CDS

Overview

The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is a standardised test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment of officer cadets into the principal training academies of the Indian Armed Forces. Held annually, the examination serves as the common entry point for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force as commissioned officers, as well as for those seeking entry into the short service commission stream.

Successful candidates are admitted to one of four academies depending on their preferences and merit: the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun, the Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Chennai, the Air Force Academy (AFA), or the Indian Naval Academy (INA). The examination is widely regarded as one of the principal routes to a commissioned officer's career in the Indian Armed Forces.

Key details

Role in admissions

The CDS examination functions as the gateway for officer-level entry to four service academies, each catering to a specific branch of the armed forces. The Indian Military Academy admits cadets for permanent commission into the Indian Army, while the Officers Training Academy is associated with short service commission entries. The Air Force Academy trains officers for the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Naval Academy prepares cadets for service in the Indian Navy.

By consolidating the selection process for these institutions under a single examination, the UPSC provides a uniform standard of evaluation across the three services. Candidates who qualify in the written examination are subsequently called for a personality and intelligence assessment conducted by the Services Selection Board, which forms part of the broader selection procedure leading to admission into the academies.

References

1. "Combined Defence Services Examination", Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Defence_Services_Examination