CDS (I) and (II) Exam

Eligibility Criteria

1. Physical criteria:

   • Candidates must be physically and mentally fit according to prescribed physical standards for admission to CDS (I) & CDS (II) 2025.
   • A candidate who has resigned or withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from any of the training academies of Armed Forces is not eligible to apply
   • Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on inner face of the forearm, i.e. from inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand
   • Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable and candidates will be barred from further selection. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case to case basis
   • The concessions are not applicable for Air Force Height and Weight standards are mentioned the official notification for Army and Navy only. Interpolation for weights against height not mentioned may be done

2. Nationality:

   Nationality : A candidate must be unmarried and must either be :-

   (i) A Citizen of India, or

   (ii) A subject of Nepal, or

   (iii) A Person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intenion of permanently settling in India.

   Provide that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person who is favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

   Certificate of eligibility will however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

   A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary, may be admitted to the examination provisionally subject to the necessary certificate being given to him/her by the Government before declaration of result by UPSC.

3. Education qualification:

   1. For IMA & Officers' Training Academy, Chennai - Degree of a recognised University or Equivalent.

   2. For Indian Naval Academy - Degree in Engineering from a recognised University / Institution.

   3. For Air Force Academy - Degree of a recognised University (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 Level) or Bachelor or Enigneering.

   NOTE :

   • Candidates 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.
   • 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 candidate should not have any present backlog upto the last semester / year for which results have been declared upto 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 course.
   • Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Combined Defence Services Examination (I) & (II), 2025 as per guidelines are given in the official notification.

   UPSC CDS (I) & (II) 2025 Educational Qualifications

   Courses	Educational Qualification
   Indian Military Academy (IMA)	Must be passed with a Bachelor's degree (B.A., B.Com., B.Sc., B.B.A., B.C.A., B.Tech., etc) from a recognized University or equivalent Institute
   Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from a recognized Unviersity or College
   Air Force Academy	Must have a Bachelor's Degree in from a recognized university (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 Level) or Bachelor's degree in Engineering
   OTA - MEN	Must hold a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized Uiversity or equivalent Institute
   OTA - Women (Non-Technical)	Must be passed with a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University or equivalent Institute

4. Age limit:

   Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status for CDS I & II 2025.

   1. IMA - Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2002 & not later than 1st January, 2007 only are eligible.

   2. For Indian Naval Academy - Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2002 and not later than 1st January, 2007 only are eligible.

   3. For Air Force Academy - 20 to 24 years as on 1st January, 2026 born not earlier than 2nd January, 2002 and not later than 1st January, 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 02nd January, 2000 and not later than 1st January, 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.

   4. For Officers Training Academy - (SSC Course of men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2001 and not later 1st January 2007 only are eligible.

   5. For Officers Training Academy - (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issuesless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 02 January, 2001 and not later than 1st January, 2007.

   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.

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

   UPSC CDS (I) & (II) Age Limit:

   To be eligible to apply for CDS 2025, Candidate must be between the ages of 20 and 24

   Courses	Age Limit	Marital Status
   Officer Training Academy (OTA-Men)	19-25 Yrs	Unmarried & Married
   Officer Training Academy (OTA-Women, Non-Technical)	19-25 Yrs	Unmarried & Married
   Indian Military Academy (IMA)	19-24 Yrs	Unmarried
   Indian Naval Academy (INA)	19-24 Yrs	Unmarried
   Air Force Academy (AFA)	19-24 Yrs	Unmarried