CDS Age Calculator (2026)

Combined Defence Services Examination • Conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Check Eligibility

Enter your details to calculate exact age for CDS.

Date of Birth

Awaiting Details

Enter your date of birth and category to see if you are eligible for this exam.

Category-wise Age Limits Table

Official age boundaries and relaxation rules for CDS.

Category	Min Age	Max Age
General / UR	19 Yrs	25 Yrs

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

IMA & OTA: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. INA: Bachelor's in Engineering. AFA: Engineering degree OR Bachelor's with Physics & Maths at Class 12 level.

Category-wise Age Relaxation

Category	Relaxation	Max Age	Attempts
General / UR	No relaxation	—	No fixed limit

General / UR: IMA: 19–24 yrs; INA: 19–22 yrs; AFA: 19–23 yrs; OTA: 19–25 yrs. No category relaxation.

Special / Additional Relaxations

No caste/category based age relaxation for CDS — limits apply uniformly to all candidates.
Women can apply only for OTA (Short Service Commission); IMA, INA, AFA are for male candidates only.

Important Notes

IMA, INA, and AFA require candidates to be unmarried. OTA allows married candidates in some cases.
SSB Interview is a 5-day assessment covering Officer Intelligence Rating, Group Tests, and conference.
Medical examination is the final step; strict standards apply (eyesight, hearing, physical fitness).
Age is calculated as of the 1st of the notification month.

Eligibility data above is based on standard official rules. Rules can change — always verify the latest official Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) notification before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries regarding CDS age limits, cutoff date, and attempts.

Indian Military Academy (IMA): 19–24 years. Indian Naval Academy (INA): 19–22 years. Air Force Academy (AFA): 19–23 years. Officers' Training Academy (OTA) – SSC (Men and Women): 19–25 years. These are for unmarried candidates.

Women can apply only for the OTA (Officers' Training Academy) entry, which leads to a Short Service Commission (SSC). All other academies (IMA, INA, AFA) are for male candidates only.

For IMA and OTA: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. For INA: Bachelor's degree in Engineering. For AFA: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, OR Bachelor's degree with Physics and Mathematics at Class 12 level.

CDS selection involves: Written Exam (English and General Knowledge for OTA, plus Elementary Mathematics for IMA/INA/AFA), followed by SSB Interview (5 days), and a Medical Examination. The written exam carries 100 marks per paper.

Candidates applying for IMA, INA, and AFA must be unmarried. OTA candidates must also be unmarried. However, widowers and divorcees without children may be eligible in some cases - verify with the official notification.

There is no official limit on the number of CDS attempts. You can appear in every CDS exam until you exceed the age limit applicable to your target academy.