The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination twice a year, providing a gateway for individuals aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. To be eligible for the CDS Exam 2024, candidates must meet specific criteria regarding age, educational qualifications, marital status, nationality, and physical fitness standards. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding the CDS Eligibility 2024.

Overview of CDS Exam 2024

The CDS Exam is a highly coveted opportunity for candidates seeking to serve in various branches of the Indian Armed Forces. The examination process involves a written test followed by an interview, ultimately determining selection for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy.

Key Details

• Exam Name: Combined Defence Services Examination
• Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Frequency: Twice a year
• Nationality: Indian
• Number of Attempts: Unlimited, subject to age limits
• Marital Status: Unmarried
• Any Experience: Not required
• Mode of Exam: Online

CDS Eligibility 2024

The UPSC specifies the eligibility criteria for the CDS Exam 2024, ensuring that candidates meet the necessary standards for recruitment into the armed forces. Let’s delve into the essential eligibility requirements:

Here is the table representing the CDS Age Limit 2024 Requirements for different academies:

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	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

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess the following educational qualifications:

• IMA & OTA: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university
• INA: Bachelor’s in Engineering from a recognized University
• AFA: Graduation with Physics and Mathematics in Class 12th or Bachelor of Engineering

Candidates in their final year of college may apply provided they meet certain conditions and present their passing degree certificate before the course commences.

CDS Exam Study Material

Physical Standards

Here is the table representing the CDS Physical Eligibility criteria:

Gender	Minimum Height	Height Relaxation for Certain Groups
Male	157.5 cm
		152 cm for Navy
		162.5 cm for Air Force Flying Branch
		157.5 cm for Air Force Ground Duty
		152 cm for Gorkhas, Assamese, Garhwalis, etc.
		5 cm shorter for people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region
Female	152 cm
		147 cm for Gorkhas, Assamese, Garhwalis, etc.
		5 cm shorter for people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region
		2 cm shorter for candidates from Lakshadweep
All	148 cm	Following all possible exemptions and allowances, the minimum height requirement for all entries is set at 148 cm. Failure to meet this criterion may result in the candidate being categorized as “below the required height standards.”

CDS Eligibility 2024: Nationality

Candidates aspiring to take the CDS examination must meet specific nationality criteria:

• Indian citizens
• Subjects of Nepal, Bhutan
• Tibetan refugees who settled in India before January 1, 1962
• Persons of Indian origin migrated from specified countries

Candidates falling under specific categories must provide valid eligibility certificates issued by the Government of India.

CDS Physical Standards for Males – Army & Navy

Candidates aspiring to join the Army and Navy through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination must meet set physical standards, demonstrating robust physical and mental health without any conditions that might hinder effective duty performance on land and at sea. Below are the height and weight parameters for different age categories in the CDS.

CDS Height and Weight Requirements for Males – Army & Navy

Height in Centimetres (Without Shoes)	Weight (Kgs)
Age
	18 years
152	44*
155	46
157	47
160	48
162	50
165	52
168	53
170	55
173	57
175	59
178	61
180	63
183	65
185	67
188	70
190	72
193	74
195	77

CDS Physical Standards for Males – Airforce

Here is a comprehensive list specifying the height and weight prerequisites for male candidates aspiring to join the Indian Air Force. The permissible weight for Air Force candidates will be within ± 10% of the average.

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 Physical Standards for Females

Women candidates aspiring to join the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) must meet the height and weight standards set by the exam conducting authority. Here is a compilation of the height and weight criteria for female applicants aiming to serve in 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

These standards ensure that candidates possess the physical attributes necessary to perform their duties effectively in the Indian Armed Forces. Candidates are encouraged to maintain optimal physical fitness to meet the rigorous demands of military service.

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Conclusion

The CDS Exam 2024 opens doors for individuals passionate about serving the nation through the armed forces. Understanding and meeting the eligibility criteria is crucial for a successful application process. Aspiring candidates should thoroughly review the requirements outlined by the UPSC to ensure they qualify for the examination.

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