UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2020

The eligibility criteria for CDS Examination are the parameters set for the applicants to be eligible to apply for the exam. They have to fulfill all these criteria to apply for the examination. The applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria before applying for the examination, otherwise, they will not be allowed to apply for CDSE. You can check the eligibility criteria mentioned below.

CDS Eligibility Criteria

 Nationality 

• The applicants must be an Indian national. OR
• A subject of Bhutan. OR
• A subject of Nepal. OR
• A Tibetan refugee who had come to India before 1^st July 1962 to become a permanent resident of India. OR
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka & East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire & Ethiopia or Vietnam to become a permanent resident of India. If an applicant belongs to categories 2,3,4 & 5 then he/she must have obtained the certificate of eligibility that has been issued by Govt. of India. Gorkha subject to Nepal will also have to obtain a certificate of eligibility.

Marital Status

• For Indian Military Academy, applicants should be- Unmarried
• For Indian Naval Academy, applicants should be- Unmarried
• For Air Force Academy applicants should be- Unmarried till 25 years
• For Officers Training Academy applicants should be- Married or Unmarried
• For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical courses)- Unmarried or Widowed

Age Limitation 

• For Indian Military Academy, the male applicants must have born before 2^nd July 1992 and after 1^st July 1997.
• For Indian Naval Academy, the male applicants must have born before 2^nd July 1992 and after 1^st July 1997.
• For Air Force Academy, the male applicants must have aged between 20-24 years as on 1^st July 2016 (it means must not have born before 2^nd July 1992 and after 1^st July 1996. The upper age limitation for the applicants having valid current commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) will be provided up to 26 years (it means must not have born before 2^nd July 1990 & after 1^st July 1996).
• For Officers Training Academy, the male applicants must not have born before 2^nd July 1991 & after 1^st July 1997.
• For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical courses), the female applicants must not have born before 2^nd July 1991 & after 1^st July 1997.

Educational Qualification

• For Indian Military Academy, the applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
• For Indian Naval Academy, the applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology from a recognized university or equivalent.
• For Air Force Academy, the applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree of Engineering/Technology from a recognized university OR degree from a recognized university with Physics & Mathematics as subjects.
• For Officers Training Academy, the applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
• For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical course), the applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.

 NOTE- The applicants please note that those applicants who are studying in final year of their degree course are also eligible to apply for CDS 2016 (provided they have to obtain the proof of their passing the qualifying examination to “Armed Head Quarter/ Rtd CDSE Entry, West Block-III, R.K Puram, New Delhi-110066”

Physical Standard- The appearing applicants should be physically fit according to the physical standard for admission to the academies. They need to fulfill the criteria of various body measurement to get selected in the final selection process.

Note- For more details about CDS Eligibility criteria, candidates are requested to visit the official website.