UPSC CDS Exam 2025: The Union Public Service Commission has released the notification for CDS Examination (I) 2025 on its official website. Candidates can apply online on the UPSC website from 11 to 31 December 2024. A total of 457 vacancies are notified by the commission.
CDS exam is conducted twice a year by the UPSC for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force, and Officers Training Academy (OTA). CDS 1 2025 Exam will be conducted on 13 April 2025.
UPSC CDS Exam 2025 Overview
| Exam Name | CDS Exam (Session 1) |
| Organization/ Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Category | Defence Exam |
| Total Vacancy | 457 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Last Date | 31 December 2025 |
| CDS Exam Date | 13 April 2025 |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year |
| Exam Stages | Written Test & SSB Interview |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Language of Exam | English & Hindi |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Join Groups | Telegram | WhatsApp |
What is CDS Exam?
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the UPSC for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA).
Only unmarried graduates are eligible to apply for the UPSC CDS Exam 2025. The Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted twice a year. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
UPSC CDS Exam 2025 Notification
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released UPSC CDS 1 Notification 2025 on its website on 11 December 2024 .The candidates can apply for CDS exam till 31 December 2024.
As per the official notification of the CDS 1 Exam 2025, there are total 457 vacancies. As per the UPSC Calendar 2025, the commission will conduct the CDS examination on 13 April 2025 .The candidates will be selected based on their performances in written test and an interview conducted by the SSB.
After the exam, the selected candidates would join the respective defense academy as commissioned officers. We have updated the direct link to download the CDS 2025 Notification PDF below. The CDS 2025 Exam will be held on 13 April 2025 in an offline mode across India.
UPSC CDS Vacancy 2025
| Name of the Course | Total Vacancy |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun -160th (DE) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 32 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 123rd SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 37th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) | 18 |
| TOTAL | 457 |
CDS Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the CDS 2025 Exam, candidates need to fulfil the following eligibility conditions in terms of nationality, education qualifications, age limits, marital status, etc.
CDS Educational Qualification
Qualification required to eligible for CDS 1 2025 Exam is as follows:-
| Courses | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. |
| Indian Naval Academy | Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/ Institution. |
| Air Force Academy | Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering. |
| OTA – Men | Graduate/ Final year of Graduation |
| OTA – Women (Non-Technical) | Graduate/ Final year of Graduation |
CDS Age Limit and Marital Status
| Courses | Age Limit | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|
| Officer Training Academy (OTA – Men) | 19-25 years | Unmarried (Male) |
| Officer Training Academy (OTA-Women, Non-Technical) | 19-25 years | Unmarried (Women) |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19-24 years | Unmarried (Male) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19-24 years | Unmarried (Male) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20-24 years | Age below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. |
CDS Selection Process
The selection of CDS 1 2025 will be through:-
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview
How to Fill CDS Application Form 2025?
- Visit the UPSC official website- https://upsc.gov.in/
- New users need to complete the OTR Process.
- The registered users can directly fill CDS application form 2025.
- Registration comprises two parts – Part I & Part II
- Part-I include candidate’s registration, choosing the preferred branch, verifying details, and generation of registration ID.
- In Part-II, candidates need to pay the application fees, select the exam centre, upload the necessary documents.
- After filling both parts successfully, candidates can submit the CDS application form 2025.
- Take the printout of CDS application form and fee transaction receipt for future reference.
Important Dates
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| CDS 1 Notification 2025 | 11 December 2024 |
| CDS Last Date to Apply | 31 December 2024 |
| CDS 1 Admit Card 2025 | March/April 2025 |
| CDS 1 Exam Date 2025 | 13 April 2025 |
Important Website Links
| UPSC Exam Calendar 2025 PDF | Download Here |
| CDS 1 Notification 2025 | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
| BodoPedia | Click Here |
| Join Telegram Channel | Click Here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
FAQ
1. When will CDS 1 Exam 2025 be conducted?
The CDS 1 Exam 2025 will be conducted on 13 April 2025.