CDS Eligibility for 2025-26 Exam

CDS Eligibility Criteria are the basic guidelines that every aspirant needs to follow in order to apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam. This exam is conducted by UPSC for those who want to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force as officers. It is held twice a year and gives a chance to serve the country through defence services.
Before applying, it is important for applicants to understand the CDS age limit, required educational qualifications, nationality, physical fitness standards, and gender-specific rules. So keep reading to know the complete UPSC CDS eligibility that covers all important details for both males and females.
Check Out: NDA/Defence Mock Test + PYQs Books
UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025–26
The CDS full form is Combined Defence Services. It is a national-level exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select suitable candidates for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exam is held twice every year as CDS 1 and CDS 2. For the 2025–26 session, the CDS 2 exam is expected to be held on September 14, 2025. To be eligible for this exam, one must first meet the required CDS eligibility criteria.
As per UPSC CDS eligibility criteria, only unmarried applicants between the ages of 19 and 25 years can sit for the exam. The CDS exam gives entry into top defence academies like IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), AFA (Air Force Academy), and OTA (Officers Training Academy). Let’s now discuss the complete eligibility requirements, including CDS qualifications and age limit for CDS.
Check Out: NDA/Defence Books
Age Limit for CDS Exam 2025–26
To appear for the Combined Defence Services exam, applicants must meet the CDS age limit guidelines, which are different for each defence academy. The UPSC CDS eligibility also states that the age must match the date ranges mentioned in the official notification. Read the further details about the CDS age limit here:
-
For IMA: For the Indian Military Academy (IMA), only unmarried male candidates between 19 and 24 years of age can apply.
-
For INA: Those who want to apply for the Indian Naval Academy (INA) must also be unmarried males and their age should be between 19 to 22 years.
-
For AFA: For the Air Force Academy (AFA), candidates should be between 20 to 24 years of age. They must be unmarried if below 25 years.
-
Married candidates above 25 years can also apply, but they cannot stay with their families during the training.
-
If the candidate holds a valid Commercial Pilot Licence from DGCA (India), they can apply up to 26 years of age.
-
For OTA Men: For the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) for men, the age limit is 19 to 25 years, and only unmarried male candidates are eligible.
-
For OTA Women: For the OTA Women (Non-Technical Course), women between 19 to 25 years old can apply, but they must be unmarried, widows without children who have not remarried, or divorcees without children who have not remarried.
It is important to note that there is no caste-based relaxation, so the CDS age limit for OBC is also the same, which is 19 to 25 years. The CDS eligibility for female applicants allows only women applying for OTA to appear, and they must also follow the same age rules. Before applying, aspirants must carefully check which academy they want to join and whether their age and marital status fit the CDS eligibility criteria.
CDS Qualification for 2025-26
In addition to the CDS age limit, applicants are also required to meet the CDS qualification guidelines set by UPSC. CDS qualifications are different for each academy under the Combined Defence Services. Let’s understand the CDS qualification eligibility as per the academy:
-
For the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Those who are interested in IMA or OTA must have completed a graduation degree from a recognized university. Any stream is allowed.
-
For the Indian Naval Academy (INA): Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized institute.
-
For the Air Force Academy (AFA): Applicants must have a graduate degree with Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 or hold a Bachelor’s in Engineering.
-
Students who are still in their final year of graduation can also apply. But they need to show proof of passing the degree when they go for the SSB interview.
One common question around CDS qualification is, “Can 12th pass apply for CDS?” The answer is No. The minimum qualification for CDS is a graduation degree. So, only those who have completed or are in the final year of their graduation are allowed to appear for the exam.
Read More: CDS Syllabus 2025
CDS Eligibility 2025–26: Nationality Criteria
To appear for the CDS exam 2025–26, applicants must also meet the CDS eligibility related to nationality. As per the UPSC CDS eligibility, a candidate must be:
-
A citizen of India, or
-
A subject of Nepal, or
-
A subject of Bhutan, or
-
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently living in India.
-
Apart from this, people of Indian origin who have moved from certain countries can also apply. These countries include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma (now Myanmar), Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
-
But such applicants must get an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.
