CDS Eligibility Criteria: Nationality, Age, Educational Qualification

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Candidates interested to appear for CDS I are required to meet with following eligibility criteria. Please go through the details related to CDS 1 eligibility criteria 2021 furnished below. You need to verify your eligibility before you apply for the entrance test, otherwise, your candidature will be cancelled at any point during the selection procedure.

Nationality

In order to become eligible to apply for CDS I, the candidates must meet any one of the following nationality criteria:

  1. i) Candidates should be a resident of India. Or
  2. ii) Candidates should be a subject of Nepal. Or,

iii) Candidates should be a subject of Bhutan. Or,

  1. iv) Candidates who are Tibetan refugee but came over to India earlier than 1st January 1962 with the aim of setting in India permanently.
  2. v) Candidates of Indian origin who have migrated from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan and East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam came over to India with the purpose of permanent settling.

The candidates belonging to the category ii), iii), iv) and v) (except Gorkha subjects of Nepal) are required to produce a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India in their name.

Marital Status, Sex, Age Limit

For Indian Military Academy: Unmarried male candidates who are born not before 2nd January 1998 and not after 1st January 2003 are eligible.

For Indian Naval Academy: Eligibility criteria for Indian Naval Academy are as similar to the eligibility criteria for IMA.

For Air Force Academy: Age of candidate should be in between 20 to 24 years as on 1st January 2021 i.e. candidates who are born not before 02 January 1998 and not after 01 January 2002 are eligible. Age relaxation of 2 years in the upper age limit is applied for the candidates giving the candidate hold a genuine and latest Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India).

Note: Candidates with age less than 25 years must be unmarried and marriage will not be permitted during the training period. Candidates with age more than 25 years and are married are eligible to apply but they will not get any married accommodation during the training period nor can they live with family out of the premises.

For Officers Training Academy– (SSC Course for Men): Unmarried male candidates who are born not before 2nd January 1997 and not after 1st January 2003 are eligible to apply.

For Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): Unmarried women, issueless divorcees and issueless widows who have not remarried can apply. Candidates who are born not before 2nd January 1997 and not after 1st January 2003 are eligible.

Note: Male divorcee and widower candidates will not be assumed as unmarried male and hence they are not eligible to admission to INA/IMA/AFA courses.

Educational Qualification

For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy: Candidates should have a degree from a recognized University or its equivalent.

For Indian Naval Academy: Candidates should have degree in engineering from a recognized institution/university.

For Air Force Academy:  Candidates should have degree from a recognized university along with Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 level or bachelor of engineering.

Note: Final year degree candidates, who do not have any present backlog upto the last semester/ year for which results have been declared upto the time of submission of application, are eligible to apply but they must have to submit the proof of passing the degree exam on or before the prescribed date.

Physical Standards

Interested candidates must be physically fit as per the physical standards mentioned below.

Height and Weight Standards

The minimum acceptable height for male candidates is 157.5 cms (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force). For women candidates, minimum acceptable height is 152 cms. For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali and Kumaon, the minimum acceptable height will be 5 cms less. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cms. These concessions are not applicable for Air Force.

For Army and Navy (Males)

Height in centimeters (without shoes) Weight in Kgs.
18 years 20 years 22 years
152 44 (45 for Navy) 46 47
155 46 48 (47 for Navy) 49
157 47 49 50
160 48 50 51
162 50 52 53
165 52 53 55
168 53 55 57
170 55 57 58
173 57 59 60
175 59 61 62
178 61 62 63
180 63 64 65
183 65 67 67
185 67 69 70
188 70 71 72
190 72 73 74
193 74 76 77
195 77 78 79

For Females

Height in centimeters (without shoes) Weight in Kgs.
20 years 25 years 30 years
148 39 41 43
150 40 42 43.5
153 42 43.5 45
155 43 44 46
158 45 46 48
160 46 47 49
163 47 49 51
165 49 51 53
168 50 52 54

Height and Weight Standards for Air Force:

