The Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2027 — popularly known as CDS 1 2027 — is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment of commissioned officers into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – for both men and women).
As per the official UPSC Annual Calendar 2027 (released on 20 May 2026), the key dates for CDS Examination (I), 2027 have been fixed and align with those of NDA & NA Examination (I), 2027. The detailed notification is yet to be published; it will contain final vacancies, exact date-of-birth ranges, application instructions, and other specifics. All calendar dates remain subject to alteration if circumstances so warrant.
Official Important Dates for CDS 1 2027
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 2 December 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 2 December 2026 |
| Last Date for Submission of Applications | 22 December 2026 |
| Admit Card Release (Expected) | First week of April 2027 |
| Written Examination | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) |
| Written Result (Expected) | May–June 2027 |
| SSB Interviews | From mid-2027 onwards |
These dates are confirmed from the UPSC Annual Calendar 2027 and multiple secondary reports based on the official PDF.
For reference, CDS Examination (II), 2027 is scheduled with notification on 12 May 2027, last date 1 June 2027, and written exam on 19 September 2027.
Notification Details
The CDS 1 2027 notification PDF will be uploaded on the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) on 2 December 2026. It will include:
- Provisional vacancies for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA (Men & Women).
- Precise age limits and date-of-birth criteria for each academy.
- Educational qualifications.
- Application fee and procedure.
- Exam centres and scheme of examination.
- Physical/medical standards.
- Instructions regarding SSB interviews and final merit.
Candidates must download and carefully read the official notification. Secondary websites provide useful summaries, but only the UPSC document is authoritative.
Eligibility Criteria (Based on Established Pattern)
Exact wording and date-of-birth ranges will appear in the December 2026 notification. The criteria follow a consistent year-to-year pattern linked to course commencement dates (typically January 2028 for IMA/INA/AFA and April 2028 for OTA).
1. Nationality
Same as other UPSC defence exams: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal/Bhutan, Tibetan refugee (pre-1 January 1962), or person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with intent to settle permanently in India. Certain categories require a Government of India eligibility certificate.
2. Age Limit & Marital Status (Expected)
| Academy | Approximate Age | Expected Date of Birth Range (both inclusive) | Marital Status & Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19–24 years | Not earlier than 2 January 2004 and not later than 1 January 2009 | Unmarried Male only |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19–24 years | Not earlier than 2 January 2004 and not later than 1 January 2009 | Unmarried Male only |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20–24 years | Not earlier than 2 January 2004 and not later than 1 January 2008 | Unmarried Male (married candidates above 25 not eligible in some cases) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Men) | 19–25 years | Not earlier than 2 January 2003 and not later than 1 January 2009 | Unmarried Male |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Women) | 19–25 years | Not earlier than 2 January 2003 and not later than 1 January 2009 | Unmarried women, issueless widows/divorcees who have not remarried |
These ranges are projected from the progressive pattern observed in CDS 1 2026 and CDS 2 2026 notifications (where ages are calculated with reference to course start dates).
No age relaxation is normally provided. Date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Leaving Certificate is the only accepted proof.
3. Educational Qualification
- IMA and OTA: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
- INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution.
- AFA: Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Final-year students can apply, provided they produce proof of having passed the degree examination by a specified date (usually before the commencement of the course).
4. Physical & Medical Standards
Candidates must meet the prescribed height, weight, vision, and other medical standards detailed in the notification appendices. Standards differ slightly by service and gender. A detailed medical examination is conducted after the SSB.
Application Process (Expected)
- Applications are accepted only online through the UPSC website.
- Candidates must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if not already done.
- Application fee is typically ₹200 for general/OBC male candidates; women candidates, SC/ST, and certain other categories are exempt.
- Required documents: photograph, signature, photo ID, educational certificates, etc., as per specifications.
- A short correction window is usually provided after the last date.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus Overview
The written examination is objective type (offline) and differs by academy:
For IMA, INA & AFA (Total 300 marks)
- English – 100 marks (2 hours)
- General Knowledge – 100 marks (2 hours)
- Elementary Mathematics – 100 marks (2 hours)
For OTA (Men & Women) (Total 200 marks)
- English – 100 marks (2 hours)
- General Knowledge – 100 marks (2 hours)
Negative marking of one-third is applicable for wrong answers. Papers are bilingual (English and Hindi) except the English paper.
Syllabus highlights:
- English: Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, sentence improvement, etc.
- General Knowledge: Current affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Defence-related topics.
- Elementary Mathematics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics (Class 10 level).
Selection Process
- Written Examination conducted by UPSC.
- SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test) for candidates who clear the written cut-off (approx. 5 days).
- Medical Examination.
- Final Merit List prepared on the basis of written + SSB marks (subject to medical fitness and availability of vacancies). Separate merit lists are prepared for each academy.
Vacancies
Exact numbers will be notified in December 2026. Recent cycles have seen total provisional vacancies in the range of 400–460 across all academies (with a smaller share for women at OTA). Vacancies are provisional and may be revised based on training capacity.
Preparation Guidance for Aspirants
With the written exam fixed for 11 April 2027, candidates have a clear timeline:
- December 2026 – Apply immediately after notification release.
- January–March 2027 – Intensive revision and mock tests.
- Focus on previous years’ UPSC CDS papers, current affairs (last 12–18 months), and Class 10 Mathematics.
- Begin physical fitness training early.
- For those targeting specific academies, prioritise the relevant papers (especially Mathematics for IMA/INA/AFA).
- For better preparation from home join CDS Online Coaching 2027.
Official Sources and Advisory
- UPSC Annual Calendar 2027: Available at upsc.gov.in (Examinations → Exam Calendar).
- All official updates, notification PDF, admit cards, results, and cut-offs will be published exclusively on the UPSC website.
Important: The information above is based on the official UPSC Calendar 2027 and the consistent pattern of recent CDS notifications. Candidates must refer only to the official CDS 1 2027 notification (to be released on 2 December 2026) for final, binding details on age limits, vacancies, and eligibility.
CDS remains one of the primary routes for graduates to join the Indian Armed Forces as officers. Early planning aligned with the confirmed schedule will significantly improve the chances of success.
Also Check: NDA 1 2027 Notification
