UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025, Age Limit, Qualification

PWOnlyIAS November 21, 2024 07:16 1415 0

UPSC CDS Eligibility criteria are specified by the UPSC, including age limit, qualification, and physical standard. Check out the complete UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 here.

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025, Age Limit, Qualification

UPSC CDS Eligibility: The UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination offers a pathway to prestigious defence training academies. It is essential to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria, including academic qualifications, age limits, and physical standards, to qualify. Below is a detailed guide to the eligibility criteria for UPSC CDS 2025, including parameters for men and women candidates.

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 Overview

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria will be mentioned in the notification released by the UPSC. Candidates have to fulfill the required eligibility criteria to be eligible for the CDS exam. The criteria include academic qualifications, age limits, and physical standards, to qualify. Below is a detailed guide to the eligibility criteria for UPSC CDS 2025, including parameters for men and women candidates.

Also Read: UPSC CDS Notification 2025

UPSC CDS Educational Qualification 2025

The UPSC has outlined the educational requirements for the CDS Examination. Aspiring candidates must meet these requirements to establish their eligibility. Specifically, candidates are required to be graduates from a recognized university to fulfill the educational criteria. It is important for candidates to pay attention to the following instructions:

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UPSC CDS Educational Qualification 2025
Academy Educational Qualification Required
Indian Military Academy (IMA) Degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
Indian Naval Academy (INA) Degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution.
Air Force Academy (AFA) Degree from a recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) Degree from a recognized university or equivalent.

Also Read: UPSC CDS Application Form 2025

UPSC CDS Age Limit and Marital Status

Understanding the age limit and marital status criteria is crucial for candidates applying to the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. Each academy under the CDS exam—IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA—has specific requirements to ensure candidates are eligible to meet the demands of their chosen defense training. Below are the detailed age and marital status criteria for UPSC CDS 2025.

Academy Age Limit Marital Status
Indian Military Academy (IMA) 18 – 23 Years

Only male candidates (unmarried) born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2006 are eligible.

Unmarried
Indian Naval Academy (INA) 18 – 23 Years

Only male candidates (unmarried) born not earlier than 2nd January, 2001 and not later than 1st January, 2006 are eligible.

Unmarried
Air Force Academy 20 – 24 Years

 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than January 1, 2005.

25 years unmarried or 25 years

both married and unmarried.

Officers’ Training Academy

(SSC Women Non-Technical Course)

19 – 25 Years

Candidates should have been born before January 2, 2000 and not later than January 1, 2006.

Unmarried females, issueless widows

who haven’t remarried, and issueless

divorcees who have not remarried are eligible.

Officers’ Training Academy

(SSC Course for Men)

19 – 25 Years

Candidates must not be born earlier than 2nd January, 2000 and not later than 1st January, 2006.

Unmarried

UPSC CDS Eligibility for Physical Standards 

Candidates must meet the prescribed physical standards as per their chosen academy. Below are the key parameters:

CDS Height and Weight Requirements for Army & Navy

Height in Centimetres (Without Shoes) Weight (Kgs)
18 years 20 years 22 years 24 years
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

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CDS Physical Standards for Males – Airforce

Here is a detailed list outlining the height and weight requirements for male candidates who wish to join the Indian Air Force. The acceptable weight for Air Force candidates should fall within ±10% of the average, based on a body fat percentage of less than 20% for normal individuals.

CDS Height and Weight Requirements for Airforce

Height (mm) 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
1520 46 47 50 54 54 54 55 54
1530 47 47 51 55 55 54 56 54
1540 47 48 51 56 55 55 57 55
1550 48 49 52 56 56 56 57 56
1560 48 49 53 57 57 56 58 56
1570 49 50 54 58 58 57 58 57
1580 49 50 54 58 58 58 59 58
1590 50 51 55 59 59 59 60 58
1600 51 52 56 59 60 59 60 59
1610 51 52 56 60 60 60 61 60
1620 52 53 57 61 61 61 62 60
1630 52 54 58 61 62 61 62 61
1640 53 54 59 62 63 62 63 62
1650 53 55 59 63 63 63 64 62
1660 54 56 60 63 64 64 64 63
1670 54 56 61 64 65 64 65 64
1680 55 57 61 65 65 65 65 65
1690 55 57 62 65 66 66 66 65
1700 56 58 63 66 67 67 67 66
1710 56 59 64 66 68 67 67 67
1720 57 59 64 67 68 66 68 67
1730 58 60 65 68 69 69 69 68
1740 58 61 66 68 70 69 69 69
1750 59 61 66 69 71 70 70 69
1760 59 62 67 70 71 71 71 70
1770 60 62 68 70 72 72 71 71
1780 60 63 69 71 73 72 72 71
1790 61 64 69 72 73 73 73 72
1800 61 64 70 72 74 74 73 73
1810 62 65 71 73 75 75 74 73
1820 62 66 72 74 76 75 74 74
1830 63 66 72 74 76 76 75 75
1840 64 67 73 75 77 77 76 75
1850 64 68 74 75 78 77 76 76
1860 65 68 74 76 78 78 77 77
1870 65 69 75 77 79 79 78 77
1880 66 69 76 77 80 80 78 78
1890 66 70 77 78 81 80 79 79
1900 67 71 77 79 81 81 80 79
1910 67 71 78 79 82 82 80 80
1920 68 72 79 80 83 82 81 81
1930 68 73 79 81 83 83

CDS Eligibility 2025 for Female Candidates

Female candidates applying for the UPSC CDS Exam 2025 are eligible exclusively for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) in the non-technical category. Unlike male candidates, who can apply for IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA, female applicants must adhere to specific eligibility criteria set by the UPSC. Any discrepancies in meeting these requirements may result in disqualification. Below are the key eligibility factors for female candidates:

Eligibility Criteria Details
Age Limit Female candidates must be born between 2nd January 2000 and 1st January 2006.
Educational Qualification Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
Nationality Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Bhutan or Nepal, or a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before 1st January 1962.
Marital Status
  • Only unmarried females, widows (not remarried), and divorcees (not remarried with valid documents) are eligible.
  • Females are not eligible for IMA, INA, or AFA; these are open to unmarried male candidates only.
Physical Standards Minimum acceptable height for female candidates is 152 cm.

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UPSC CDS Physical Standards for Females 

Female candidates seeking admission to the OTA need to satisfy the height and weight requirements established by the authority conducting the examination. Below is a summary of the height and weight standards for women who wish to join the OTA.

CDS Height and Weight Standards for Female Candidates
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

Ready to boost your UPSC CDS 2025 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC CDS online course today!

UPSC CDS Eligibility 2025 FAQs

The age limit ranges from 19 to 25 years, varying by academy.

Yes, unmarried females can apply for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

A degree from a recognized university is required, with specific criteria for INA and AFA.

Yes, candidates must meet specific physical standards, including height, weight, and vision.

Yes, height relaxations of up to 5 cm are provided for candidates from certain regions, such as Gorkhas and North-East India.
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