Combined Defence Services Examination
(CDS Exam)

Defence services are for those young and courageous individuals who nurture a patriotic sentiment and who have dedicated their lives to defending their country and its people. A candidate with the above sentiments can join the nation’s defence services after taking the Combined Defence Services Examination.

Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted by UPSC twice every year in the months of February and September for recruitment to officer cadre of the Army, Navy and Air force.

The finally selected candidates are sent to one of the following institutes for training:

(a) Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
(b) Naval Academy, Goa
(c) Air Force Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad
(d) Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai

Candidates selected in the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy get permanent commission, however cadets passing out of Officers Training Academy get short service commission.