Height in cms Age range
15-17 years 18-22 years 23-27 years 28-32 years 33-37 years 38-42 years 43-47 years >48 years
152 46 47 50 54 54 54 55 54
153 47 47 51 55 55 54 56 54
154 47 48 51 56 55 55 57 55
155 48 49 52 56 56 56 57 56
156 48 49 53 57 57 56 58 56
157 49 50 54 58 58 57 58 57
158 49 50 54 58 58 58 59 58
159 50 51 55 59 59 59 60 58
160 51 52 56 59 60 59 60 59
161 51 52 56 60 60 60 61 60
162 52 53 57 61 61 61 62 60
163 52 54 58 61 62 61 62 61
164 53 54 59 62 63 62 63 62
165 53 55 59 63 63 63 64 62
166 54 56 60 63 64 64 64 63
167 54 56 61 64 65 64 65 64
168 55 57 61 65 65 65 65 65
169 55 57 62 65 66 66 66 65
170 56 58 63 66 67 67 67 66
171 56 59 64 66 68 67 67 67
172 57 59 64 67 68 66 68 67
173 58 60 65 68 69 69 69 68
174 58 61 66 68 70 69 69 69
175 59 61 66 69 71 70 70 69
176 59 62 67 70 71 71 71 70
177 60 62 68 70 72 72 71 71
178 60 63 69 71 73 72 72 71
179 61 64 69 72 73 73 73 72
180 61 64 70 72 74 74 73 73
181 62 65 71 73 75 75 74 73
182 62 66 72 74 76 75 74 74
183 63 66 72 74 76 76 75 75
184 64 67 73 75 77 77 76 75
185 64 68 74 75 78 77 76 76
186 65 68 74 76 78 78 77 77
187 65 69 75 77 79 79 78 77
188 66 69 76 77 80 80 78 78
189 66 70 77 78 81 80 79 79
190 67 71 77 79 81 81 80 79
191 67 71 78 79 82 82 80 80
192 68 72 79 80 83 82 81 81
193 68 73 79 81 83 83 81 82

The candidates must be free from any of these:

  • Sinus, fistulae and hernia, cyst, hyper/hypo pigmented patches, swelling, nevus, vascular malformations scars anywhere on the body.
  • Head and neck: Musculoskeletal deformities which can interfere in using safety gear, cervical rib.
  • Chest: Musculoskeletal deformities viz. pectus excavatum, pigeon chest, rickety rosary, pleural effusion, parenchymal lesions of lungs, active or residual lesions of tuberculosis.
  • Abdomen and reproductive system: Hernia, organomegaly, vascular deformities. Renal deformities, gall stones, renal tones etc., deformities of reproductive system.
  • Upper limbs, lower limbs and spine: Hyper flexible or restricted movements of joints, Cubitus valgus, Cubitus varus, genu recurvatum, deformities of hands and feet, kyphosis, scoliosis, congenital deformities, like spina bifida etc.
  • Skin: Vitiligo, scars, vascular malformations chronic skin diseases.

Eyes and Vision standards:

  • Objective Convergence: ≤ 10 cm
  • Accommodation: ≤ 12 cm
  • Binocular Single Vision (BSV): At least grade III
  • Visual Fields: Should be complete

Vision:

Standards
Vision Uncorrected VA 6/60 & 6/60

30 BCVA 6/6 & 6/6 Myopia ≤ -3.50 D Sph including astigmatism

Hypermetropia ≤ +3.50 D Sph including Astigmatism
Color perception CP-II

The following ocular diseases will make the candidate unfit:

Ptosis, Corneal Opacity, Pterygium, Lenticular opacity, Uveitis, Nystagmus, Entropion/ Ectropion, Squint, Night blindness, Retinal lesions, Nasolacrimal occlusion

Vision Correction:

Radial Keratotomy is not acceptable. Laser Surgery for correction of visual defects should not have been done earlier than 20 years of age on the date of operation, and also within one year period of reporting for medical examination.

Ears and Hearing standards:

Candidate should be able to hear forced whispering and conversational voice from 610 cms in each ear separately standing with his back to examiner.

Causes for rejection:

  • Auricle and Mastoide Region: The pinna will be assessed for gross deformity which will hamper wearing of uniform/personal kit/protective equipment or which adversely impacts military bearing.
  • External Auditory Meatus: Presence of wax, foreign body, exostosis, growth, otomycosis or discharge
  • Tympanic Membrane: Perforations, scars, tympanosclerotic plaques or retraction of membrane and immobile or partially mobile tympanic membrane

Medical Examination of Female Candidates

General methods as for male candidates will be followed. However, special points pertaining to medical examination of female candidates are given in succeeding paragraphs. A detailed menstrual and gynecological history in the form of a questionnaire is to be obtained from the candidate. A detailed physical and systemic examination will be carried out of the candidate and she should be examined by a lady Medical Officer or a lady Gynecologist only.

Following conditions will render the female candidates being declared unfit.

