physical fitness, which is a crucial part of the NDA/CDS selection process.
4. Important Notes:
The NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. The CDS exam is also conducted by the UPSC, and the selection process includes a written test and an interview conducted by the Service Selection Board (SSB).
Eligibility:
Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for both NDA and CDS, including age, educational qualifications, and physical standards.
Multiple Attempts:
You can appear for both NDA and CDS exams in different years, maximizing your chances of joining the armed forces.
BA Courses:
The National Defence Academy (NDA) offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees with various specializations.
Hello Kanchan,
You are eligible to appear for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam based on your date of birth (16 October 2003) and graduation timeline. Here’s when you can apply:
Since your
graduation will be completed next year (2025)
, you can
apply in your final year
, but you need to submit proof of graduation before the
final selection
.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
To determine if you're eligible to give the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, let's check the age criteria:
Age Criteria for CDS Exam
- For Indian Military Academy (IMA): 19-24 years
- For Indian Naval Academy (INA): 19-24 years
- For Air Force Academy (AFA): 19-24 years
- For Officers' Training Academy (OTA): 19-25 years
Your Age in 2027
- Born in 2003
- Age in 2027: 24 years
Considering the age criteria, you'll be eligible to appear for the CDS exam in 2027 for:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA)
- Indian Naval Academy (INA)
- Air Force Academy (AFA)
However, you'll be at the upper age limit for these academies. For Officers' Training Academy (OTA), you'll still be within the eligible age range.
Please note that these eligibility criteria are subject to change, and you should verify the age limits and other eligibility criteria with the official UPSC website or notification before applying.
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