What are the Eligibility Criteria for the CDS Exam?
- Knewspaper
- Feb 22
- 2 min read
The CDS exam is one of the most competitive exams in the country and is conducted twice a year. This exam is conducted by UPSC and allows the candidates to serve the country in the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. Every exam comes with its own set of eligibility criteria. Similarly, the CDS exam also has eligibility criteria that aspirants must adhere to when registering for the examination. If you are someone who also wants to apply for the CDS exam but is unaware of the eligibility criteria, you have landed on the right page. This blog will help you understand whether you can apply for the exam or not. Moreover, you will also get a glimpse of how to prepare for your examination.

Eligibility Criteria for CDS Examination
Below are the mandatory conditions that candidates must adhere to apply for the CDS exam.
Candidate must be an Indian resident
The candidate had either completed their graduation or in the final year of graduation
The minimum age limit to apply for the exam is 19 years
Women candidates are eligible for OTA
Divorced and issueless women are eligible to sit in the exam
B.Tech graduates are eligible to apply for IMA, INA, and AFA
Candidates must meet the physical standards
Preparation Tips for CDS Examination
Keep a Touch base with Latest Syllabus
Staying up to date with the latest syllabus is of prime importance in the CDS exam. CDS exam books act as a great source to provide holistic information about the topics that will be asked in the exam.
Stay Acquainted with Previous Year's Papers
CDS's previous year's question paper will give an idea about the type of questions being asked in the exam. This will help you prepare well for the typologies of questions being asked in the exam.

Stay motivated
While preparing for the exam, make sure that you don't lose your sense of motivation. This will help you stay focused towards your goal, and you can secure a good rank in the exam.
Take practice sessions
Practising with the sample papers will help you gain the confidence to answer any type of question in the exam. You can also leverage the SSB Interview Book to see different types of questions being asked in the interview.
Final Thoughts
The CDS exam can be conquered if you know the apt eligibility criteria to register for the exam. You can also follow the above tips to prepare well and secure a good rank in the exam. So, pull up your socks and stay focused on your preparation journey to excel in the CDS exam with flying colors.
All the best!