CDS Eligibility

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services Examination (also known as CDS) to candidates seeking commissions as officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Candidates must meet the CDS eligibility requirements in order to be eligible for the exam. A degree in any field from an accredited university is the prerequisite for admission to the IMA and Officers' Training Academy. Applicants to the Indian Naval Academy need to be graduates of an accredited university with a degree in engineering. Candidates for the Air Force Academy must be graduates of an accredited university with a degree in engineering. They have to have taken physics and maths in class 12.

Yes, married girls can apply for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam. The eligibility criteria for the CDS exam allow both married and unmarried women to apply. Here are the key points regarding the eligibility of married girls for the CDS exam:Marital Status: According to the CDS eligibility criteria, unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible to apply for the CDS examOTA (Officers Training Academy): Married girls can apply for the OTA (Officers Training Academy) under the Short Service Commission. However, it's important to note that during the training period, married candidates above 25 years of age will not be provided with married accommodation and will not be allowed to live outside the Academy premises with their family It's important for married girls to carefully review the official eligibility criteria and ensure they meet all the requirements before applying for the CDS exam.

To be eligible for the CDS exam, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 19 years old when applying for the CDS exam. The age limit for female candidates is generally the same as for male candidates, ranging from 19 to 25 yearsEducational Qualification: Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a UGC-recognized university. Final-year students who are expected to complete their degree before the commencement of the respective academy's training can also applyNationality: Candidates must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee permanently settled in IndiaPhysical Standards: Candidates must meet the specific physical fitness requirements, including height, weight, visual acuity, and overall physical health. The physical requirements for each of the three wings (OTA, INA, AFA) are detailed in the official CDS notificationMarital Status: There are no specific restrictions based on marital status for most academies under CDS. Both unmarried and married candidates may be eligible, subject to meeting the other eligibility criteriaAttempts: There is no restriction on the number of CDS exam attempts for candidates who have completed their graduationIt is essential to check the official CDS notification for any specific variations in eligibility criteria and to ensure that candidates meet all the requirements mentioned by the official body.

Different instutes have different rules on the marital status for the CDS exam. The criteria for the marital status for various defence institutes have been given below for the candidates:For Indian Military Academy: Unmarried For Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried For Indian Air Force: Married and UnmarriedNote: The married candiddates must be equal to or above 25 years. However, during the training the candidates will not be provided with any married accommodation nor they can live out from the academy premises with the family.For  OTA Male: UmarriedFor OTA Female: Unmarried, Divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) and Widows who have not been remarriedNote: Male divorcee or widow will not be considered as unmarried for the purpose of admission in IMA/INA/AFA/OTA