The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is a gateway for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. The age eligibility criteria for the various academies under the CDS exam are as follows:
1. Indian Military Academy (IMA):
- Age Limit: Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 24 years.
- Date of Birth: Candidates must be born not earlier than 2nd July 2001 and not later than 1st July 2006.
- Marital Status: Only unmarried male candidates are eligible.
2. Indian Naval Academy (INA):
- Age Limit: Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 22 years.
- Date of Birth: Candidates must be born not earlier than 2nd July 2001 and not later than 1st July 2004.
- Marital Status: Only unmarried male candidates are eligible.
3. Air Force Academy (AFA):
- Age Limit: Candidates aged between 20 and 24 years.
- Date of Birth: Candidates must be born not earlier than 2nd July 2001 and not later than 1st July 2005.
- Marital Status: Unmarried candidates below 25 years of age are eligible. Married candidates above 25 years of age are also eligible but will not be provided married accommodation during training.
4. Officers' Training Academy (OTA):
- Age Limit:
- For Men: Unmarried male candidates aged between 19 and 25 years.
- For Women: Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried, aged between 19 and 25 years.
- Date of Birth: Candidates must be born not earlier than 2nd July 2000 and not later than 1st July 2006.
- Marital Status: Unmarried candidates are eligible.
Important Notes:
- Male divorcee/widower candidates cannot be treated as unmarried male for the purpose of their admission in IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses and accordingly they are not eligible for these courses.
- Candidates 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 the training period, they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, candidates should refer to 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 comprehensive details on examination notifications, application procedures, and other essential information.