CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: The Union Public Service Commission conducts the UPSC CDS Exam twice a year to select eligible candidates for various defence forces, such as the INA, IMA, AFA and OTA.
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The eligibility criteria for the CDS exam consist of multiple parameters such as age limit, education qualification, nationality, and physical standards.
As per the CDS eligibility criteria, the age limit for the CDS exam is between 19 and 25 years, and the minimum qualification is a bachelor’s degree.
Candidates who wish to join these forces must satisfy the prescribed eligibility criteria. The candidates have to provide the required documents to prove their eligibility.
The candidates should check the updated CDS 2024 eligibility criteria in the given article to avoid CDS application rejection.
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria
The CDS 2024 eligibility criteria include age limit, qualification, physical standards, medical standards, marital status, and much more. Various parameters of the UPSC CDS 2024 eligibility criteria are provided below.
- Nationality
- Age Limit
- Educational Qualification
- Marital Status
- Medical Conditions
- Physical and Visual Standards
The candidates can apply to four major training academies, i.e., the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy, the Indian Air Force Academy, and the Officers Training Academy.
The UPSC CDS 2024 exam pattern and eligibility criteria differ for different branches. Therefore, candidates should check the eligibility criteria before applying to their respective academies.
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
Interested candidates applying for the UPSC CDS 2024 exam must meet the nationality criteria. Only candidates who hold any one of the nationalities below will be eligible.
- Indian Nationality
- Subject of Bhutan or Nepal
- Tibetan Refugees who came to India before 01/01/1962 for Permanent Settlement.
- Candidates who are of Indian Origin, but, migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Africa to settle in India.
Note: Candidates must present the valid certificate of their respective nationalities to the recruiting Authorities.
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit
CDS (Combine Defence Service) is only for young candidates who aim to serve the nation. As per the CDS age limit rule, the minimum age to apply is 19 years, but the upper age limit for various forces such as INA, IMA, AFA, and OTA is different.
The UPSC recruits both male and female candidates through the CDS exam. Candidates can check the CDS age limit criteria for male and female candidates below.
CDS 2024 Age Limit
Branches | Age Limit |
---|---|
OTA (Male) | 19-25 Years As per the 10th certificate, candidates should not have been born earlier than 02/January/1999 nor later than 01/January/2005 |
OTA (Females) | 19-25 Years Female candidates should not have been born earlier than 2nd July 1999 and not later than 1st July 2005. |
IAF | 19-23 years of Age. As per the 10th certificate, candidates should not have been born earlier than 2nd July 2000 and not later than 1st July 2005 |
INA | 19-22 Years As per the 10th certificate, candidates should not have been born earlier than 2nd July 1999 and not later than 1st July 2005 |
IMA | 19-24 years As per the 10th certificate, candidates should not have been born earlier than 02/January/2000 nor later than 01/January/2005 |
CDS Age Relaxation
The UPSC gives certain age benefits to those candidates who meet the standards. Only a limited number of candidates benefit from age relaxation.
Candidates holding a Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) will be given an age relaxation of up to 26 years.
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria For Females
Currently, female candidates are not eligible to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force via the CDS selection procedure. They can, however, apply for and be recruited into the Officer’s Training Academy (OTA).
The age limit for OTA for female candidates is between 20 and 24 and must have been born between July 2, 2005, and July 1, 2008, whereas the minimum height required is 152 cm.
Unmarried women, widows who have not remarried, and divorcees who have not remarried are eligible to apply for the OTA in CDS 2024.
Note: Divorcees and Widows must show the documents to be eligible.
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Marital Status
One of the important factors in the CDS 2024 eligibility criteria is marital status. Before moving forward, candidates should read the most important key points.
- Candidates who are below 25 years of age should be Unmarried.
- Married candidates below 25 years of age are not allowed during the training period.
We will discuss the marital status required for different branches in the given table.
Branches | Marital Status |
---|---|
IMA & INA | Only Unmarried candidates are allowed to Training |
Indian Air Force Academy | The candidates who are below 25 years of Age must be Unmarried whereas the candidates who are above 25 years of age can hold a Marital Status. The candidates who are married will be given no accommodation for Spouses. |
Officers Training Academy (Men) | Unmarried |
Officers Training Academy (Women) | Unmarried females, divorcees who have not remarried and possess divorce documents and Widows who have not remarried, and are eligible |
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the CDS exam must hold a certain level of qualification. As per the CDS qualification rule, the minimum qualification for IMA and OTA is a graduation in any discipline from a recognised board or university.
However, for INA and IAF, the required qualification is a graduation degree in engineering. During the SSB interview, candidates will have to bring their graduation certificates.
Candidates in their last year of graduation can apply for this exam. Candidates can check the details about the CDS qualifications in the table below.
Branches | Educational Qualification |
---|---|
IMA (Indian Military Academy) | Minimum Graduation Degree in any discipline from a recognized board or a university. |
Indian Naval Academy | Candidates must possess a minimum graduation degree in Engineering from a recognized board or university. |
Indian Air Force Academy | Graduation degree in Engineering from a recognized board or University. Candidates should also hold a 12th certificate in Mathematics and Physics as core subjects. |
Officers Training Academy | Minimum Graduation Degree in any discipline from a recognized board or a university. |
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Medical Standards
Candidates should note that the CDS medical standard is one of the important parts of the selection. Candidates, detailed medical reports are checked before the final CDS selection.
A large number of candidates are rejected in this round; hence, candidates should check their medical fitness before applying for the CDS 2024 exam.
The list of medical tests conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) is below.
