🎖️ CDS Age Calculator

Check eligibility for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA

Calculate Your CDS Eligibility

Enter your date of birth to check all academies

Your Eligibility Status

🎖️ CDS Age Calculator - Check Your Eligibility in Seconds

Planning to join the Indian Armed Forces as an officer through CDS? Hold on! Before you start burning the midnight oil with your preparation, there's one critical checkpoint - the CDS age limit. Every year, lakhs of aspirants apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, but many face rejection simply because they didn't check their age eligibility properly.

That's why we've created this free CDS Age Calculator - your instant eligibility checker for all upcoming CDS exams. No more confusion, no more manual calculations, just enter your DOB and know exactly where you stand!

📊 Understanding CDS Age Limits (2025-2027)

Unlike NDA, CDS has different age limits for different academies. Let's break it down clearly:

✅ Indian Military Academy (IMA)

  • Age Range: 20 to 24 years
  • For CDS 1 2025: Born between 2nd January 2001 and 1st January 2006
  • Course Duration: 18 months at IMA Dehradun
  • Commission: Permanent Commission in Army

✅ Indian Naval Academy (INA)

  • Age Range: 20 to 24 years
  • For CDS 1 2025: Born between 2nd January 2001 and 1st January 2006
  • Course Duration: 4 years (B.Tech degree included)
  • Commission: Permanent Commission in Navy

✅ Air Force Academy (AFA)

  • Age Range: 20 to 24 years
  • For CDS 1 2025: Born between 2nd January 2001 and 1st January 2006
  • Additional: AFA requires: Bachelor's degree with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Engineering degree. No AFCAT score needed for CDS route.
  • Commission: Permanent Commission in Air Force

✅ Officers' Training Academy (OTA)

  • Age Range: 20 to 25 years (both men and women)
  • For CDS 1 2025: Born between 2nd January 2000 and 1st January 2006
  • Course Duration: 49 weeks at OTA Chennai
  • Commission: Short Service Commission (SSC)

💡 Pro Tip: OTA has a higher age limit (25 years) compared to IMA, INA, and AFA (24 years). If you're 24+, OTA is your only option through CDS!

🚀 Why Use Our CDS Age Calculator?

Here's what makes our tool indispensable for every CDS aspirant:

  • ✅ Academy-Specific Results: Shows eligibility for each academy separately
  • ✅ Multiple Exam Coverage: Check eligibility for CDS 1 and CDS 2 across multiple years
  • ✅ 100% Accurate: Based on official UPSC notifications
  • ✅ Time-Saver: No manual date calculations needed
  • ✅ Free Forever: No hidden charges or registrations

📋 CDS Educational Qualifications

Age is just one part of the eligibility puzzle. Here's what degree you need for each academy:

For IMA (Indian Military Academy):

  • Bachelor's degree from a recognized university
  • Final year students can also apply
  • Any stream accepted (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, etc.)

For INA (Indian Naval Academy):

  • B.Sc with Physics and Mathematics
  • OR B.E/B.Tech degree
  • Final year students eligible

For AFA (Air Force Academy):

  • Bachelor's degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level
  • OR B.E/B.Tech degree
  • Must have 60% marks in graduation

For OTA (Officers' Training Academy):

  • Any bachelor's degree from recognized university
  • Both men and women can apply
  • Final year students eligible

🎯 CDS vs NDA: Age Limit Comparison

Confused between NDA and CDS? Here's a quick comparison:

Aspect NDA CDS
Age Range 16.5 - 19.5 years 20 - 25 years
Education 12th Pass/Appearing Graduate/Final Year
Training Duration 3 years at NDA + 1 year at IMA/INA/AFA Direct academy training
Women Eligibility Yes (All academies) Yes (OTA only)

⚡ Quick Facts About CDS Exam

  • 📅 Frequency: Conducted twice a year (February and September)
  • 🏢 Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
  • 📝 Exam Pattern: Written exam + SSB Interview
  • 🎖️ Career Path: Direct entry as Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant/Flying Officer
  • 💰 Starting Salary: ₹56,100/- to ₹1,77,500/- per month

🔍 How to Use This CDS Age Calculator

  1. Enter Your Date of Birth: Use the exact date from your 10th certificate
  2. Click "Check My Eligibility": Our tool will process instantly
  3. View Results: See your eligibility for each academy separately
  4. Plan Accordingly: Choose the right academy based on your eligibility

❓ Frequently Asked Questions - CDS Age Limit

Clear your doubts about CDS eligibility

Answer: The maximum age is 24 years for IMA, INA, and AFA. For OTA, it's 25 years. Remember, this is your age on the first day of the month in which the course commences.

Answer: No, there's no age relaxation for any category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) in CDS exam. The age limits are same for all candidates regardless of their category.

Answer: Yes! Unlike NDA, married candidates can apply for CDS. For IMA and INA, married candidates are eligible but accommodation for families isn't provided during training. For AFA, candidates must be unmarried at the time of joining.

Answer: If you're exactly 25 years old, you can only apply for OTA (Officers' Training Academy). IMA, INA, and AFA have a maximum age limit of 24 years.

Answer: No, women can only apply for OTA through CDS exam. However, they can join IMA through NDA exam (since 2021) or through other entries like TGC (Technical Graduate Course).

Answer: There's no limit on the number of attempts for CDS exam. You can appear as many times as you want, as long as you meet the age and educational eligibility criteria.

Answer: Your age is calculated as on the first day of the month in which the course is scheduled to commence, not on the date of application. So if you're within the age limit on that specific date, you're eligible.

🎯 Ready to Check Your CDS Eligibility?

Don't let age confusion derail your defence career dreams. Our CDS Age Calculator gives you instant, accurate results for all academies. Whether you're aiming for the permanent commission through IMA/INA/AFA or the short service commission through OTA, knowing your eligibility is the first step.

Remember: CDS is not just an exam, it's your gateway to leading men and women in uniform, serving the nation with honor and pride. Age is just a number, but in UPSC's book, every day counts!

Use our calculator now and take the first step towards your olive green, white, or blue uniform! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

📚 Related Resources

Once you've confirmed your age eligibility, check out these helpful tools: