For candidates hoping to join the Indian Armed Forces, the Combined Defence Services (CDA) position offered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the most sought-after openings.
A rewarding career in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), or Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) is made possible by passing this esteemed exam. This guide will provide a thorough rundown of the UPSC CDA Vacancy, the application procedure, eligibility requirements, and preparation advice if you’re getting ready to apply.
UPSC CDA Vacancy Overview
| Exam name | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Conducting institute | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| CDS syllabus | Maths, English, and General Ability Test (GAT) |
| CDS pattern | The written exam was conducted in pen-and-paper mode |
| No. of test cities | More than 70 |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year |
| Exam fees | INR 200 (SC/ST/Women candidates/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from fee payment) |
| Eligibility | Passed graduation or are appearing in the same |
What is the CDS Exam?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the Combined Defence Services Examination, or CDS Exam, at the national level to recruit commissioned officers for the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy.
Since it provides admission to India’s elite military (Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force), the CDS is the most coveted test in the country. The written exam and interview are part of the selection process for the CDS exam, which is administered twice a year in April and September. The CDS Exam is only open to unmarried applicants who have finished their education.
CDS Education Qualification
- A graduating degree in any topic from an accredited university or its equivalent is required of candidates for the I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy.
- The candidate must have earned their engineering degree from an accredited university or institution to be considered for the Indian Naval Academy.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with 10+2 physics and math or a bachelor’s degree in engineering is required for admission to the Air Force Academy.
CDS Age Limit
- IMA is only available to unmarried male candidates who were born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2007.
- Only unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2007, are eligible to apply for the Indian Naval Academy.
- For Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years old as of January 1, 2026, meaning born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2006.
Application Fee
All groups except SC, ST, and females (who are exempt from paying the cost) must pay the examination fee of Rs. 200 for the CDS 1 2025 exam. The payment can be made online or offline using Net Banking, a Mastercard or debit card, or by depositing cash at any SBI Bank branch.
CDS Exam 2025 Selection Procedure
Written Exam: To select applicants for the interview exam, the UPSC will administer the CDS written exam. There are solely objective-style questions on the written test. Topics covered in the test include elementary mathematics and general knowledge.
SSB Interview/Personality Test: Depending on their desired service, candidates who pass the written exam will be invited to the Service Selection Board to take an intelligence and personality test. Candidates’ leadership abilities, officer-like traits, and aptitude for a career in the defense forces are evaluated at this level. There will be two phases to the exam. Tests like the officer intellect rating, visual perception, and description are part of stage 1. A psychology test, an interview, group testing exercises, and a conference are all part of stage two.
Document Verification: Original documentation, such as age proof, educational credentials, and other pertinent documents presented with the application forms, will be required of candidates for verification.
Medical Examination: Armed Forces Medical Services carefully conducts medical checks on candidates who pass the interview and personality test. The candidate’s physical and mental well-being, as well as the absence of any illnesses or disabilities, are guaranteed by the medical examination.
Exam Date
| UPSC CDS 2025 Events | CDS 2025 Dates |
| CDS 1 Notification 2025 release date | 11-Dec-2024 |
| CDS 1 Application Form 2025 | 11-Dec-2024 to 31-Dec-2024 |
| CDS 1 Exam Date 2025 | 13-Apr-2025 |
| CDS 2 Notification 2025 | 28-May-2025 |
| CDS 2 Application Form 2025 | 28-May-2025 to 17-June-2025 |
| CDS 2 Exam Date 2025 | 14-Sept-2025 |
UPSC CDA Vacancy
| Institution | Approximate Number of Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 32 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 32 |
| Officer Training Academy – Men (OTA) | 275 |
| Officer Training Academy – Women (OTA) | 18 |
| Total | 457 |
CDS Application Form 2025
- Either sign up for the OTR or log into your registered account.
- Click the link for the CDS 1 exam.
- Complete the requested information.
- Upload the photo ID card, signature, and photo.
- Pay the CDS 1 exam application cost.
- Select the CDS 1 testing location.
- Lastly, send in the application.
- The candidate’s registered email address and mobile number will receive a confirmation message.
CDS Admit Card 2025
The official website will host the online release of the CDS admit card 2025. To access their registered accounts, candidates must provide their date of birth and application number. The candidate’s name, roll number, birthdate, scanned photo, signature, and information about the CDS exam location are all included on the CDS admit card. In order to recruit Commissioned Officers for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, UPSC administers the CDS exam.
Conclusion
Aspiring candidates can join the Indian Armed Forces, including IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA, through the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination. This tough exam, which is given twice a year, evaluates applicants on their general ability, math, and English skills before SSB interviews. This thorough handbook explains openings, eligibility, the application procedure, and preparation advice.