  • Primary or secondary amenorrhoea
  • Severe Menorrhagia or/and severe dysmenorrhoea
  • Stress urinary incontinence
  • Congenital elongation of cervix or prolapsed which comes outside the introitus even after corrective surgery
  • Complex ovarian cyst of any size
  • Simple Ovarian cyst more than 06 cm
  • Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
  • Submucous fibroid of any size
  • Broad ligament or cervical fibroid of any size causing pressure over ureter
  • Single fibroid uterus >3 cm in diameter or Fibroids >2 in number, >15 mm in diameter or fibroids causing distortion of endometrial cavity
  • Congenital uterine anomalies except arcuate uterus
  • Acute or chronic pelvic infection
  • Disorders of sexual differentiation
  • Any other condition will be considered on merits of each case by the gynecologist
  • Pregnancy: Pregnancy would be a cause of temporary rejection.

The following medical standards will be additionally applicable in respect of Air Force candidates only:

Anthropometric measurements:

  • Height: 162.5 cms
  • Leg Length: Min. 99 cms & Max. 120 cms
  • Thigh Length: Max 64 cms
  • Sitting Height: Min. 81.5 cms & Max. 96 cms

Visual Standards:

Candidates who habitually wear spectacles are not eligible for Air Force. Candidates who have undergone PRK (Photo Refractive Keratotomy/ Lasik (LASER in Situ Keratomileusis) may be considered fit for commissioning in the Air Force in all branches. Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery are not considered fit for permanent commission in flying branch in IAF. The candidate must also possess good binocular vision (fusion and stereopsis with good amplitude and depth).

  • Minimum distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in other correctable to 6/6 only for Hypermetropia
  • Color vision CP-1
  • Hypermetropia: +2.0 d Sph
  • Manifest Myopia: Nil
  • Retinoscopic Myopia: –0.5 in any meridian permitted
  • Astigmatism: +0.75 D Cyl (with + 2.0 D-Max)
  • Hand held Stereoscope: All of BSV Grades
  • Convergence: up to 10 cm

The following criteria must be satisfied prior to selecting post PRK/LASIK at the time of Air Force Medical Examination:-

  • PRK/LASIK surgery should not have been carried out before the age of 20 years.
  • The axial length of the eye should not be more than 25.5 mm as measured by IOL master.
  • At least 12 months should have elapsed post uncomplicated stable PRK/LASIK with no history or evidence of any complication.
  • The post PRK/LASIK corneal thickness as measured by a corneal pachymeter should not be less than 450 microns.
  • Individual with high refractive errors (>6D) prior to PRK/LASIK are to be excluded.
  • Radial keratotomy (RK) and Photo Refractive Keratotomy (PRK) surgery for correction of refractive errors is not permitted for any Air Force duties. Candidates having undergone cataract surgery with or without IOL implants will also be declared unfit.

Maddox Rod Test

at 6 meters Exo-6 prism D
Eso-6 prism D
Hyper-1 prism D
Hypo-1prism D
at 33 cms Exo-16 prism D
Eso-6 prism D
Hyper-1 prism D
Hypo-1prism D

The following conditions detected on X-ray examination will be disqualifying for entry to Army and Navy:

  • Granulomatous disease of spine
  • Arthritis/Spondylosis
  • Scoliosis more than 15º degree (10º degree for Navy) as measured by Cobb’s Method
  • Scheurman’s disease (Adolescent kyphosis)
  • Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of cervical spine
  • Spondylolisthesis/Spondylosis
  • Herniated nucleus pulposes
  • Compression fracture of Vertebra
  • Sacralisation Disease
  • Cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or Circulatory deficit
  • Presence of Schmorl’s node at more than one level
  • Atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial anomalies
  • Incomplete Sacralisation Unilateral or Bilateral
  • Spinabifida other than SV 1 and LV 5
  • Any other abnormality, if so considered by specialist

The following conditions detected during medical exam will disqualify a candidate for Air Force service.

  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Hemi vertebrae and/or incomplete block (fused) vertebrae at any level in cervical, dorsal or lumbar spine and complete block (fused) vertebrae at more than one level in cervical or dorsal spine.
  • Any other abnormality if so considered by the specialist.

Candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition by following the under mentioned routine:

  • Running: 2 to 4 Km. in 15 minutes
  • Skipping
  • Pushups & Sit-ups: Minimum 20 each
  • Chin ups: Minimum 8
  • Rope Climbing: 3 to 4 meters

Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for admission to the examination and if admitted, their candidature will be cancelled.

In the event of Air Force candidates being suspended from Flying training for failure to learn flying, they would be absorbed in the Navigation Branch of the IAF. This will be subject to availability of vacancies and fulfilling the laid down qualitative requirements (including 60% in graduation).

CDS I Application Form 2021

Once you are eligible as per the prescribed eligibility requirements, you can fill and submit the CDS application form. The form will be made available in online mode on the official commission’s website. The candidates will have to provide their personal, educational and other important details asked in the application form. The duly-filled form can then be submitted along with the prescribed application fee.

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