CDS Eligibility Criteria Related to Physical Fitness
As per the CDS eligibility criteria, all applicants must be physically and mentally fit. They should not have any health issues that may affect their ability to perform duties during peace or war, whether on land or at sea, and in any part of the world.
Minimum Height Requirement for CDS (Male): For male applicants, the minimum height required is 157 cm. But there are a few relaxations:
-
For the Indian Navy, the minimum height is 152 cm.
-
For Air Force Flying Branch: 162.5 cm
-
For Air Force Ground Duty: 157.5 cm
-
For applicants from hilly regions like Gorkhas, Garhwalis, and northeastern states, up to 5 cm of relaxation is allowed.
Minimum Height Requirement for CDS (Female): For female applicants, the minimum required height is 152 cm. Like male applicants, women from hilly and tribal regions also get height relaxation:
-
Women from regions like Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Assamese, and those from Lakshadweep islands may get 2–5 cm relaxation in height.
So, after applying all these relaxations, the minimum acceptable height for any CDS entry is 148 cm. Anyone below this will not be eligible, as per UPSC CDS eligibility rules.
CDS Height and Weight Requirements for Army & Navy
To join the Indian Army or Navy through the CDS exam, male applicants must meet certain physical standards. These include the right height and weight based on age, as given here:
CDS Eligibility for Male Related to Height and Weight |
||||
Height (cm) (No Shoes) |
Weight at 18 Years (kg) |
Weight at 20 Years (kg) |
Weight at 22 Years (kg) |
Weight at 24 Years (kg) |
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 |
188 |
70 |
71 |
72 |
74 |
190 |
72 |
73 |
74 |
76 |
193 |
74 |
76 |
77 |
78 |
195 |
77 |
78 |
79 |
81 |
Check Out: CDS - 10 Previous Year Solved Papers
CDS Physical Standards for Males To Join Air Force
To join the Indian Air Force through the CDS exam, male applicants must meet certain height and weight standards. The acceptable weight range depends on your height and age and should be within 10% above or below the average weight. This is mainly for those who have normal body fat levels (less than 20%).
CDS Height and Weight Requirements for Males To Join Air Force |
||||||||
Height in cm |
Weight (Kgs) |
|||||||
15-17 years |
18-22 years |
23-27 years |
28-32 years |
33-37 years |
38-42 years |
43-47 years |
>48 years |
|
152 |
46 |
47 |
50 |
54 |
54 |
54 |
55 |
54 |
153 |
47 |
47 |
51 |
55 |
55 |
54 |
56 |
54 |
154 |
47 |
48 |
51 |
56 |
55 |
55 |
57 |
55 |
155 |
48 |
49 |
52 |
56 |
56 |
56 |
57 |
56 |
156 |
48 |
49 |
53 |
57 |
57 |
56 |
58 |
56 |
157 |
49 |
50 |
54 |
58 |
58 |
57 |
58 |
57 |
158 |
49 |
50 |
54 |
58 |
58 |
58 |
59 |
58 |
159 |
50 |
51 |
55 |
59 |
59 |
59 |
60 |
58 |
160 |
51 |
52 |
56 |
59 |
60 |
59 |
60 |
59 |
161 |
51 |
52 |
56 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
61 |
60 |
162 |
52 |
53 |
57 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
62 |
60 |
163 |
52 |
54 |
58 |
61 |
62 |
61 |
62 |
61 |
164 |
53 |
54 |
59 |
62 |
63 |
62 |
63 |
62 |
165 |
53 |
55 |
59 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
64 |
62 |
166 |
54 |
56 |
60 |
63 |
64 |
64 |
64 |
63 |
167 |
54 |
56 |
61 |
64 |
65 |
64 |
65 |
64 |
168 |
55 |
57 |
61 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
169 |
55 |
57 |
62 |
65 |
66 |
66 |
66 |
65 |
170 |
56 |
58 |
63 |
66 |
67 |
67 |
67 |
66 |
171 |
56 |
59 |
64 |
66 |
68 |
67 |
67 |
67 |
172 |
57 |
59 |
64 |
67 |
68 |
66 |
68 |
67 |
173 |
58 |
60 |
65 |
68 |
69 |
69 |
69 |
68 |
174 |
58 |
61 |
66 |
68 |
70 |
69 |
69 |
69 |
175 |
59 |
61 |
66 |
69 |
71 |
70 |
70 |
69 |
176 |
59 |
62 |
67 |
70 |
71 |
71 |
71 |
