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The CDS Exam or more commonly known as the Combined Defence Services Examination is the gateway for the courageous youth of the country who want to pursue a career out of serving the nation by joining the countries defence forces. The qualifying candidates are recruited and inducted into the elite defence academies of the country namely Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, Naval Academy in Goa, Air Force Academy in Begumpet Hyderabad and the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. The aspiring candidates joining the first three academies receive permanent communion on completion and the cadets joining the Officers Training Academy are eligible for Short service Commission. The selection of the academies is purely on the basis of the merit listing and the choice of the aspiring candidate.
CDS Exam Details
The CDS exam is organized by the Union Public Service Commission, commonly known as UPSC. The exam is held two times in a year in the months of February and August. The exam held in February is known as the CDS – I and the exam held in August is known as the CDS II. The announcement for these exams is published in all the leading news papers and the employment news. The application forms for this exam are published in the news papers. The application form for the CDS exams is also available in all the post offices for a nominal fee of Rs 20 per form. The exam is conducted in close to 47 centres across India. A fee if Rs100 through a single Central Recruitment Fee Stamp is payable by candidates wishing to appear for the exam. This stamp is available at all post offices. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates are exempted from paying the fee.
Eligibility for CDS Exam
To be eligible for the CDS exam, candidates should be a citizen of India primarily. Subjects of Bhutan and Nepal and Tibetan refugees who have migrated to India and settled in India prior to 1962 are also eligible. Other than citizens of India all other candidate should have a certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India to be eligible to appear for the exam. Each of these four academies’ has other eligibility criteria in terms of Age, Education etc. The details are given below
Indian Military Academy: Unmarried men between the age group of 19 to 24 years are eligible to take up the examination. The candidates must also have a degree of a recognized university or equivalent
Naval Academy: Unmarried men in the age group of 19 to 22 years are eligible to appear for the exam. The candidates should also posses a degree of recognized university and with Mathematics and Physics as their subjects in 10+2 level or candidates with Bachelor of Engineering degrees are eligible.
Air Force Academy: Unmarried men in the age group of 19 to 23 years are eligible. The candidates must have a degree in B.Sc Maths & Physics of Bachelor of Engineering are eligible.
Officer's Training academy: Married or Unmarried men and women in the age group of 19 to 25 years are eligible. The candidates must also have a degree of a recognized university or equivalent
Selection Process for CDS Exam
The students satisfying the above eligibility criteria and on successful completion of the written test are called for interview with the service selection board to test their Intelligence and personality. The CDS exam also comprises of a Physical Standards check where the medical fitness of candidates is checked as per the prescribed physical standards. Only on clearing this round is the selected candidates considered for the academy of his choice.
