CDS Full Form, Eligibility, Vacancies, Selection Process

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CDS Marital Status

Candidates under 25 must be single. During training, marriage is not allowed. Married applicants over 25 are welcome to apply, but they will not be allowed to live off-site with family or receive married housing during the training period.

Only unmarried individuals born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2007, are eligible to apply for the Officers Training Academy (Men’s SSC Course).

For OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), Eligible individuals include unmarried women, widows without a spouse, and divorcees without a spouse who have divorce papers. They ought to have been born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2007.

CDS Educational Qualification

Candidates in their final year or semester of a degree program who have not yet passed the final year degree exam may also apply, but they must not have any outstanding balances from the previous semester or year for which results were announced at the time of application submission.

They must also provide documentation of their degree examination passing at the start of the course. On the day the SSB interview begins, graduates who have selected the Army, Navy, or Air Force as their first choice must present proof of graduation or provisional certificates at the SSB.

• A degree from a recognized university or its equivalent is required for admission to the I.M.A. and Officers Training Academy in Chennai.
• For the Indian Naval Academy: An engineering degree from an accredited university or institution
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a degree from an accredited university with 10+2 physics and math is required for the Air Force Academy.

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CDS Application Process

Applicants must apply online at upsconline.gov.in. A candidate who wishes to apply for the Combined Defence Services Examination must do so online and submit the Registration and Online Application Form along with the necessary data and supporting documentation for any claims the Commission may request, including date of birth and educational background.

Candidacy for the test will be canceled if the necessary information or documents are not submitted with the online application form or within the Commission’s correction window, if any. You are only required to register once in your lifetime. You can do this at any time of the year. The candidate can immediately begin completing the online application for the test if they have already registered.

CDS Application Fee

A fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) must be paid by candidates (except female, SC, and ST candidates, who are exempt from paying the fee). This can be done in cash at any SBI branch, via Visa, Master, Rupay Debit/Credit Card, UPI Payment, or online banking at any bank.

CDS Exam Pattern 2025

The CDS Exam Pattern 2025 consists of two stages: Written Examination – Conducted for all candidates. Interview, conducted for shortlisted candidates at Services Selection Centres. Below are the details of the written examination, including subjects, duration, and maximum marks. For IMA, INA, and AFA.

Subject	Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	11	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100
Elementary Mathematics	13	2 Hours	100

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For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)

All of the subjects’ papers will only include objective-style questions. Both Hindi and English versions of the General Knowledge test booklets will be available.

Subject	Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	11	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100

CDS Negative Marking: Following the CDS Marking Scheme 2025, each correct response carries one mark, while 0.33 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.

CDS Syllabus

The CDS syllabus consists of three subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics for IMA, INA, and AFA applicants, while OTA candidates are tested only in English and General Knowledge. The English paper checks grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, comprehension, and basic writing skills. General Knowledge covers current affairs, Indian history, geography, polity, economy, science, and defense-related updates.

Elementary Mathematics is based on Class 10 level and includes arithmetic (time, work, interest, profit & loss), algebra, trigonometry (basic identities and heights & distances), geometry, mensuration (areas and volumes), and statistics (data interpretation and averages). All papers are objective in nature, with negative marking for wrong answers, and only a black ball pen is allowed.

CDS Physical Standards

Candidates must be healthy and physically fit according to the guidelines. The rules and requirements for medical fitness are listed below:

• Candidates who have permanent body tattoos on any other part of their body will not be considered for further consideration. On a case-by-case basis, tribes that have tattoos on their faces or bodies following their current customs and traditions will be allowed.
• Male candidates must be at least 157.5 cm(Air Force: 162.5 cm, Navy: 157 cm), and Female OTA candidates must be at least 152 cm.
• The minimum acceptable height will be five centimeters shorter for Gorkhas and people from the Garhwali and Kumaon hills in northeastern India. The minimum acceptable height for candidates from Lakshadweep may be lowered by two centimeters.

CDS Salary

As previously stated, the gentlemen or lady cadets receive a monthly stipend of Rs 56,100 while undergoing training in their respective academies. The training phase is not considered a commissioned service. The CDS salary of officers will be in the level 10 pay matrix after the candidates are successfully commissioned, and they will be responsible for collecting any outstanding arrears based on their pay matrix from the training period.

CDS Candidates Disqualifications

The Indian Military Academy will not admit applicants who were previously rejected due to their lack of officer-like traits. The Indian Navy will not admit applicants who were previously chosen as Special Entry Naval Cadets but were removed from Naval Training Establishments or the National Defence Academy due to their lack of officer-like traits.

The Army will not consider applicants for a Short Service Commission who were dropped from the Indian Military Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, NCC, or Graduate program due to their lack of officer-like traits. The Indian Military Academy will not admit applicants who were previously dropped from the NCC and Graduates’ program due to their lack of officer-like traits.

FAQs on CDS Full Form

What is the full form of CDS?

The full form of CDS is Combined Defence Services.

What are the educational qualifications required for different academies under CDS?

IMA and OTA: Graduate degree from a recognized university, INA: Engineering degree, and AFA: Degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 or a B.Tech/B.E.

How is the CDS selection process structured?

The CDS selection process has three stages: Written Exam, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination.