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The UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is a highly competitive process aimed at selecting candidates for officer positions in the Indian Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The UPSC CDS selection process consists of a written examination, an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB), a medical test by Indian Navy (Naval candidates only) and the final shortlisting for the CDS result 2024.
The final appointment letter for the shortlisted candidates after the UPSC CDS selection process is drafted by IHQ MoD/DMPR. The CDS officer training period for the successful candidates commences in Jan/Jul and the advertisement for it will be published in Nov/Jul.
After the declaration of UPSC CDS result 2024 for the written test, those who qualify are invited for the SSB interview, which comprises various psychological and physical tests along with group discussions and personal interviews. The SSB evaluates candidates' leadership potential, planning & organising ability, social adaptability, social effectiveness, dynamic ability and overall suitability for a career as an officer. The CDS selection process for the SSB interview round is as follows:
(i) Stage - I: It involves an OIR test and PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion test).
(ii) Stage - II : It involves Psychological testing, Group testing (GTO) and Personal Interview.
Candidates who successfully clear the SSB interview have to further undergo a Medical examination for around 3-5 days.
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Reporting day: The candidates are required to report at the SSB board for document verification and filing PIQ forms. Candidates are also required to report to the place listed in the call letter which is usually the Moment Control Office (MCQ).
The first testing stage of the SSB interview involves screening through an OIR test and PPDT. OIR (Officers’ Intelligence Rating test) is a Verbal and Non-verbal Test which tests the candidate’s basic aptitude. This round is followed by PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test) which involves story writing and group discussion. For this round, the candidate is shown a picture for 30 secs and given 3 minutes to construct a story around it. The candidates are further divided into groups and made to narrate their story in the group and have a group discussion on it. With this PPDT round, the first stage of testing is concluded. The selected candidates move onto the second stage of testing.
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In the second round of testing, the psychological suitability of a candidate is measured through multiple psychological tests such as Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT) and Self Description Test (SD).
After the psychological tests, in the GTO (Group Testing), the physical agility and group performance of the candidate is tested through numerous outdoor tasks such as Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacles Task (IOT), Command Task, Snake race/Group Obstacle Race, Individual Lecturette, Final Group Task (FGT). In this series of tests, candidates are required to work in collaboration with the group without competing with the other candidates.
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The final round of the SSB interview procedure is a personal interview. This is an essential part of the CDS selection process as the SSB questions and answers determine whether the candidate will get shortlisted or not. In this round, each candidate has to face the SSB group members and answer the questions posed by the interviewing officers.
After successful completion of training, candidates selected through CDS exams are given the rank of Lieutenant.
The candidate must be mentally sound and physically fit according to the guidelines issued by the Commission.
The CDS exam is conducted in two stages, the written exam and the SSB interview.
The CDS training is scheduled for 1.5 years for Army cadets, 37 to 40 months for Navy cadets and 74 months for Air Force cadets.
NDA provides joint training for Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets, while CDS selects candidates for specific academies like the Indian Military Academy and Indian Air Force Academy.
As per the CDS Salary Structure, the selected candidates will join as Lieutenant on the pay scale of Rs 56,100 -1,77,500 per month after training.
Score Card Date:14 August,2025 - 13 September,2025
Exam Date:14 September,2025 - 14 September,2025
Yes, you will be eligible for CDS-1 2027 under OTA (SSC Women – Non-Technical Course). The age limit for OTA is 19–25 years (you must be born between 2nd Jan 2001 and 1st Jan 2007). Since your date of birth is 4 July 2002, you will be 24 years old at that time, so you fall within the required age range.
But you will not be eligible for IMA, INA or AFA, because their upper age limit is 24 years, and by 2027 you will cross that limit.
As per the CDS OTA eligibility criteria, for female candidates applying to the Officers Training Academy (OTA), the age limit is 19 to 25 years (unmarried females only).
Since your date of birth is 16th June 2005, you will turn:
21 years old in June 2026,
25 years old in June 2030.
CDS exam is conducted twice every year, so you’ll be eligible from the year you complete graduation (2026) till you turn 25 in 2030.
Your eligible attempts:
CDS 2 2026
CDS 1 2027
CDS 2 2027
CDS 1 2028
CDS 2 2028
CDS 1 2029
CDS 2 2029
CDS 1 2030 (maybe last)
So, you will have around 7 to 8 attempts to appear for CDS OTA before you cross the maximum age limit.
Hello ,
If your goal is to appear for CDS Exam, then here’s what you need to know:
So, a regular B.Tech is a safer and more accepted option for all CDS branches. Online BCA may work only if it's recognized, but always double-check the latest UPSC CDS eligibility rules before applying.
Best wishes !
Thank you.
Hi dear candidate,
To be eligible for CDS 1 Exam 2026, your age should fall between 20 to 24 years old. And with your date of birth of 21 December 2002, means that you will be 23 years old as of 1st January, 2026. CDS 1 exam 2026 is expected to take place in April 2026.
Considering the above:
Yes, you will be able to give exam for CDS 1 in 2026.
ALL THE BEST !
Yes, You are eligible to apply for CDS OTA 2026(April exam) Based on your date of birth
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