CDS 1 2027: Eligibility, Age Limit for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA, and Key Dates
Notification
2 December 2026
Last date to apply
22 December 2026
Exam date
11 April 2027 (Sunday)
CDS (I) 2026, IMA
2,601 written → 155 final list
Table of Contents
On 2 November 2026, UPSC published the final result of CDS (I) 2026. For a few hundred young men and women, that list was the end of a long, tiring year, and the start of a life at the Indian Military Academy, Ezhimala or Hyderabad. For many more, it was a quiet reminder that they will need to go again.
If you are one of the people planning for CDS (I) 2027, whether it is your first attempt or your third, this guide is for you. It sets out who can apply for each academy, the official dates, and what last cycle’s numbers say about where the real battle is fought. Everything here was checked against UPSC documents on 7 November 2026.
CDS (I) 2027 Dates
From the UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027 (as on 20 May 2026), CDS (I) 2027 runs on the same timetable as NDA (I) 2027:
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 2 December 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 22 December 2026 |
| Exam | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) |
UPSC notes that calendar dates are liable to alteration, so confirm them when the notification is released. If you are in your final year of college, the application window falls right in the middle of semester exams for many universities. Plan for it now.
Age Limits by Academy (Latest Official Notice)
CDS age limits are different for each academy, and UPSC publishes them as exact date-of-birth windows. These are from the CDS (II) 2026 notification (dated 20 May 2026), for courses starting in July and October 2027:
| Academy | Age | Born not earlier than | Born not later than |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA Dehradun | 19 to 24 years | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 2008 |
| INA Ezhimala | 19 to 24 years | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 2008 |
| AFA Hyderabad | 20 to 24 years (up to 26 with a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence) | 1 July 2003 (1 July 2001 with CPL) | 1 July 2007 |
| OTA Chennai (SSC Men) | 19 to 25 years | 1 July 2002 | 1 July 2008 |
| OTA Chennai (SSC Women, Non-Tech) | 19 to 25 years | 1 July 2002 | 1 July 2008 |
For CDS (I) 2027: the age ranges usually stay the same, but the date-of-birth windows move forward with each cycle’s course start date. The exact CDS (I) 2027 windows will only be known on 2 December 2026. Until then, use the table above to see roughly where you stand, and check your exact age with our age calculator.
Who Can Apply: Degree and Other Rules
- IMA and OTA: a degree from a recognised university, or equivalent.
- INA: a degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
- AFA: a degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering.
- Final-year students can apply, and must later submit proof of passing their degree as the notification specifies.
- Marital status: IMA, INA and OTA (men) are open to unmarried men. OTA’s SSC Women (Non-Technical) course is open to unmarried women, and to issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried. For AFA, candidates below 25 must be unmarried.
- Proof of age: only the date of birth in your Matriculation or Secondary School certificate, or an equivalent certificate, is accepted.
If you are a commerce or arts graduate, notice that IMA and OTA are open to you. INA and AFA need the science background described above.
What the CDS (I) 2026 Final Result Really Tells You
The final result of CDS (I) 2026, dated 2 November 2026, is worth reading slowly. According to UPSC:
- IMA: 2,601 candidates qualified the written test. 155 made the final merit list, against 100 vacancies.
- INA: 770 qualified the written test. 63 made the final list, against 26 vacancies.
- AFA: 25 made the final list, against 32 vacancies.
Look at the IMA line again. Out of more than two and a half thousand people who did well enough in the written exam, only 155 came through the SSB and onto the final list. The written exam gets you to the door. The five days at the SSB decide whether you walk through it.
That is why we tell every CDS aspirant to start SSB preparation alongside the written syllabus, not after the result. Start with our guide to SSB Stage 1 screening, and if you are still deciding between exams, read CDS vs NDA: which defence exam is right for you.
A Simple Plan From Now to 11 April 2027
- November: check your date of birth and degree eligibility against the table above, and decide your academy preferences honestly.
- December: apply within the window (2 to 22 December 2026). Read the notification line by line before you submit.
- January to March: work on English, General Knowledge and, if you are applying for IMA, INA or AFA, Elementary Mathematics. Take full-length timed papers every week.
- Throughout: keep a little time each week for SSB basics: reading, speaking in groups, and physical fitness.
If you would like structured preparation for the written exam and the SSB, see our CDS coaching in Dehradun page for current batches and fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the CDS 1 2027 exam?
As per the UPSC calendar published on 20 May 2026, the CDS (I) 2027 exam is on 11 April 2027. The notification is due on 2 December 2026, and applications close on 22 December 2026.
What is the age limit for CDS 1 2027?
In the latest notification, it was 19 to 24 years for IMA and INA, 20 to 24 years for AFA (26 with a DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence), and 19 to 25 years for OTA. The exact date-of-birth windows for CDS (I) 2027 will be published on 2 December 2026.
Can final-year students apply for CDS?
Yes. Final-year degree students can apply, and must submit proof of passing their degree as the notification specifies.
Can girls apply for CDS?
Yes, through the OTA Chennai SSC Women (Non-Technical) course. The latest notification says women candidates are considered only for Short Service Commission at OTA and should give OTA as their only choice.
Preparing for CDS (I) 2027?
Talk to Noval Doon Defence Academy, Dehradun about CDS written exam and SSB preparation, batches and fees.
Sources
All facts were checked on 7 November 2026.
- UPSC, Programme of Examinations 2027, as on 20 May 2026.
- UPSC, CDS (II) 2026 notification, dated 20 May 2026 (age limits, education, marital status).
- UPSC, CDS (I) 2026 final result, dated 2 November 2026.
- The CDS (I) 2027 date-of-birth windows are not yet published. They are due in the notification on 2 December 2026.
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