Combined Defence Service exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission twice every year for recruitment to office cadre of the Army, Navy and Air force. Candidates qualifying the written test are interviewed by the Service Selection Board and if finally selected, depending upon the choice given by the candidates and their merit list ranking,
(a) Nationality :
A candidate must either be :
Educational Qualifications For CDS :
For IMA /OTA(Officers Training Academy) : A degree from a recognized University or equivalent.
For Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10 +2 level ) or Bachelor of Engineering
Age For CDS :
For IMA: Unmarried male candidates between 19-24 years on 1st January or 1st July of the year succeeding the year of examination i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 1995 and not later than 1st January 2000 only eligible.
For Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates between 19-22 years on 1st January or 1st July of the year succeeding; the year of examination
For Air Force Academy: Unmarried male candidates between 20-24 years on 1st January or 1st July of the year succeeding the year of examination
For Officers Training Academy: (SSC Course for men) Male candidates (married or unmarried) between 19-25 years on 1st January or 1st July of the year succeeding the year of examination i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 1994 and not later than 1st January 2000 only eligible.
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.