CDS 2025: CDS 2 Result (Soon), Cut Off, Answers, Question Papers, Analysis, Syllabus & Pattern

The CDS 2 notification was released by UPSC on May 28, 2025, on the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The notification was released in PDF format and the candidates can have access to it by following the steps given below:

• Go to the official website
• Click on the CDS 2 notification 2025 in the What's New Section
• Click on the CDS 2 notification PDF link 
• The CDS 2 notification PDF will appear on the screen 
• Download the CDS 2 2025 PDF and save it for later use

CDS 2 Notification 2025 PDF: Download Here 

CDS Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the exam, candidates need to fulfil the following CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025:

Nationality

Candidates who have settled in India permanently can apply for the CDS exam.

CDS 1 Age Limit 2025

Candidates can check below the prescribed age limit for the CDS 1 exam:

• For the Indian Military Academy (IMA), unmarried males must be between 19 to 24 years
• For the Indian Naval Academy, unmarried male candidates must be between 19 to 24 years
• Candidates applying for the Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years
• For the Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates must be between 19 to 26 years
• For the Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates between 19 to 26 years

CDS 2 Age Limit 2025

The CDS 2 age limit prescribed by UPSC for applying to the different academies is given below:

• IMA: Candidates for IMA should be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than the age limit prescribed in the CDS notification. That is unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
• INA: Unmarried male candidates can apply for INA born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
• AFA: To apply for AFA, the age of candidates should be between 20 to 24 years as on July 1, 2026.  i.e. born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2006 The upper age limit of candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years
• OTA (SSC Course for men): To apply for the OTA course (SSC Men), candidates must be unmarried and must be within the age limit prescribed in the CDS notification i.e.  born not earlier than July 2, 2001 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
• OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees who have not remarried are eligible to apply.  They should have been born not earlier than July 2, 2001 and not later than July 1, 2007.

CDS Qualification

Candidates need to meet the following educational qualifications for applying for the CDS exam:

• For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, the required educational qualification is Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university
• For the Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university
• For Air Force Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university. They must have studied Physics and Mathematics in Class 12

Note: Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester of Graduation can also apply provided they do not have any backlog up to the last year/semester for which results have been declared at the time of submitting the application form. They are required to submit proof of passing graduation at the time of the commencement of the course.

Can the 12th pass apply for CDS?

No, to be eligible for the CDS exam candidates must have a graduation degree from a recognised university or be appearing in the final year of their graduation. The candidates who want to apply for INA must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised University and Institution while AFA candidates must have a degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Maths at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB. Candidates who are in the final year of graduation can apply provisionally.

Can females apply for CDS Exam?

Yes, female candidates can apply for the CDS exam for Officers' Training Academy courses.

CDS Physical Fitness

Candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the guidelines prescribed by UPCS. Candidates are advised to check the CDS physical and medical standards before applying for the CDS exam. 

CDS Heights and Weight Standards  

• The minimum required height for male candidates is 157.5 cm. (157 cm for the Navy and 162.5 cm for the Air Force) and that for female candidates is 152 cm. 
•  Gorkhas and individuals belonging to the North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali, and Kumaon, the minimum required height is 5 cm less than the other candidates.
• For candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum required height is 2 cm less than the candidates from other regions. 
• Body Mass Index (BMI) should be below 25. 
• The ratio of the waist and hip should be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.  
• Waist Circumference should be less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.

Visual Standards for CDS 2025

Candidates who want to appear in CDS 2025 must know about visual standards. The UPSC has divided visual standards into three parts – IMA & OTA, Naval Candidates, and Air Force. The details of the visual standards are given below: 

CDS IMA and OTA Visual standards 

• Uncorrected vision (max allowed) - 6/60 &6/60  
• BCVA - Right 6/6 & Left 6/6 
• Myopia -
• Hypermetropia -
• Lasik/equivalent surgery - Permitted 
• Colour perception: CP II 

CDS Naval Visual Standards 

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

CDS Air Force Visual Standards   

Candidates who wear spectacles regularly are not eligible for India Air Force. The visual standards for the Air Force have been given below: 

• 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 33 cms: 

• Exo-16 prism D  
• Eso-6 prism D  
• Hyper-1 prism D 
• Hypo-1 prism D 

 at 6 meters: 

• Exo-6 prism D 
• Eso-6 prism D 
• Hyper-1 prism D 
• Hypo-1prism D