Home   »   CDS Exam Eligibility

CDS Eligibility 2025, Age Limit for Men and Women

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will announce the CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 in its official notification. To apply for the CDS Exam 2025, candidates must fulfill specific eligibility requirements related to nationality, educational qualifications, age, marital status, and physical fitness.

As per the eligibility criteria, only unmarried men and women aged between 19 and 24 years are eligible to appear for the CDS 2025 Exam. Candidates must ensure they meet all requirements before applying to avoid disqualification at any stage of the selection process.

CDS Eligibility for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam twice a year, in April and September. This exam is used for recruitment into the Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. To join the Indian Armed Forces through the CDS exam, candidates must pass both a written test and an interview.

Those who successfully pass the CDS selection process are assigned to the respective academies based on their merit and preferences. The UPSC has set specific eligibility criteria for the CDS Exam 2025. Candidates interested in this exam should review the details to understand the age limits and other requirements. This article provides information on CDS Eligibility 2025, including nationality, educational qualifications, age, marital status, and physical standards.

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 Highlights

The CDS Exam 2025 is in great demand as it offers candidates an opportunity to join any of the three branches of the Indian Armed Forces. Candidates must fulfil all the eligibility requirements of CDS to be considered for this exam. Candidates are required to ensure compliance with these criteria for successful application and participation in the selection process.

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 Overview
Name of Exam Combined Defence Services
Conducting Organization Union Public Service Commission
Frequency of Exam Twice a year
Nationality Indian
Number of Attempts Unlimited; Till Age Allows
Marital Status Unmarried
Age Limit Between 19 to 25 years
Educational Qualification Graduation in any discipline from recognized university
Application Mode Online
Examination Mode Offline

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025: Nationality

To be eligible for CDS Exam 2025, a candidate must be unmarried and must either be:

  • a Citizen of India, or
  • a Subject of Bhutan, or
  • a Subject of Nepal, or
  • a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
  • a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

CDS Eligibility 2025: Educational Qualifications

Candidates should be aware about the education qualifications before applying for the examination. Here we have provided the complete details of the educational qualifications required for the CDS 1 2025 Examination.

ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
INDIAN MILITARY ACADEMY Graduation Degree
INDIAN NAVAL ACADEMY B.E/B.Tech (10+2 with Physics & Maths)
AIR FORCE ACADEMY Graduation, B.E/B.Tech (10+2 with Physics & Maths)
OFFICERS’ TRAINING ACADEMY (MEN) Graduation Degree
OFFICERS’ TRAINING ACADEMY (WOMEN) Graduation Degree

Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided the candidate should not have any present backlog up to the last semester/year for which results have been declared up to the time of submission of application and they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of the course. Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognized by the government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees would also be eligible for admission to the examination.

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limits

In this article, Defense Adda 247 has provided you the age limit for CDS 1 2025 exam which is according to the recruitment of 2025. Candidates preparing for CDS 2025 will be duly informed after the notification is released. Must read the complete notification provided by UPSC.

Academy Gender Inclusivity Age Limit
IMA Only Males Candidates born between 2 July, 2001, and 1 July, 2006.
INA Only Males Candidates born between 2 July, 2001, and 1 July, 2006.
AFA Only Males Candidaes aged btw 20 to 24 years old as of 1 July 2025.
AFA Only Males Candidates with a valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) can be up to 26 years old
OTA Both Men and Women Candidates born between 2 July, 2000, and 1 July, 2006.

NOTE: Male divorcee/widower candidates cannot be treated as unmarried males for the purpose of their admission in IMA/INA/AFA/OTA, Chennai courses, and accordingly they are not eligible for these courses.

CDS Eligibility Criteria For Women

Female candidates preparing for CDS exam can opt for OTA (Officer Training Academy) only for non-technical posts. It is important for the candidates to fulfill all the specified requirements as any discrepancy in eligibility will make them ineligible to apply for CDS exam. This information is based on CDS 2025. Candidates preparing for CDS 2025 will be duly informed after the notification is released. Do read the complete notification provided by UPSC.

Eligibility Aspect Details
Age Limit Female candidates must be born after 1st July 2006 and before 2nd July 2000.
Educational Qualification Must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
Nationality Indian citizen, subject of Bhutan or Nepal, or Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before 1 January 1962.
Marital Status Only unmarried females, widows who haven’t remarried, and divorcees who haven’t remarried with valid divorce documents are eligible for OTA.
Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for IMA, INA, AFA.
Physical Standards Minimum acceptable height for female candidates is 152 cm.

Physical Requirements for CDS: Height and Weight Standards

Candidates must meet specific physical standards to ensure they are fit for duty without health issues or disabilities that could affect performance. They should not have weak physical condition, bodily defects, or be underweight, overweight, or obese. Below are the height and weight requirements for different categories in CDS.

Gender Minimum Height
Male 157.5 cm
152 cm for Navy
162.5 cm for Air Force Flying Branch
157.5 cm for Air Force Ground Duty
152 cm for Gorkhas, Assamese, Garhwalis, etc.
5 cm shorter for people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region such as Garhwali and Kumaon
Female 152 cm
147 cm for Gorkhas, Assamese, Garhwalis, etc.
5 cm shorter for people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region such as Garhwali and Kumaon
2 cm shorter for candidates from Lakshadweep
All 148 cm

CDS Eligibility Criteria Medical Standards

In addition to meeting the CDS eligibility requirements, candidates interested in the exam must be in good medical health to qualify for the Indian Army. It is important to understand some of the medical conditions that can affect eligibility for the CDS exam:

  • Being overweight or underweight
  • Having an undersized chest
  • Piles (hemorrhoids)
  • Wax buildup in the ears
  • Deviated nasal septum
  • Tonsillitis
  • Gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in males)
  • Varicocele (enlarged veins within the scrotum)
  • Hydrocele or phimosis (conditions affecting the testicles or foreskin)

As per the CDS eligibility criteria, candidates must have good health and mental fitness. They will have to undergo a detailed medical examination to demonstrate their health status before proceeding with the CDS recruitment process.

pdpCourseImg

Related Links
CDS Selection Process 2025 UPSC CDS Cut Off
CDS Previous Year Papers CDS Salary
CDS Eligibility 2025, Age Limit for Men and Women_3.1

FAQs

Can women apply for the CDS exam 2025?

Yes, women can apply for the CDS exam 2025.

Is there 60% criteria for CDS?

No there is no such criteria for CDS exam.

Does class 12th marks matter in the CDS exam?

No, 12th class marks don't matter in the exam.

What is the nationality required for the CDS exam?

To be eligible for CDS Exam 2025, a candidate must be unmarried and must either be: a Citizen of India, Bhutan, or Nepal. Read the complete article for all the CDS eligibility criteria.