70 |
177 |
60 |
62 |
68 |
70 |
72 |
72 |
71 |
71 |
178 |
60 |
63 |
69 |
71 |
73 |
72 |
72 |
71 |
179 |
61 |
64 |
69 |
72 |
73 |
73 |
73 |
72 |
180 |
61 |
64 |
70 |
72 |
74 |
74 |
73 |
73 |
181 |
62 |
65 |
71 |
73 |
75 |
75 |
74 |
73 |
182 |
62 |
66 |
72 |
74 |
76 |
75 |
74 |
74 |
183 |
63 |
66 |
72 |
74 |
76 |
76 |
75 |
75 |
184 |
64 |
67 |
73 |
75 |
77 |
77 |
76 |
75 |
185 |
64 |
68 |
74 |
75 |
78 |
77 |
76 |
76 |
186 |
65 |
68 |
74 |
76 |
78 |
78 |
77 |
77 |
187 |
65 |
69 |
75 |
77 |
79 |
79 |
78 |
77 |
188 |
66 |
69 |
76 |
77 |
80 |
80 |
78 |
78 |
189 |
66 |
70 |
77 |
78 |
81 |
80 |
79 |
79 |
190 |
67 |
71 |
77 |
79 |
81 |
81 |
80 |
79 |
191 |
67 |
71 |
78 |
79 |
82 |
82 |
80 |
80 |
192 |
68 |
72 |
79 |
80 |
83 |
82 |
81 |
81 |
193 |
68 |
73 |
79 |
81 |
83 |
83 |
NA |
NA |
CDS Physical Standards for Females
Female applicants who wish to apply for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) through the CDS exam must meet the physical fitness standards set by UPSC. These include specific height and weight requirements to make sure that applicants are physically fit for training and service in the armed forces.
-
The minimum height required for female applicants is 148 cm (without shoes).
-
Along with height, the weight should also match the standard range for the applicant's age, as outlined here:
CDS Physical Standards for Females |
|||
Height in cms Without Shoes |
Weights (Kgs) |
||
18 years |
20 years |
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 |
UPSC CDS Eligibility: General Medical Standards
To join the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, or OTA through the CDS exam, applicants must be physically and medically fit. Find the general medical standards for male and female applicants here:
-
Applicants must be free from any serious illness or long-term health problem.
-
There should be no visible body deformities, lumps, or growths like cysts or swollen glands.
-
Applicants' bodies must not have any issues like hernias, sinuses, or abnormal skin conditions.
-
They should not have any vision or hearing problems.
-
There should be no face or head deformities, past surgeries, or signs of damage.
-
Their heart, lungs, and other internal organs must be in good health.
-
There should be no diseases related to the digestive, urinary, or nervous systems.
-
They must not have mental health issues or past serious disorders like epilepsy.
-
Bones, muscles, and joints should be normal, with no signs of weakness or disabilities.
-
Both male and female applicants should have overall good development and no past or current signs of serious medical conditions.
Also Read: NDA and CDS Which Path Offers More Opportunities?
CDS Eligibility for 2025-26 Exam FAQs
Q.1. Who releases CDS eligibility criteria?
Ans. UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) releases the CDS eligibility criteria along with the official notification.
Q.2. What is CDS eligibility for males?
Ans. Male applicants must be Indian citizens, unmarried, physically fit as per the prescribed standards, and have a graduation degree. Age and qualifications depend on the academy they choose (IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA).
Q.3. What is the age limit for CDS?
Ans. The age limit for CDS is usually between 19 to 25 years, but it can vary slightly for different academies.
Q.4. What is CDS eligibility for females?
Ans. Female applicants must be Indian citizens, unmarried (some exceptions apply), and physically fit as per the given standards. They must have a graduation degree from a recognized university and should be between 19 to 25 years of age. Women can apply only for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).


