If you have ever imagined yourself in uniform, leading teams, making decisions and serving the nation. Shield Defence Academy is here to help you to turn that dream into a clear, practical plan. CDS (Combined Defence Services) is the exam held by UPSC Board twice a year. Clearing it opens the door to training at India’s respected defence academies and for women the primary CDS pathway is the Officer Training Academy. Through CDS, female candidates currently enroll for commissioning  OTA Chennai as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers, the IMA, INA and AFA commissions are not available to women through the CDS route. At Shield defence academy, we remove the confusion and give you a proper roadmap. We explain exactly who is eligible for this  , what will be age limits, educational requirements, marital-status rules and physical/medical standards . in plain language and back that up with structured classroom coaching, targeted fitness plans, mock tests and one-to-one mentorship. Our focus is on practical paperwork to help with exam strategy, SSB preparation and confidence-building so you arrive ready, mentally, academically and physically. Don’t let the rules feel like a hurdle. With Shield Defence Academy the best CDS coaching in lucknow, guiding you, every eligibility detail becomes an actionable step toward your goal of joining the officer cadre. Let’s get ready to start.

Which Academies Women Can Apply 

Historically, in the CDS scheme, women are eligible only for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) — specifically, the Short Service Commission (SSC) Women Non-Technical Course. Women cannot apply for IMA, INA, or AFA via CDS (the notification explicitly states women must give OTA as the only preference. So your entire strategy—from exam prep to SSB training—should be aligned to the OTA path.

Nationality & Citizenship Requirements

To be eligible, you must satisfy one of these:

1. Citizen of India.
2. Subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
3. Indian origin person who has migrated from other countries Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African nations, etc. and intends to permanently settle in India.

Age Limit & Date of Birth Range

For CDS-I 2026, here’s how age works for women applying to OTA-

• The age window is 19 to 25 years
• The exact birth not earlier than and not later than dates will be in the 2026 notification. As a reference, in past notifications, women eligible for OTA had to be born between 2 January 2001 and 1 January 2007 (for older CDS cycles). 
• Make note – the date of birth recorded in your matriculation/secondary school certificate is what UPSC accepts. Any mismatch (with board certificate, birth certificate etc.) can be a cause for rejection. 
• If you fall under categories 2 or 3 you must produce a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India. In SDA, the best CDS coaching for women in lucknow, we direct candidates from border or diaspora backgrounds by helping obtain their eligibility certificates ahead of time, so there’s no last-minute document rejection.
• If you are currently close to the upper limit, be extra careful to confirm the exact bounds when the 2026 notification is released. Although we let you know with all the latest notification , stay connected with shield defence academy.

Educational Qualifications & Provisional Eligibility

• To sit for CDS-I 2026 (OTA track), you must know these things in details to get a hassle free exam experience.
• Having a bachelor’s degree in any discipline including Arts, Science, Commerce etc. from a recognized university should be mandated.
• If you are in your final year or final semester of graduation, you may apply provisionally, provided you submit proof of passing at the time stipulated by UPSC (often before SSB or training star
• There is no fixed minimum percentage required  in most CDS notifications (unless later changed). 
• At SDA , we guide final-year students on acceptable proof of passing, formats, anticipating common rejections and ensuring your graduation documents are in perfect order.

Marital Status & Special Cases Which Are Allowed

• For women applying via the OTA Women, Non-Technical course
• Unmarried women are eligible for this exam.
• Issueless widows who have no children who have not remarried are also eligible, subject to documentary proof.
• Issueless divorcees who have not remarried (and can produce legal divorce documents) may also apply. 
• However, married women or those with children are typically not eligible under the existing CDS rules. Again, verify when the 2026 notification is out, as rules might have slight updates.

Physical & Medical Standards Required For The Exam

Passing the medical and physical standards is non-negotiable. Even if you ace the written exam and SSB, failure at the medical board or at final physical verification will bar selection.

Key points that should be noted for being aspirant of CDS upcoming 2026

• There are specific norms for height, weight, eyesight (both distant and near), chest expansion, etc
• For women, the minimum height  requirement is frequently 152 cm (depending on notification) for OTA
• The medical exam also checks general health, absence of disabilities, fitness of internal organs and overall suitability

Any history of illness, surgeries, color blindness etc, must be transparently declared suppression can lead to candidature cancellation later. So it is our advice to be punctual toward eligibility criteria. The SDA provides mock medicals and health screenings well in advance  to dilute your stress regarding physical check and so that you know what to expect and can correct minor health issues ahead of time

Number of Attempts & Exam Frequency

• There is no fixed cap on the number of times a candidate can appear for CDS, so long as she meets the age criteria. 
• CDS is conducted twice a year CDS-I (around April) and CDS-II (around September). 
• Thus, a candidate within the age bracket can plan to attempt multiple cycles.
• For example, if you finish graduation at age 21, you may be eligible for 4 to 5 cycles (CDS-II, CDS-I, CDS-II, etc.) depending on your birth date.

Selection Process  and Criteria For The Exam 

Once you qualify the written exam, the stages are-

Written Examination CDS papers  are based on the syllabus including English, General Knowledge, Mathematics. Women applying OTA typically write English + General Knowledge only (no mathematics) depending on the notification.

SSB Interview and Personality Test evaluate officer-like qualities, leadership, psychological tests, group tasks etc.

Medical Examination  is all about checking your physical fitness and medical eligibility for the services.

Final Merit List & Selection is totally based on your performance, vacant seats for women (OTA) are allotted and you receive a call for training. Here in Shield Defence Academy top CDS coaching in Lucknow trains you comprehensively across all stages, with  mock camps, personality workshops, group tasks and interview practice.

Common Difficulty and the trick to Avoid Them by SDA

• Misunderstanding age limits or using the wrong date-of-birth certificate will trouble you so it is our advice to avoid such mistakes.
• Submitting blurred or incomplete scanned documents causes problems while document verification so make sure your documents must be clear and fully scanned.
• Choosing the wrong academy preference in the form try to avoid these also your information must be appropriate.
• Delaying medical checkups until after selection that causes disqualification of yours then.
• Neglecting SSB preparation or assuming written exam is enough and it is not like this, SSB plays a very crucial role in your final selection .

Ignoring the proof of passing formalities for final-year students should not be entertained so carefully take care of everything to get hassle free selection in CDS. With Shield Defence Academy THE checklists, scheduled mock medicals and mock SSB camps, these issues are flagged and resolved before they become disqualifiers.

Why Shield Defence Academy for Women Aspiring CDS?

Here Is how SDA becomes more than just a coaching institute , we act as your eligibility, preparation and selection partner

• Eligibility audit – We verify your DOB, degree status, marital status and document sufficiency before you even apply.
• Design syllabus for OTA women- Unlike generic CDS classes, our content focuses on English + GK, if applicable and the specific pattern women encounter.
• SSB & personality training – Our workshops and mock camps are led by retired officers and trained evaluators, with specific feedback for women candidates.
• Medical coaching & pre-screening – We simulate service medicals and flag any health issues early.
• Application & document assistance – We help you select correct forms, scan guidelines, correction window usage, and error rectification.
• Performance tracking & mock tests – Weekly tests, full CDS mocks and analytics help you track strengths and work on weaknesses.

Why To Choose CDS? Why is the Shield Defence Academy your Best Guide?

Choosing the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is not just about preparing for a test, it is  about choosing a life of honour, discipline and leadership. At Shield Defence Academy, we believe CDS is more than a career option. It is a calling. Here is crux of why it is truly worth it and why we at SDA are committed to guiding you every step of the way-

A Career of Honor and Respect

When you clear CDS, you don’t just secure a job, you earn a commissioned officer’s uniform, a symbol of courage, discipline and service to the nation. Few professions carry such prestige, where society looks up to you with respect and pride. At SDA, our mentors are retired officers and defence experts who train you not only for the exam but also to embrace the values and responsibilities that come with this honor.

Leadership from Day One

In the armed forces, leadership is not an option but it is a responsibility. Through CDS, you step into a role where you give orders, make decisions and inspire teams. At SDA, our training modules, group discussions, mock interviews and GTO tasks simulate real defence environments, so that by the time you step into the Academy, you already think and act like a leader.

Empowering Women in Defence

The defence forces are evolving. Today, more doors are opening for women in combat and leadership roles and OTA has become one of the strongest pathways for them. At SDA, we are proud of our women aspirants who have carved their place in the forces. We provide special guidance and mentorship to ensure that women candidates not only succeed in CDS but also walk into the defence services with confidence.

Join Shield Defence Academy, Here is The Reasons 

At SDA the best defence coaching in lucknow, we combine experience, mentorship and discipline to ensure that your dream of becoming an officer doesn’t remain a dream- we offer multiple options to our students to acquire the best rank.

• Expert faculty , we offer well experienced faculty  with 10–15 years of defence experience in the field of defence.
• Mock SSB & interview , our SSB interview is truly guided and practice guided by retired officers.
• Study material and library support, our facilities to our students are designed for defence.
• Physical and mental training, we offer motivational sessions to boost confidence and our physical training helps students to be consistent to match officer standards.
• Positive  environment, our classroom and library facilities where every aspirant learns the value of courage and service.