UPSC CDS 2026 · Age limit & eligibility
UPSC CDS Age Limit 2026: Relaxation, Qualification and Eligibility
Age limit, the date on which age is counted, category-wise relaxation and the educational qualification, as printed in the official notice.
UPSC CDS age limit and relaxation
Age limit
IMA and INA: 19–24, unmarried men born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008. AFA: 20–24, born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007 (up to 26 for DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders: born 1 July 2001 – 1 July 2007). OTA Men: 19–25, unmarried, born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008. OTA Women: born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008 (as on Date-of-birth windows printed in the notice (para 3(b)); AFA age counted as on 1 July 2027)
Educational qualification
- IMA and OTA: degree of a recognised university or equivalent
- INA: degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2
- AFA: degree of a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or Bachelor of Engineering
- Final-year students may apply; proof of passing is due by 1 July 2027 (IMA, INA), 13 May 2027 (AFA) and 1 October 2027 (OTA)
Upper age relaxation
| AFA: holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence | Upper age limit relaxable to 26 years |
Application fee
₹200. All female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempted from the fee. OBC and EWS candidates get no exemption.
Source: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II (published 20 May 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Age, marital status and qualification by academy
Each academy has its own date-of-birth window and marital rule. Male divorcees and widowers are not treated as unmarried men and are not eligible for the IMA, INA, AFA or OTA courses. Women are considered only for the Short Service Commission course at OTA.
For the Air Force Academy, a candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Married candidates aged 25 or above may apply, but during training they will not be given married accommodation and cannot live with family outside the premises. Marriage is not permitted during training at any academy — you must undertake not to marry until you complete your full training.
Final-year degree students can apply but must carry a bonafide certificate from their university or college to the SSB interview, and submit proof of passing by the course's deadline. The notice says no extension is given for delays in university examinations or results.
On nationality, you must be a citizen of India; a subject of Nepal; or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, listed East African countries or Vietnam to settle permanently in India. Candidates in the last two groups need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India; Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not.
Age and marital status (para 3(b))
| Course | Who can apply | Age | Born between |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | Unmarried men | 19–24 | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008 |
| INA | Unmarried men | 19–24 | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008 |
| AFA | Men; unmarried if below 25 | 20–24 as on 1 July 2027 | 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007 |
| AFA — DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders | As above | Up to 26 | 1 July 2001 – 1 July 2007 |
| OTA (SSC Men) | Unmarried men | 19–25 | 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008 |
| OTA (SSC Women) | Unmarried women, and issueless widows and divorcees (with divorce documents) who have not remarried | — | 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008 |
Qualification and proof-of-passing deadline (para 3(c))
| Course | Qualification | Final-year proof due by |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent | 1 July 2027 |
| INA | Degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject; Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 | 1 July 2027 |
| AFA | Degree of a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or Bachelor of Engineering | 13 May 2027 |
| OTA (Men and Women) | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent | 1 October 2027 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for UPSC CDS?
IMA and INA: 19–24, unmarried men born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008. AFA: 20–24, born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007 (up to 26 for DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders: born 1 July 2001 – 1 July 2007). OTA Men: 19–25, unmarried, born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008. OTA Women: born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008, counted as on Date-of-birth windows printed in the notice (para 3(b)); AFA age counted as on 1 July 2027, as per the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II. Category-wise upper age relaxation is given in the notice.
What qualification is needed for UPSC CDS?
IMA and OTA: degree of a recognised university or equivalent. INA: degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2. AFA: degree of a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or Bachelor of Engineering. Final-year students may apply; proof of passing is due by 1 July 2027 (IMA, INA), 13 May 2027 (AFA) and 1 October 2027 (OTA).
What is the age limit for CDS (II) 2026?
IMA and INA: 19–24 (born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008). AFA: 20–24 (born 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2007), up to 26 for DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders. OTA: born 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2008.
What qualification is needed for CDS?
A degree from a recognised university for IMA and OTA. INA needs a degree in Engineering or a B.Sc. with Physics, and AFA needs a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 or a Bachelor of Engineering.
Can final-year students apply for CDS?
Yes. Proof of passing must reach by 1 July 2027 for IMA and INA, 13 May 2027 for AFA and 1 October 2027 for OTA, and a bonafide certificate is required at the SSB.