# CDS exam offers chance to become officer in Indian Army, Navy, Air Force 2026-10-17T08:07:09+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam twice a year, providing graduate candidates admission to various military academies. The exam leads to entry into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Understanding the difference between IMA and OTA is crucial before applying, as training, commission type, and service duration vary. Candidates who complete training at IMA receive a Permanent Commission, allowing longer service, while OTA offers a Short Service Commission, typically for an initial 10-year period extendable by four years under specified conditions. IMA admits male candidates, while OTA admits both men and women in its relevant courses. Eligibility and age limits differ by academy: generally 19 to 24 years for IMA and INA, 20 to 24 for AFA, and 19 to 25 for OTA, subject to official notification. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The distinction between Permanent Commission at IMA and Short Service Commission at OTA directly affects career length and retirement benefits for aspiring officers. Women candidates are restricted to OTA under current rules, meaning they cannot yet access a permanent commission through this exam. The source does not specify the next CDS exam dates or application window, leaving candidates to check the official UPSC notification for exact timelines and eligibility conditions. ## Coverage - tv9hindi.com Presents factual comparison of IMA and OTA without evaluative language This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: CDS, IMA, OTA, UPSC Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/cds-exam-offers-chance-to-become-officer-in-indian-army-navy-air-force/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/cds-exam-offers-chance-to-become-officer-in-indian-army-navy-air-force/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/