UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2021

Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined Defence Services recruitment examination every two years for the enrolment of eligible candidates into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Indian Air Force Academy (AFA). This is the best opportunity for the aspirants to get into the defense academies and being commissioned as officers in various defense services. For applying for the CDS examination, the candidate must possess certain qualifications as per UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2021. Here are the necessary details every candidate must know about UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2021.

UPSC CDS Exam 2021: Exam Overview

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2021

The Combined Defence Service examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission is one of the most anticipated and toughest examinations in this country. Apart from the offline written examination, one thing that makes the entry hard is the eligibility criteria. Candidates who are applying for the post must possess certain eligibilities so as to apply for the examination. Here are the complete details regarding UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2021. Candidates who wish to apply for the posts please go through the article completely.

Nationality

As per the requirements put forward by the UPSC, candidates must be:

• A Citizen of India,
• A subject of Bhutan or Nepal
• A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1962 intending to permanently settle in India,
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India.

Educational Qualification

Candidates who are applying for the examination must have certain educational qualifications as per the notification published by UPSC. Here is the detail regarding the educational qualifications a candidate must possess in order to apply for the post.

• For I.M.A. and OTA, applying candidates should have a degree from a university or equivalent degree from institutions that have been recognized by the Central/State Government.
• For INA (Indian Naval Academy), applying candidates will need to have a Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/institution.
• To apply to Air Force Academy, applicants need a degree from a recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2) or a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

Also, Candidates who are in their final year/ semester Degree course and have not completed the course can also apply for CDS Examination through the official website of UPSC. They need to submit proof of passing the Degree by the prescribed date and no request for extending this date will be considered on any other ground whatsoever. Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester of their degree course are required to submit the authentic certificate of passing the degree issued by the University/College at the time of the Staff Selection Board interview. The certificate of the Degree should contain the date of issue and the date of issue must be before the specified date declared by UPSC. Otherwise, their candidature will be canceled.

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Age Limit & Marital Status

As per the notification which is published by UPSC, a candidate who is applying for the Combined Defence Staff examination must come under a certain age limit and must be a bachelor, not a widower. Here are the requirements for various academies.

Physical Eligibility Criteria

Defense services are one in which the members should possess good physical as well as mental conditions. UPSC has mentioned the criteria each candidate should have through the official notification. Let’s take a look at the requirements laid down by the board.

General Standards

• Body Mass Index should be below 25.
• The waist Hip ratio should be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females as per UPSC criteria.
• Waist Circumference should be less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.
• All biochemical metabolic parameters should be within normal limits.

Height & Weight Standards

Here are the height and weight standards for both male and female candidates.

Weight Standards (Overall Summary)

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Visual Standards

For IMA and OTA

• Uncorrected vision(max allowed) – 6/60 &6/60
• BCVA – Rt 6/6 & Lt 6/6
• Myopia – < -3.50 D Sph ( including max astigmatism ≤ +/- 2.0 D Cyl)
• Hypermetropia – <+3.50 dSph ( including max astigmatism ≤ +/- 2.0 D Cyl)
• Lasik/equivalent surgery – Permitted
• Colour perception: CP II

 For Naval Candidates:

• Uncorrected without glasses: 6/12, 6/12
• Corrected with glasses: 6/6, 6/6
• Limits of Myopia: -1.5D
• Limits of Hypermetropia : +1.5D
• Binocular Vision: III
• Limits of Colour Perception: I

For Air Force : 

Candidates who habitually wear spectacles are not eligible for Air Force. Minimum distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in other correctable to 6/6 only.

Hypermetropia Colour Vision CP-1 :

• Hypermetropia: +2.0 d Sph
• Manifest Myopia: Nil
• Retinoscopic Myopia : –0.5 in any meridian
• Astigmatism : +0.75 D Cyl (with + 2.0 D- Max)

Maddox Rod Test:

•  At 6 meters :

1. Exo-6 prism D
2. Eso-6 prism D
3. Hyper-1 prism D
4. Hypo-1prism D

•  At 33 cms :

1. Exo-16 prism D
2. Eso-6 prism D
3. Hyper-1 prism D
4. Hypo-1 prism D

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