The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), and the Air Force Academy (AFA). The exam is conducted in two stages: the written examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.
- Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: You must be a citizen of India. (Certain exceptions exist for subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibetan refugees.)
- Age Limit: Generally, the age limit for IMA and INA is 19 to 24 years, for AFA it’s 19 to 23 years, and for OTA, it’s 19 to 25 years.
- Marital Status: Candidates for IMA, INA, and AFA should be unmarried. Male candidates for OTA can be married or unmarried, while female candidates should be unmarried, widows, or divorcees who haven’t remarried.
- Educational Qualifications: For IMA and OTA, you should have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. For INA, you should have a degree in Engineering. For AFA, you should have a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
- Selection Process
- Written Examination: It consists of three papers for IMA, INA, and AFA, and two papers for OTA. Each paper is of 100 marks.
- For IMA, INA, and AFA: English (2 hours), General Knowledge (2 hours), and Elementary Mathematics (2 hours).
- For OTA: English (2 hours) and General Knowledge (2 hours).
- SSB Interview: If you clear the written examination, you will be called for the SSB interview, which tests your intelligence, personality, and psychological aptitude. The SSB interview lasts for approximately five days and consists of two stages – Stage I (OIR test and PPDT) and Stage II (Psychological tests, Group Tasks, and Personal Interviews).
- Medical Examination: If you pass the SSB interview, you will undergo a medical examination to ensure you meet the physical standards required for the armed forces.
- Final Merit List: Successful candidates are placed in the order of merit based on their total marks in the written examination and SSB interview.
- Training Academies
- Indian Military Academy (IMA): Dehradun
- Indian Naval Academy (INA): Ezhimala
- Air Force Academy (AFA): Dundigal, Hyderabad
- Officers Training Academy (OTA): Chennai
- Exam Frequency: The CDS examination is conducted twice a year, usually in February and November.
- Application Process: You can apply online through the UPSC official website. You’ll need to fill out the application form, upload your documents, and pay the examination fee.
- Exam Centers: The CDS examination is conducted at various centers across India.
- Reservation: There is no reservation for SC/ST/OBC candidates in the CDS exam, but some seats are reserved for NCC certificate holders.
Please note that the specific details and eligibility criteria might change from year to year. For the most up-to-date information, check the official notification released by the UPSC on their website.
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