CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 – Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 – Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality

Edited By Sneha Vinod | Updated on Dec 11, 2024 10:36 PM IST | #CDS
Ongoing Event
CDS  Application Date : 11 Dec' 2024 - 31 Dec' 2024

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.

This Story also Contains
  1. CDS 1 Eligibility Criteria - Overview
  2. CDS 1 Eligibility Criteria 2025- As Per UPSC Guidelines
  3. CDS 1 2025- Nationality
  4. CDS 1 Age Limit 2025
  5. CDS Educational Qualification 2025
  6. CDS Application Form 2025
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 – Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 – Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality

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.

CDS 1 Eligibility Criteria - Overview

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

CDS 1 Eligibility Criteria 2025- As Per UPSC Guidelines

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.

CDS 1 2025- Nationality

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.

CDS nationality eligibility criteria

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.

CDS 1 Age Limit 2025

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 age limit criteria for candidates

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

Other Related Articles

CDS Educational Qualification 2025

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.

CDS educational qualification

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

CDS 2025 - Physical Fitness

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.

  1. Applicants must be physically fit as per the prescribed physical standard of UPSC and the relevant defence department.

  2. 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.

  3. There should be no evidence of bodily defects or overweight.

  4. The minimum height requirement for male applicants is 157.5 cm. for Army, 157 cm for Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force.

  5. The minimum height of female candidates should be 152 cm for OTA (non-technical).

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Check the vision standard for all the defence services in the tables below:

CDS visual standard for Air Force

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.

Check Here List of Other Government Exams


CDS visual standard for Navy

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

CDS Application Form 2025

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the minimum age limit required to appear for the CDS exam 2025?

The minimum CDS 1 2025 age limit required to appear for the CDS exam is 20 years.

2. Are girls eligible to appear for the CDS exam?

Yes, girls are eligible to appear for the CDS examination 2025.

3. Is there any relaxation in the age criteria for reserved category applicants in the CDS exam?

No, there is no CDS age limit 2025 relaxation in the CDS exam for any category.

4. Is there any physical test for CDS 2025?

Yes, UPSC will conduct the physical test for CDS 2025.

5. What is the academic qualification required to apply for CDS 1 2025?

Aspirants must have completed their graduation to be eligible for CDS 1 exam 2025.

6. Where will the CDS 1 2025 notification be released?

The CDS 2 notification 2025 is released in their official website, upsc.gov.in in the form of pdf on December 11, 2024.

Articles

Certifications By Top Providers

Access to Justice
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Understanding Gender and Law
Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Human Rights Law and Criminal Justice
Via LMS Law College, Imphal
Roadmap for Patent Creation
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Tools for Academic Engagement in Public Policy
Via Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Swayam
 203 courses
Edx
 198 courses
LawSikho
 127 courses
Futurelearn
 89 courses
Coursera
 76 courses
Udemy
 63 courses

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to CDS

Have a question related to CDS ?

No, completing your college through dummy or non-regular means will not necessarily result in a negative impression during your SSB interview or screening process.

The SSB (Service Selection Board) assesses candidates based on various qualities such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and personality. While the mode of completing your college education may be considered, it is not the sole determining factor.

Here are some important points to keep in mind:

  • Focus on the Fundamentals: Ensure you have a strong understanding of the core subjects related to your degree. The SSB assesses your knowledge and problem-solving skills, not just the mode of study.
  • Extracurricular Activities: Highlight any extracurricular activities, internships, or projects you've undertaken during your college years. These can demonstrate your leadership, teamwork, and initiative.
  • Confidence and Communication: Project confidence and effective communication skills during the SSB process. Your ability to express yourself clearly and confidently is crucial.
  • Honesty and Integrity: Be honest about your educational background and any relevant experiences. The SSB values integrity and transparency.

While completing your college through dummy or non-regular means may raise questions, it is not an automatic disqualification. If you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and potential, you can still successfully clear the SSB and be considered for selection.

It's important to focus on developing the qualities and skills that are valued by the SSB. By showcasing your abilities and potential, you can overcome any initial concerns related to your mode of education.

Hello aspirant,

On August 23, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission made the NDA 2 2024 admit card available on its official website, upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in. The timeframe for editing NDA 2 2024 application forms was open until June 11, 2024. On June 5, 2024, the NDA rectification window opened. On June 4, 2024, the commission closed the NDA 2 2024 application form. On May 15, 2024, the UPSC NDA 2 2024 application form became available. Those who wish to take the NDA 2 2024 exam must confirm that they meet the requirements before applying. September 1, 2024 is the planned date of the UPSC NDA 2 exam.

To know complete information about admit card and exam you can visit our site by clicking on the link given below.

https://competition-careers360-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/competition.careers360.com/exams/nda/amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17249903789211&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fcompetition.careers360.com%2Fexams%2Fnda

Thank you

Hello there,

Yes, you can apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) after completing your graduation in 2027, based on your date of birth, 29th November 2003. Here’s how your eligibility works out:

Eligibility Criteria for CDS IMA:

  1. Age Limit: For IMA, the candidate should be between 19 and 24 years old at the time of course commencement. Since you were born on 29th November 2003, you will be within the eligible age range for several years after your graduation.

  2. Educational Qualification: A degree from a recognized university or equivalent is required. Since you will complete your graduation in 2027, you will meet this qualification.

  3. Application Timing: The CDS exam is conducted twice a year. Depending on the exam you apply for, your eligibility will be determined by your age at the time of the course commencement, typically a few months after the exam.

    Example Timeline:

If you apply for the CDS exam in 2027, the courses would typically start in 2028, and you would be 24 or under, fitting within the age limit.

Conclusion:

You are eligible to apply for the CDS exam for IMA as long as you apply before you turn 24. Make sure to check the specific age cutoff for the exact year you plan to apply.

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 your eligibility for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, we need to consider the age criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the exam.

For the CDS exam, the age criteria generally are as follows:

  1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  2. Indian Naval Academy (INA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  3. Air Force Academy (AFA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  4. Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 25 years old.

Your date of birth is 29th November 2003. By March 2027, you will be 23 years and 4 months old. This means you fall within the eligible age range for all branches (IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA) for the CDS exam.

Given that you will complete your course in March 2027, you should be eligible to apply for the CDS exam in 2027, provided you meet other criteria such as nationality, marital status, and educational qualifications. Make sure to check the official CDS notification for any updates or changes in the eligibility criteria closer to the exam date.


Hello aspirant,
The upper age limit for CDS IMA is 24 years. Since you are currently 21 years 3 months old, you have 2 years and 9 months left to appear for the CDS IMA exam. This means you can attempt the exam 3 more times before reaching the age limit.

However, please note that this is just a general estimate and the actual number of attempts may vary depending on the specific notification released by the UPSC for the CDS exam in 2025. It is always advisable to refer to the official notification for accurate information regarding the age limit and number of attempts allowed.

I hope this information helps you.

View All
Back to top