UPSC CDS Exam 2026 – IMA, OTA, AFA, INA Officer Entry (Complete Guide)
SarkariUpdates Team·14 Sep 2026(updated 26 Sep 2026)·2 min read
Quick Answer
CDS exam ka pura guide — graduation ke baad Army, Navy, Air Force officer banna, IMA/OTA/AFA eligibility, SSB process aur salary.
Category
Exams
Reading time
2 min
Language
Hindi + English (Hinglish)
Source
Official notifications se compiled
CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam se graduates Army (IMA/OTA), Navy (INA) aur Air Force (AFA) me officer ban sakte hain — graduation complete karne walo ke liye defence me sabse seedha officer entry. Saal me 2 baar hota hai (CDS-I aur CDS-II).
1Academies aur eligibility
- IMA (Indian Military Academy, Dehradun) — graduation koi bhi stream, unmarried male, age 19–24
- OTA (Officers Training Academy, Chennai) — graduation, male AUR female dono, age 19–25
- INA (Indian Naval Academy) — engineering degree, unmarried male
- AFA (Air Force Academy) — graduation + Physics/Maths 12th me (engineering preferred)
2Exam pattern
- Written: English (100 marks) + General Knowledge (100 marks) + Elementary Mathematics (100 marks — OTA me Maths nahi hota, sirf English + GK)
- Har paper 2 ghante — objective MCQ
- Written ke baad SSB Interview (5 din) — same process jo NDA me hota hai: screening, psychology, group tasks, conference
- Medical — armed forces standards
3OTA vs IMA
OTA Short Service Commission deta hai (10 saal service, extendable/permanent possible), IMA Permanent Commission. Female candidates ke liye OTA hi main entry hai — ladies ka selection ratio consistent hota hai.
4Maths strategy (IMA/AFA/INA aspirants)
Elementary Maths 10th-11th level hai — arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration. NCERT 9-11 cover karo + shortcuts practice. 75+ marks aana chahiye merit me rehne ke liye.
5English aur GK tips
- English: Grammar rules + vocabulary + comprehension — 100 marks ka pure scoring paper hai, daily practice se 80+ sambhav hai
- GK: Static GK (history, geography, polity, science) + defence current affairs (exercises, ranks, equipments) + national current affairs
- ✅ Previous year papers — CDS pattern 70% repeat hota hai har saal
- ✅ Roz physical activity — SSB aur medical dono me kaam aayega
6Training & career
IMA/OTA me 18/11 mahine ki training, phir Lieutenant rank. Navy/Air Force apni academy. Officer ka lifestyle, salary (Level 10 + MSP + allowances), aur sabse badi baat — desh ki seva ka mauka.
7Kaun apply kare
Agar graduation ho gayi hai aur age window me ho (19-25), to CDS best option hai. NDA miss karne walo ke liye second chance (aur better — graduation complete hai tab tak).
Latest CDS notification UPSC Jobs me dekho. Defence Jobs me aur entries bhi available hain. Result Results me check karo.
Aap ye bhi poochte hain (FAQs)
upsc cds exam ima, ota, ki eligibility kya hai?
Har bharti ki eligibility alag hoti hai — kuch 10th pass, kuch 12th pass, kuch graduation ke liye. Is guide me UPSC CDS Exam 2026 – IMA, OTA, AFA, INA Officer Entry (Complete Guide) ki eligibility aur age limit ka overview diya gaya hai. Exact aur latest eligibility ke liye official notification zaroor padhein.
upsc cds exam ima, ota, ka admit card aur result kahan milega?
Admit card Admit Card section me aur result Results section me milta hai — dono sirf official sources se update hote hain, koi login nahi chahiye.
Kya SarkariUpdates.live par upsc cds exam ima, ota, ki latest updates milti hain?
Haan — Latest Jobs page par roz naye updates aate hain. Har job ke saath official notification ka link hota hai taaki aap verify kar sakein.