| Combined Defence Services Examination | |
| Acronym: | CDS |
| Type: | Paper-based |
| Test Admin: | Union Public Service Commission |
| Skills Tested: | English, general knowledge, elementary mathematics |
| Purpose: | Recruiting cadets to Indian military academies |
| Duration: | 6 hours 4 hours (OTA) |
| Score Range: | 0 - 300 0 - 200 (OTA) |
| Offered: | Twice a year |
| Regions: | India |
| Language: | English |
| Prerequisite: | Graduation |
| Fee: | 200 |
| Score Users: | Indian military academies |
The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is a standardised test conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment of officer cadets in the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy.
The applications are invited every year in the months of December and May, and examinations are conducted in April and September, respectively. Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam. Examination is conducted twice a year. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
Officer jobs are available in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force after passing the Combined Defense Services Exam (CDS). Any student can take this exam after graduation. This exam has two steps. First, there is a written test and after passing it there is the SSB interview.[1] [2]
| Indian Military Academy | 19–24 years[3] | |
| Air Force Academy | 20–24 years | |
| Indian Naval Academy | 19–24 years | |
| Officers Training Academy | 19–25 years |
CDS Exam Educational Qualifications is given below.
| For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy | Degree from a recognized University or equivalent | |
| For Indian Naval Academy | Degree in Engineering from a recognized University or equivalent | |
| For Air Force Academy | Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering |
The SSB interview process consists of a two-stage Selection process – stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who successfully clear the stage I SSB interview are permitted to appear for stage II.
All candidates who apply for the Air Force through more than one source will be tested/interviewed at the Air Force Selection Boards only once for Air Force.