Combined Defence Services Examination 2024

Ranjan K Baruah *

We have published about the National Defence Academy Examination and how one may join the prestigious institute and serve the nation and the society. Aspirants who are dreaming to join the defence services may also join through Combined Defence Services Examination which is held twice a year and written exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

CDSE (II), 2024 will be conducted by the UPSC on 01st September, 2024 for admission to the under mentioned courses:-

o Indian Military Academy, Dehradun - 159th (DE) Course commencing in July 2025 [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC ’C’ (Army Wing) holders] -100 Vacancy.
o Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala - Course commencing in July, 2025 Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro [including 06 vacancies for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Naval Wing) holders - 32 Vacancy.
o Air Force Academy, Hyderabad - (Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in July, 2025 i.e., No 218 F(P) Course, [including 03 vacancies are reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC Special Entry] - 32 Vacancy.
o Officers’ Training academy, Chennai (Madras) 122nd SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course Commencing in October, 2025 - 276 Vacancies.
o Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 36th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in October, 2025 - 19 Vacancies.
o Total Vacancy - 459.

Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status who are aspiring to join the services are as follows:


o For IMA—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 02nd July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2006 only are eligible.
o For Indian Naval Academy- Unmarried male candidates bom not earlier than 02nd July, 2001 and not later than 1 st July, 2006 only are eligible.
o For Air Force Academy - Age: 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2025 i.e., bom not earlier than 2nd July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2005 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd July, 1999 and not later than 1 st July, 2005 only are eligible.

Many students are confused about the required educational qualification. The required educational qualifications are as follows:

o For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai - Degree of a recognized University or equivalent.
o For Indian Naval Academy - Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution
o For Air Force Academy - Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.

Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) either by remitting the money’in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking facility of any Bank.

The candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility conditions for admission to the Examination. Their admission at all the stages of the examination will be purely provisional subject to satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions.

Candidates are required to apply online by using the website upsconline.nic.in. It is essential for the applicant to register himself herself first at One Time Registration (OTR) platform, available on the Commission’s website, and then proceeds for filling up the online application for the examination.

The Online Applications can be filled upto 04th June, 2024 till 6:00 PM. Candidates should note that there will be a penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the Objective Type Question Papers.

Aspirants may collect the question papers of previous years to get an idea and there are different guide books available which can be collected. After getting selected in the written exam there should be an interview for the final selection.