• Updated on 5 Sept, 2026 by Paulami Chandra
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The CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 specifies the conditions candidates must fulfil to be considered for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Candidates must meet the required nationality, age, educational qualification, gender and marital status requirements, along with the required physical standards, eyesight and medical fitness criteria. For CDS 2 exam 2026, the age limit is 19 to 24 years for IMA and INA, 20 to 24 years for AFA, and 19 to 25 years for OTA. A degree from a recognised university is required for IMA and OTA, while INA requires an engineering degree or a degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, and AFA requires a degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level or a Bachelor of Engineering.
Additionally, candidates must also satisfy the applicable marital-status conditions for their chosen academy. The UPSC CDS 2 notification 2026 was issued on May 20, 2026. The Commission later extended the application deadline to June 11, 2026. The CDS 2 exam 2026 is scheduled for September 13, 2026, while the CDS 2 admit card 2026 was released on September 3, 2026. A total of 451 vacancies have been announced across IMA, INA, AFA and OTA, including 100 vacancies for IMA, 26 for INA, 32 for AFA, 275 for OTA (Men), and 18 for OTA (Women). The selection process comprises the written examination followed by the SSB interview, subject to meeting the required medical and eligibility conditions.
Table of Contents
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Important Dates
The CDS 2 exam 2026 is the second recruitment examination conducted by UPSC for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces through IMA, INA, AFA and OTA in 2026. UPSC issued the notification on May 20, 2026, and accepted applications until June 9, 2026. The Commission has now released the CDS 2 admit card on September 3, 2026, allowing registered candidates to download their hall tickets before the exam scheduled on September 13, 2026. Candidates appearing for CDS 2 2026 must complete the application process within the prescribed timeline to avoid missing any important event related to the CDS 2026 Recruitment:
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: General Requirements
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 varies slightly for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA based on educational qualification, gender eligibility, and age limit. Candidates must satisfy all prescribed conditions related to nationality, marital status, physical standards, and medical fitness before applying for the examination.
Check: CDS Application Process 2026
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Height & Weight Parameters
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 includes detailed height and weight standards that candidates must fulfil according to their age group and academy requirements. Candidates must maintain a weight proportionate to height and age as prescribed under the defence medical guidelines.
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Vision Standards
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 also includes detailed eyesight and vision requirements for candidates applying through different entries. Candidates must satisfy the prescribed visual acuity and colour perception standards for final medical fitness.
Check: CDS Exam 2026 Syllabus
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Medical Standards
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 requires candidates to be medically fit according to UPSC and defence medical guidelines. Candidates should not suffer from chronic diseases, congenital deformities, hearing impairment, vision disorders, or physical disabilities that may affect military training and service. Candidates can check below some general guidelines related to CDS medical standards for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA:
- Candidates should be free from any medical conditions
- There should be no proof of weak constitution, imperfect development of any system, any congenital deformities/ diseases,/syndrome, or malformation
- There should be no swellings, including tumours/cysts/swollen lymph node/s anywhere on the body
- Candidates must not have sinus/fistula anywhere on the body
- There should be no hyper- or hypopigmentation or any other disease/syndrome/disability of the skin
- No hernia anywhere on the body
- No scars which can impair functioning and cause significant disfigurement.
- No arterio-venous malformation anywhere in/on the body
- No malformation of the head and face, including asymmetry, deformity from fracture or depression of the bones of the skull, or scars indicating old operative interference and malformation like sinuses and fistulae, etc.
- No impairment of vision, including colour perception and field of vision
- No hearing impairment, deformities/disabilities in-ears vestibule-cochlear system
- There should not be an impediment of speed due to aetiology
- No disease/disability/ congenital anomaly/syndrome of the bones or cartilages of the nose, palate, nasal polyps, or disease of the nasopharynx, uvula, and accessory sinuses. There should be no nasal deformity and no features of chronic tonsillitis
- No disease /syndrome/disability of the throat, palate, tonsils or gums, or any disease or injury affecting the normal function of either mandibular joint
- No disease /syndrome/disability of the heart and blood vessels, including congenital, genetic, organic incl hypertension, and conduction disorders
- No evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis or previous history of this disease or any other disease /syndrome/disability, chronic disease of the lungs and chest, including allergies /immunological conditions, connective tissue disorders, or musculoskeletal deformities of the chest
- No disease of the digestive system, including any abnormality of the liver, or pancreas, including endocrine, congenital, hereditary, or genetic diseases /syndromes and disabilities
- No diseases/syndrome/disability of any endocrine system, reticuloendothelial system
- No diseases/syndrome/disability of the genito-urinary system, including malformations, atrophy/hypertrophy of any organ or gland
- No active, latent or congenital venereal disease
- No history or evidence of mental disease, epilepsy, incontinence of urine, or enuresis
- No disease/deformity/syndrome of the musculoskeletal system and joints, skull, spine, and limbs
- There is no congenital or hereditary disease/ syndrome/disability.
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
What is the CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026?
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 are as follows: nationality, age, education, marital status, height-weight, vision, and medical standards of candidates seeking employment by IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
Who can apply as per the CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026?
Indian citizens, Nepalese and Bhutan subjects or Tibetan refugees aged between 19 and 25 years, both unmarried and fulfilling education, physical and medical requirements, are eligible to do CDS 1 and 2 exams by UPSC.
When was the CDS 2 2026 notification released?
UPSC issued the CDS 2 notification 2026 on May 20, 2026, marking the beginning of the online application process. Candidates were initially allowed to submit their applications until June 9, 2026. The CDS 2 exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on September 13, 2026.
When will CDS 2 2026 be conducted?
The CDS 2 2026 written exam will be held on September 13, 2026 (Sunday) in three shifts. The English paper will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, General Knowledge from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and Elementary Mathematics from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Mathematics paper is applicable only to candidates appearing for IMA, INA, and AFA, while OTA candidates have to appear for English and General Knowledge.
What educational qualifications are required for IMA and OTA?
IMA and OTA are required to graduate from a recognised university. Final year students, too, are allowed to apply, but they have to submit evidence of graduation at the time of joining.
What qualifications are needed for INA and AFA?
INA requires an engineering degree from a recognised university. AFA requires a bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level or an engineering degree.
What is the age limit for CDS 2026?
Candidates must be 19–24 years for IMA, INA, AFA, and 19–25 years for OTA, as specified in the CDS 2026 notification.
Are both males and females eligible for CDS 2026?
Yes, both male and female candidates can apply for CDS 2 2026, but their eligibility depends on the academy and course. Male candidates can apply for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA, subject to the prescribed age, educational and marital-status requirements. Female candidates are eligible only for the OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical) course. For CDS 2 2026, 18 vacancies are earmarked for the OTA Women course, while women cannot apply for IMA, INA or AFA through this exam.
What is the minimum height requirement for CDS 2026?
Minimum male height is 157.5 cm for IMA, INA, OTA, and 162.5 cm for AFA. The minimum female height is 152 cm for OTA.
What are the chest expansion requirements for male candidates?
Male candidates must have a minimum chest expansion of 5 cm as per UPSC and Defence medical standards.
What are the CDS 2026 weight standards?
Weight must be proportional to height and age. For example, at 140 cm, the minimum weight is 35–43 kg, depending on age, increasing with height and age.
What are the CDS 2026 vision requirements?
Graduate entries like IMA and OTA allow uncorrected vision 6/60, myopia −3.5 D, hypermetropia +3.5 D, with CP-II colour vision. LASIK is permitted under conditions.