Both men and women can apply for 345 vacancies. To apply for CDS Exam 2026, candidates, should check out the CDS eligibility 2026 which includes nationality, educational qualification, age, marital status, and physical conditions.
- Candidates who have settled in India permanently can apply for CDS Exam.
- Candidates must be graduate or at least appearing in the final year/semester.
- The minimum age limit is 19 to apply for the CDS 2026 Exam.
- Women candidates are only eligible to apply for OTA.
- Unmarried candidates should not be divorced.
- B.tech candidates can apply for IMA, INA AFA also.
- Candidates both male and female must meet the physical standard specified by UPSC.
CDS Eligibility 2026 Nationality
The candidate must be unmarried and must be any of the followings:
- A Citizen of India,
- A subject of Bhutan or Nepal
- A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1962 intending to permanently settle in India,
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India.
Note:
- Candidates under 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be certificated or proof issued by the Indian Government in favor of their statement.
- Candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal are not required to show any kind of certificate of CDS eligibility.
- A candidate in whose case a certificate of CDS eligibility 2026 is necessary may be admitted to the examination provisionally subject to the necessary certificate being given to him/her by the Govt. before the declaration of result by UPSC.
Age & Marital Status
CDS 2026: Age Limit, Sex, and Marital Status
As per the announcement of UPSC, the candidates need to be unmarried and should not be a widower or should not be a divorcee. The following tabular includes the required Age Limit, gender, and Marital status that candidates look for:
| Academy | Age Limit | Gender | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 – 24 Years | Male | Unmarried |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19 – 22 Years | Male | Unmarried |
| Air Force Academy | 19 – 23 Years | Male | <25 years unmarried or >25 years both married and unmarried. |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | 19 – 25 Years | Female | Unmarried Women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for Men) | 19 – 25 Years | Male | Unmarried |
Caution:
- Male divorcee/ widower candidates will not be treated as unmarried. So, they will not be considered eligible for CDS Exam and Chennai courses.
- The date of birth that is entered in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate or a certificate recognized by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or any equivalent examination certificate will be accepted by UPSC.
- No other document relating to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records, etc. will be accepted.
- The date of birth candidates are providing will be recorded in the records of the admission commission. So, no change will be allowed subsequently or at a subsequent examination on any ground.
- During the verification process or in any stage of the Exam, if it is found that the date of birth which the candidate has entered, does not match with the Valid Proof or Matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, disciplinary action will be taken against them by the Commission under the Rules.
CDS Eligibility 2026: Educational Qualification
Every candidate who is willing to apply for CDS 2026, must have completed their Graduation or at least is appearing for the final exam of the degree. For further details read below:
- For I.M.A. and OTA, candidates should have a degree from a university or equivalent degree from institutions that have been recognized by the Central/State Government.
- For INA( Indian Naval Academy), candidates will need to have a Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/institution.
- To apply to Air Force Academy, applicants need a degree from a recognized university( with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2) or a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
| Academies | Educational qualification |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) | Graduation from a recognized university |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | An engineering degree from a recognized university/institute |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Bachelor of Engineering or Graduation (with Physics and Mathematics at Class 12) |
Note:
- Candidates who are in their final year/ semester Degree course and have not completed the course yet can apply for CDS Exam. They need to submit proof of passing the Degree by the prescribed date and no request for extending this date will be considered on any other ground whatsoever.
- Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester degree course are required to submit the authentic certificate of passing the degree issued by the University/College at the time of the SSB interview. The certificate of the Degree should contain the date of issue and the date of issue must be before the specified date declared by UPSC. Otherwise, their candidature will be canceled.
- Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for admission to the examination.
Physical Standard
CDS Eligibility 2026: Physical Standards for Male & Female
Candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the guidelines of UPCS. A good number of qualified candidates get disqualified on medical grounds. Therefore candidates are strongly advised to get themselves medically tested before applying for CDS Exam. the most commonly found defects are :APPLY NOWCHECK ELIGIBILITYGET UPDATES
- Wax (ears)
- Deviated Nasal Septum
- Hydrocele/Varicocele/Phimosis
- Overweight/Underweight
- Piles
- Gynaecomastia
Note:
Permanent body tattoos are strictly prohibited whether it is on their body parts except the inner face of the forearm i.e. inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand. Candidates with tattoos from specific Tribes on their face or body as per their existing customs and traditions will be permitted to a case basis.
CDS Heights and Weights Standards for Males:
The minimum acceptable height for male candidates is 157.5 cms. (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force). Women candidates’ minimum acceptable height is 152 cms. For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of the North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali and Kumaon, the Minimum acceptable height will be 5 cms less. In the case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cms.
General standards for Body :
- Body Mass Index should be below 25.
- The waist Hip ratio should be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.
- Waist Circumference should be less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.
- All biochemical metabolic parameters should be within normal limits.