The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is a standardised test conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment of officer cadets in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
The applications are invited every year in the months of December and May, and examinations are conducted in April and September, respectively.
Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam.
Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
Officer jobs are available in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force after passing the Combined Defence Services Exam (CDS).