- Overweight/Obesity/Underweight
- Under Sized Chest
- Piles
- Wax in Ears
- Tonsillitis
- NASAL Septum Deviated
- Gynaecomastia
- Varicocele
- Phimosis/Hydrocele
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Physical Standards
Aspiring candidates who want to serve India must be medically and physically fit. Physical fitness is the most important aspect of the CDS training journey.
Candidates can check various physical parameters required to fulfil the UPSC CDS 2024 Physical Standards.
IMA & INA – Height and Weight (Male Candidates)
Height (without Shoes) | Weight in Kg (18 Years) | Weight in Kg (20 Years) | Weight in Kg (22 Years) | Weight in Kg (24 Years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
152 | 44* | 46 | 47 | 48 |
155 | 46 | 48** | 49 | 50 |
157 | 47 | 49 | 50 | 51 |
160 | 48 | 50 | 51 | 52 |
162 | 50 | 52 | 51 | 54 |
165 | 52 | 53 | 55 | 56 |
168 | 53 | 55 | 57 | 58 |
170 | 55 | 57 | 58 | 59 |
173 | 57 | 59 | 60 | 61 |
175 | 59 | 61 | 62 | 62 |
178 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 |
180 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 |
183 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 68 |
185 | 67 | 69 | 70 | 71 |
IAF – Height and Weight (Male Candidates)
Height(MM) | Weight (15- 17 years) | Weight (18-22 years) | Weight (23-27 years) | Weight (28-32 years) | Weight (33-37 years) | Weight (38-42 years) | Weight (43-47 years) | Weight >48 years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1520 | 46 | 47 | 50 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 54 |
1530 | 47 | 47 | 51 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 56 | 54 |
1540 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 56 | 55 | 55 | 57 | 55 |
1550 | 48 | 49 | 52 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 57 | 56 |
1560 | 48 | 49 | 53 | 57 | 57 | 56 | 58 | 56 |
1570 | 49 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 58 | 57 |
1580 | 49 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 58 |
1590 | 50 | 51 | 55 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 60 | 58 |
1600 | 51 | 52 | 56 | 59 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 59 |
1610 | 51 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 61 | 60 |
1620 | 52 | 53 | 57 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 60 |
1630 | 52 | 54 | 58 | 61 | 62 | 61 | 62 | 61 |
1640 | 53 | 54 | 59 | 62 | 63 | 62 | 63 | 62 |
1650 | 53 | 55 | 59 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 62 |
1660 | 54 | 56 | 60 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 |
1670 | 54 | 56 | 61 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 65 | 64 |
CDS 2024 Physical Eligibility Criteria: Key Points
- Candidates should not have had epileptic experiences in the past.
- Candidates’ physical health should be free from any disease or disability.
- Candidates should be mentally fit and should not have faced any mental disease, such as depression.
- The candidate should not be overweight or underweight.
- Candidates must have a bodily mass index below 25.
- For male candidates, the chest should be well developed.
- Tattoos on any part of the body are not allowed.
- Height relaxation of 5 cm less is given to candidates from the Gorkha Community or from hilly areas such as Garhwal and Kumaon.
- Candidates from Lakshadweep will be given a height relaxation of 2 cm less.
Height And Weight Standards For Women
Height Without Shoes (CM) | Weight (18 years) | Weight (20 years) | Weight (30 years) |
---|---|---|---|
148 | 39 | 41 | 43 |
150 | 40 | 42 | 43.5 |
153 | 42 | 43.5 | 45 |
155 | 43 | 44 | 46 |
158 | 45 | 46 | 48 |
160 | 46 | 47 | 49 |
163 | 47 | 48 | 51 |
165 | 49 | 51 | 53 |
168 | 50 | 52 | 54 |
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Visual Standards
Men | Women |
---|---|
Better Eye (6/6) Worse Eye (6/12) | Better Eye (6/6) Worse Eye (6/12) |
Myopia: Not more than 3.5D | Myopia: Not more than 5.5D |
Hypermetropia: Not more than 3.5D | Hypermetropia: Not more than 3.5D |
CDS 2024 Eligibility Criteria FAQs
Yes, candidates must present valid documents.
Candidates below 25 years of age should not hold marital status, while candidates above 25 years of age can hold marital status.
The CDS 1 2024 age limit for OTA is between 19 and 25 years.
Candidates applying for the Indian Air Force Academy must possess a graduation degree in engineering.
The general age required for the CDS 2024 Exam is 20–25 years. Candidates are advised to check the above article for detailed knowledge.
As per the UPSC calendar 2024, the CDS 1 exam will be held on April 21, 2024.
For CDS 2024, female candidates age should be between 19 and 25 years, while the required CDS qualification is graduation. The height of female candidates should not be less than 148cm. Unmarried widows who have not remarried and divorcees are eligible to apply.
Are Married Women Allowed to Take the CDS Exam?
No, married women are not permitted to take the CDS exam.
Are Married Women Allowed to Take the CDS Exam?
No, married women are not permitted to take the CDS exam.
What is 2023 CDS Eligibility?
A candidate must meet the requirements for CDS eligibility, which include requirements for their nationality, level of education, CDS age restriction, marital status, and other factors. If they meet the requirements established by the UPSC, individuals of both genders are eligible to apply for the positions.
How many times can someone take the CDS exam?
There is no cap on the number of tries, despite the conducting authority having set age restrictions and marital prerequisites. Up until the age limit is exceeded, a candidate may apply for this exam.
What level of medical fitness is required for CDS?
A candidate should get evaluated for common medical conditions such as ear wax, a deviated nasal septum, gynecomastia, phimosis, being overweight or underweight, etc. before attending the SSB interview. You should get tested for a number of other medical fitness-related disorders as well; the details are provided above.
Can I take the CDS exam after I finish grade 12?
Since CDS is a graduation-level test, it cannot be applied for after class 12.