UPSC Conducts “Combined Defence Services” (CDS) Examination twice a year for recruiting only Unmarried Graduates into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy Indian Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam
Nationality – A candidate must be a citizen of India / Nepal/ Bhutan or Tibetan refugee or a person of Indian origin.
Age Limits: Minimum Age Limit – 19 years; Maximum Age Limit – 24 Yrs (25 Years for Officers’ Training Academy). For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy – only Unmarried male candidates are eligible.
Minimum Educational Qualifications – (i) For Indian Military Academy and Officers’ Training Academy – Degree of a recognized University or equivalent.
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy – Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/ Institution.
(iii) For Air Force Academy – Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10, +2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering. UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam Plan
- Stage-I: Written Examination
- Stage-II: Interview for intelligence and personality test
UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam – Important Dates
- Official Notification announcement – October (First Shift) and June(Second Shift)
- Commencement of Written Exam – February and November respectively
- Results Declaration of Written Exam – March and December respectively
Latest Official Notification on UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam
How to Apply for UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam
Candidates can apply for UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam through online mode only using the below-granted link. Candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs. 200/- through net banking or by remitting the money in any Branch of SBI by Cash. No Application Fees required for Female/ SC/ ST/ PH Candidates.
Apply for the UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam
UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam Pattern
Part-I – Written Examination – (500 marks)
Written Examination is conducted in Offline (pen and paper) mode. Written Examination Pattern for Admission to Indian Military Academy / Air Force Academy / Indian Naval Academy.
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
Written Examination Pattern for Admission to Officers’ Training Academy
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Total | 200 |
The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only. The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English. Candidates successful in the written exam are then called for an interview by a Services Selection Board, which evaluates a candidate’s suitability for a career in the Indian Armed Forces.
