UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 Apply Now for 457 Officers Positions

UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025: The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I), 2025, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), invites applications for 457 officer positions across the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). The roles are open to unmarried male and female candidates, as well as specific categories such as widows and divorcees, with varying eligibility criteria for each academy.

The recruitment process for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 involves a written examination followed by an intelligence and personality test conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB). Candidates will be assessed on English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (except for OTA, which excludes mathematics). Successful candidates undergo rigorous training at the respective academies, preparing them for leadership roles in the Indian Armed Forces. Application submissions are entirely online through the UPSC portal, with the last date for submission being December 31, 2024.

Also Read:

BEL Project Engineer Recruitment 2024 for Gujarat & Rajasthan

HAL Naini Aerospace Limited Recruitment 2024 Apply for Project Engineer Finance and HR Officer Vacancies

Key Highlights for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025

Also Read: RVNL Deputy General Manager Electrical Recruitment 2024

Nationality

Candidates applying for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 must meet one of the following criteria:

• Citizen of India.
• Subject of Nepal.
• Person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam) with the intent to permanently settle in India. Such candidates must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, except for Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

Age Limits, Marital Status, and Gender

• Indian Military Academy (IMA): Unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2007.
• Indian Naval Academy (INA): Unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2007.
• Air Force Academy (AFA):
  • Age: 20 to 24 years as of January 1, 2026 (born between January 2, 2002, and January 1, 2006).
  • Upper age limit for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by DGCA: 26 years (born between January 2, 2000, and January 1, 2006).
  • Candidates below 25 years must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training.
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Men): Unmarried male candidates born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2007.
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Women):
  • Unmarried women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees (with legal documents) born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2007.

Educational Qualifications

• Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
• Indian Naval Academy (INA): Degree in Engineering from a recognized university or institution.
• Air Force Academy (AFA):
  • Degree from a recognized university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
  • OR Bachelor of Engineering.

Candidates in their final year/semester of degree programs are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any backlog and submit proof of passing the degree examination by the specified dates (January 1, 2026, for IMA/INA/AFA and April 1, 2026, for OTA).

Physical Standards

• Candidates must be physically fit according to standards outlined in the official guidelines provided in the notification.
• Specific height, weight, and vision requirements vary by academy and service.

Other Eligibility Notes

• Male divorcee or widower candidates are not considered unmarried and are ineligible for IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses.
• Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding a commission in the armed forces are not eligible.

How to Apply for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025

Registration on UPSC Online Portal

• Visit the official UPSC online portal at https://upsconline.nic.in.
• Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process if not already registered.
• Provide your basic details, such as name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.

Filling the Online Application Form

• Log in to the portal using your registration credentials.
• Select the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025 application link.
• Complete the application in two parts:
  • Part I: Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and preferences for academies.
  • Part II: Pay the application fee (if applicable), upload documents, and agree to the declaration.

Upload Required Documents

• Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and a valid photo ID in the prescribed format:
  • Photograph: 20 KB to 300 KB in JPG format.
  • Signature: 20 KB to 300 KB in JPG format.
  • Photo ID: Clearly scanned copy as uploaded during registration.

Application Fee Payment

• Pay ₹200 via one of the following modes:
  • Net banking.
  • Debit/Credit card.
  • Cash deposit at any SBI branch (using a generated pay-in slip).
• Female/SC/ST candidates are exempted from fee payment.

Submission and Acknowledgment

• Verify all entered details before final submission.
• Submit the application and save the confirmation page for future reference.
• Note down the registration ID (RID) and take a printout of the submitted application form.

Modifications in the Application

• Corrections can be made within the specified correction window (January 1, 2025, to January 7, 2025).
• Changes in registration profile can only be made once in a lifetime.

Downloading the Admit Card

• Admit cards for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 will be released on the UPSC website approximately one week before the exam date.
• Candidates applying for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 must log in to download their admit cards and check for any discrepancies.

Ensure the application for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025 is submitted before the deadline, December 31, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

Selection Process for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025

Written Examination

The first stage of the selection process is a written examination conducted by UPSC. The exam consists of objective-type questions and varies based on the chosen academy:

• IMA, INA, and AFA:
  • English (100 marks, 2 hours).
  • General Knowledge (100 marks, 2 hours).
  • Elementary Mathematics (100 marks, 2 hours).
• OTA (Men and Women):
  • English (100 marks, 2 hours).
  • General Knowledge (100 marks, 2 hours).

Candidates should note that there is negative marking for incorrect answers.

Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview

Candidates who qualify in the written examination are shortlisted for the SSB interview, conducted in two stages over 4–5 days:

• Stage I:
  • Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test.
  • Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).
  • Candidates who clear Stage I proceed to Stage II.
• Stage II:
  • Psychological Tests.
  • Group Testing Officer Tasks.
  • Personal Interview.
  • Conference.

Marks for the SSB interview are 300 for IMA, INA, and AFA, and 200 for OTA.

Medical Examination

Shortlisted candidates must undergo a medical examination to ensure they meet the physical and medical standards specified for the academy they have applied for.

Merit List

The final selection is based on the combined marks of the written examination and the SSB interview. Separate merit lists are prepared for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA, depending on the number of vacancies and candidate preferences.

Training

Candidates included in the merit list are offered training at their respective academies:

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
• Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala.
• Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad.
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

Important Dates and Web Links for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination 2025

Important Dates and Web Links for CDS Examination (I), 2025