Combined Defence Services Examination
| Conducted by | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Exam type | Recruitment examination (written test followed by Services Selection Board interview) |
| Field | Defence |
| Who can apply | IMA and OTA: a degree from a recognised university. Indian Naval Academy: an engineering degree, or B.Sc. with Physics and 10+2 Physics and Mathematics. Air Force Academy: a degree with 10+2 Physics and Mathematics, or B.E. Final-year students may apply. |
| Age / class | Roughly 19 to 25 years depending on the academy (20 to 24 for the Air Force Academy), within a birth-date window set in each notice. Marital status conditions apply. Check the current official notification. |
| How often | UPSC's annual calendar lists two Combined Defence Services examinations a year, CDS (I) and CDS (II). |
| Stages | UPSC written examination, then intelligence and personality test at a Services Selection Board, then medical examination. |
| What it leads to | Commissioned officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai (Short Service Commission). |
| Recognition | Government |
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