CDS Eligibility
Last verified 07 Oct 2026
UPSC CDS eligibility requires the following. A degree from a recognised university for the IMA and OTA. For the Indian Naval Academy, a degree in Engineering. For the Air Force Academy, a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or a degree in Engineering. The age limit for CDS (II) 2026 varies by academy — 19 to 24 years for the IMA and INA (born between 1 July 2003 and 1 July 2008), 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 for the Air Force Academy (born between 1 July 2003 and 1 July 2007; up to 26 years for holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence), and 19 to 25 years for the OTA short service commission courses (born between 1 July 2002 and 1 July 2008). IMA, INA and OTA candidates must be unmarried (the OTA women's course also admits issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried); at the Air Force Academy only candidates below 25 must be unmarried.
Educational qualification
A degree from a recognised university for the IMA and OTA. For the Indian Naval Academy, a degree in Engineering. For the Air Force Academy, a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or a degree in Engineering.
Age limit
For CDS (II) 2026 the limit varies by academy — 19 to 24 years for the IMA and INA (born between 1 July 2003 and 1 July 2008), 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 for the Air Force Academy (born between 1 July 2003 and 1 July 2007; up to 26 years for holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence), and 19 to 25 years for the OTA short service commission courses (born between 1 July 2002 and 1 July 2008). IMA, INA and OTA candidates must be unmarried (the OTA women's course also admits issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried); at the Air Force Academy only candidates below 25 must be unmarried.
Age relaxation
The CDS notice provides no category-wise relaxation of these limits. The only extension is for Air Force Academy candidates holding a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence, who may be up to 26 years old.
Number of attempts
No limit on attempts within the age window.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or fall within the other categories of nationality set out in the Examination Notice — which for most services include subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1 January 1962, and persons of Indian origin who have migrated from certain countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.