
CDS Exam Eligibility Criteria
To select applicants for Commissioned Officer positions in the Indian Army,Navy, and Air Force, the UPSC administers the CDS exam twice a year. The CDS position in 2025 is open to both male and female applicants. Candidates
must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible to take the test:
- Applicants must be Indian citizens with a permanent address.
- Applicants have to be either graduates or in their last year of education.
- The exam has a minimum age requirement of 19 years old.
- As on January 1, 2025, candidates must be between the ages of 20 and 24.
The Air Force Academy has a 25-year-old maximum age limit, the Indian
Military Academy has a 24-year-old maximum, and the Naval Academy has a
25-year-old maximum. - OTA is open to female applicants.
- In addition to meeting specific physical requirements, including a minimum
height, candidates must be in good medical health. - Candidates must be citizens of India or fulfil specific nationality/citizenship
requirements, which are detailed in the official announcement.
CDS Eligibility Creteria For Women
All of the prerequisites listed by the official authority, including eligibility for the CDS exam for female applicants, must be met by candidates. The candidate will not be permitted to apply for the test if any inconsistency is discovered in any of the eligibility requirements. The CDS qualifying requirements for femalecandidates are summarised in the following below:
OFFICER TRAINING ACADEMY:Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd Jan, 2001 and not later than 1st Jan 2002.
Nationality:
Educational Qualifications:
(i) an Indian citizen,
(ii) a Nepalese subject,
(iii) an individual of Indian descent who has moved to India with the goal of residing there permanently from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African nations Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam.
With the caveat that a candidate who falls into one of the aforementioned categories (ii) or (iii) must be the owner of an eligibility certificate issued by the Indian government. However, candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal would not need a certificate of eligibility.
Before UPSC announces the results, a candidate who needs a certificate of eligibility may be accepted to the exam provisionally, if the government provides the required certificate.
(i) For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai — Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy— Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
(iii) For Air Force Academy—Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering. Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB
CDS Marital Status, Gender, and Age Limit
Male and female applicants must meet various CDS age requirements, which also depend on the applicants marital status. Female candidates may only apply for OTA (non-technical) positions, per CDS regulations. Male candidates who fulfil additional eligibility requirements may apply for any CDS examination post. Below is a detailed list of the candidates marital status and the age restriction for eligibility for the CDS exam.
(i) For IMA—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02nd Jan, 2002 and not later than 1st Jan, 200 only are eligible. | (ii) For Indian Naval Academy—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02nd Jan, 2002 and not later than 1st Jan, 2007 only are eligible. |
(iii) For Air Force Academy— Age: 20 to 24 years as on 1st Jan, 2026 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd Jan, 2002 and not later than 1st Jan, 2006 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd Jan, 2000 and not later than 1st Jan, 2006 only are eligible. Note: Candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises. | (iv) For Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd Jan, 2001 and not later than 1st Jan, 2007 only are eligible. |
(v) For Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd Jan, 2001 and not later than 1st Jan, 2007. |