UPSC CDS I 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) I—2025 through an official notification released on December 11, 2024. This recruitment drive offers 457 vacancies across various posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online on or before the deadline, which is December 31, 2024.
Vacancy Details
| Institute | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 32 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) – 123rd SSC Men | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) – 37th SSC Women | 18 |
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CDS I 2025
For the Indian Military Academy (IMA)
- Unmarried male candidates, who are born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2007 only are eligible to apply
- Degree of a recognised University or equivalent
For the Indian Naval Academy (INA)
- Unmarried male candidates, who are born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2007 only are eligible to apply.
- A degree in Engineering from a recognised University/ Institution is required.
For the Air Force Academy (AFA)
- 20 to 24 years as of 1st January 2026 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2002 and not later than 1st January 2006 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e., those born no earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2006 are only eligible.
- A degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering is required.
For the Officers Training Academy (OTA)
- Unmarried male/ female candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 2001 and not later than 1st January, 2007 are eligible.
- A degree from a recognised University or equivalent is required.
How to apply for UPSC CDS I 2025?
- To apply for UPSC CDS I 2025, candidates need to register themself on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform of UPSC (If done earlier or if the candidate is already registered, he/she can proceed straightway to fill up the online application for the exam)
- Next, go to the UPSC log-in page and log in
- Verify your details given during Registration
- Go to Dashboard and click on Apply to Active Notification
- Click on the CDS exam link
- Fill out the required details as asked in the portal
- Then pay the application fees and select the preferred city for the exam centre
- Upload the photograph, signature, and photo-identity proof
- Lastly, submit the exam form and don’t forget to download a copy of the application form for future reference
Selection Process
- The candidates have to appear in an offline OMR-based examination.
- Based on the marks obtained in the offline exams, eligibility, and the preference given by the candidates, the candidates will be sorted for IMA/ INA/ AFA/ OTA.
- The selected students will be called for SSB interview process.
- On the basis of total marks secured by candidates in the Written Examination of UPSC CDS I 2025 and the Services Selection Board Tests, the final allocation/selection for admission to the IMA/ INA/ AFA/ OTA will be made up of the number of vacancies.
UPSC CDS I 2025: Exam Pattern
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics* | 2 Hours | 100 |
SSB Interview Process
The SSB procedure consists of two stage selection processes – Stage I & Stage II. Only those candidates who clear stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:
- Stage I comprises the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and the Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP&DT.
- Stage II comprises of Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference.
- The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. the Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist.
- There is no separate weightage for each test. The marks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in all the tests.
- In addition, marks for the Conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and the decision of the Board. All these have equal weightage.
Important Dates
| Application Start Date | 11th December 2024 |
| Last Date to apply | 31st December 2024 till 6:00 PM |
| Application Correction Window | 1st to 7th January 2025 |
| Exam Date of UPSC CDS I 2025 | From 13th April 2025 |
| Conduct of SSB Interview | January, 2025 to April, 2025 |
Important Links
| Official Notification of UPSC CDS I 2025 |
| Link for One-Time Registration |
| Official Website |
| Recommended Book for CDS Exam |
For more such updates, click here.
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