CDS Eligibility 2026- UPSC will release the eligibility of CDS 2026 along with official notice at upsc.gov.in. UPSC CDS 2026 eligibility criteria includes minimum CDS age limit, qualification, nationality and more. UPSC will reject the application of ineligible candidates. Hence, candidates should check the CDS exam eligibility 2026 before filling up the application form. Read the article to get details of UPSC CDS 2026 eligibility criteria for CDS 1 & CDS 2.
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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the Combined Defence Services Examination (I) on April 12, 2026 and CDS 2 2026 on September 13, 2026.
Latest- CDS 2 application form will be released soon. Solve CDS Sample Papers to know the exam pattern & CDS syllabus
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026- Nationality
As mentioned in CDS exam eligibility 2026, Aspirants must possess any of the following nationalities
- Indian Citizenship, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who migrated to India before 1 January 1962 for residing permanently in India, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Srilanka or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or from Vietnam to reside permanently in India.
Candidates applying under categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) must possess a certificate of eligibility, issued by the Government of India.
CDS Eligibility 2026- Age Limit & Sex
Candidates can check the UPSC CDS 2026 age limit and marital status in the given section-
Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for IMA, Airforce and Naval Academy. However, for OTA, unmarried Women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried can also apply for UPSC recruitment 2022.
Note: Male divorcee/widower candidates should not be treated as unmarried, hence they are not eligible for admission in IMA/INA/AFA courses.
UPSC CDS Age Limit 2026
| Academy | CDS 2026 Age Limit | Dates |
| For IMA | 19-24 | Born between January 2, 2003 to January 1, 2008 |
| For Air Force Academy | 19-23 Maximum CDS 2026 Age limit for applicants holding valid & current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India)- 26 yrs | Born between January 2, 2003 to January 1, 2008. Married candidates above 25 yrs of age are also eligible. |
| For Indian Naval Academy | 19- 22 | Born between January 2, 2003 to January 1, 2008 |
| For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for Men) | born between January 2, 2002 and not after than January 1, 2008 | |
| For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born between January 2, 2002 and not after than January 1, 2008 |
UPSC CDS Eligibility 2026- Educational Qualification
- For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy- Candidates must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognized University/ Institute or equivalent.
- For Indian Naval Academy- Candidates must have a Graduate Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/ Institution.
- For Air Force Academy- Candidates must have a Graduate Degree or Bachelor of Engineering from a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level)
Note: Candidates appearing in the final year of Degree course are also eligible to apply.
Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Combined Defence Services Examination (I).
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026- Physical Standards
| Height and Weight Standards (Male) | ||||
| Height in Centimetres (Without shoes) | Weight in Kgs. | |||
| 18 years | 20 years | 22 years | 24 years | |
| 195 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 81 |
| 193 | 74 | 76 | 77 | 78 |
| 190 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 76 |
| 188 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 74 |
| 185 | 67 | 69 | 70 | 71 |
| 183 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 68 |
| 180 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 |
| 178 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 |
| 175 | 59 | 61 | 62 | 62 |
| 173 | 57 | 59 | 60 | 61 |
| 170 | 55 | 57 | 58 | 59 |
| 168 | 53 | 55 | 57 | 58 |
| 165 | 52 | 53 | 55 | 56 |
| 162 | 50 | 52 | 53 | 54 |
| 160 | 48 | 50 | 51 | 52 |
| 157 | 47 | 49 | 50 | 51 |
| 155 | 46 | 48@ | 49 | 50 |
| 152 | 44* | 46 | 47 | 48 |
CDS Eligibility 2026- Height and Weight Standards (Females)
Below is the CDS eligibility for female Height and Weight
| Height in Centimetres (Without shoes) | Weight in Kgs. | ||
| 20 years | 25 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 | 49 | 51 |
| 165 | 49 | 51 | 53 |
| 168 | 50 | 52 | 54 |
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