CDS FOR A CAREER IN INDIAN
DEFENCE SERVICES

CDSE is conducted by the UPSC twice a year. University graduates or those in final year of graduation are eligible to appear in the examination. Successful candidates join the Indian Military Academy/Air Force Academy and Naval Academy for Permanent Commission and Officers Training Academy (OTA) for Short Service Commission.

A graduate can join through the combined Defence Services examination. After joining defence forces your training for regular commissioned officers is carried out at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, known as the cradle of Military leadership.

Those desirous of joining the Short Service Commission get trained at Officers Training Academy at Chennai and serve for a period of five years. On completion of this term he can either resign or opt for an extension for five years or a permanent commission.

Engineering graduates can join in the pre-final or that final year through the University Entry Scheme or after completion of graduation through Technical Graduate Scheme without any written examination by appearing before the Service Selection Board. In both the cases the candidate gets an ante date seniority of two years and gets commissioned as a Captain.

Women’s entry at graduate, post graduate or an engineering graduate level has been very popular and competitive. A woman officer now gets to serve up to fourteen years after being trained at OTA Chennai. Entry is based on selection by the Services Selection Board. Women officers have performed well in all spheres with their male counterparts even under field conditions.

The Armed Forces have over the time systematically focused on making the services more attractive, which include faster promotions, improved accommodation availability and quality schooling for children. The modernistic equipment profile in the services is highly challenging as well as exciting.

Age criteria

For IMA – 19 years to 24 years.

For Naval Academy -19 years to 22 years.

For Air Force Academy – 19 years to 23 years.

For Officers Training Academy – 19 years to 25 years.

Qualification Required

For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy-Degree of a recognized University. For Indian Naval Academy-Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/ Institution.

For Air Force Academy-Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering/Science.

For Officers Training Academy – 19 years to 25 years.

CDS FOR A CAREER IN INDIAN DEFENCE SERVICES