The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is a gateway for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. To be eligible for the CDS exam, candidates must meet specific criteria across several categories:
1. Nationality:
- Indian Citizens: A candidate must be a citizen of India.
- Other Candidates: Citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of settling permanently, are also eligible.
2. Age Limit:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA): Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 24 years.
- Indian Naval Academy (INA): Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 24 years.
- Air Force Academy (AFA): Unmarried male candidates aged between 20 and 24 years.
- Officers' Training Academy (OTA):
- Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 25 years.
- Unmarried female candidates aged between 19 and 25 years.
Note: The age limits are calculated based on the candidate's date of birth as per the matriculation certificate.
3. Educational Qualifications:
- IMA and OTA: A bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
- INA: A bachelor's degree in engineering from a recognized university.
- AFA: A bachelor's degree with physics and mathematics at the 10+2 level or a Bachelor of Engineering.
Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply, provided they submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of the course.
4. Marital Status:
- IMA, INA, and AFA: Only unmarried male candidates are eligible.
- OTA: Both unmarried male and female candidates are eligible.
Married candidates above 25 years of age are not eligible for the CDS exam.
5. Physical and Medical Standards:
Candidates must meet specific physical and medical standards, including:
- Height and Weight: Standards vary based on age and gender. For example, a male candidate aged 20 years should have a minimum height of 157 cm and a weight of 49 kg.
- Vision Standards: For IMA and OTA, the corrected vision should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/12 in the worse eye. For INA and AFA, the corrected vision should be 6/6 in both eyes.
- Physical Fitness: Candidates should be free from any medical condition that may hinder their performance in the armed forces.
Detailed physical and medical standards are specified in the official notification and should be referred to for comprehensive information.
6. Gender:
- IMA, INA, and AFA: Only male candidates are eligible.
- OTA: Both male and female candidates are eligible.
7. Other Considerations:
- NCC Special Entry: Candidates possessing an NCC 'C' certificate (Army Wing/Senior Division) are eligible for direct entry into the IMA and OTA, subject to meeting other eligibility criteria.
- Previous Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the CDS exam.
It is crucial for candidates to thoroughly review the official UPSC notification for the specific examination cycle they are interested in, as eligibility criteria may be subject to change. The official UPSC website provides the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the CDS exam.