CDS – OTA (SSC)
- Age
- 19–25 years
- Who
- Men and women
- Marital
- Unmarried only
- Qualification
- A graduate degree
- How
- UPSC CDS written → SSB → Medical
Army · Officer Entry
CDS — Officers Training Academy (OTA)
CDS OTA is the Short Service route into the Army for graduates, and one of the few CDS entries open to women. Clear UPSC CDS and the SSB, and train at OTA Chennai.
Who Can Apply
CDS OTA Eligibility
Age limit, qualification and marital status for CDS OTA, from the latest official notifications.
Figures follow the latest official notifications. Limits can change between cycles — always confirm against the current advertisement.
Route
UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) written exam
Training
Officers Training Academy, Chennai
Commission
Short Service Commission
Every Route Ends at the SSB
Prepare for the CDS OTA SSB
Whatever the route to it, the CDS OTA selection is decided at the 5-day SSB. SSBWINGS, mentored by ex-SSB assessors in Noida, trains you for every day of it — screening, psychology, GTO, interview and conference.
Questions Answered
CDS OTA FAQs
Men and women, unmarried only, aged 19–25 years, with a graduate degree.
Candidates for CDS OTA must be 19–25 years old.
UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) written exam, followed by the 5-day SSB interview and a medical examination. (UPSC CDS written → SSB → Medical.)
No — candidates must be unmarried, and must stay unmarried through training.
Yes, through CDS OTA — the Short Service entry trained at OTA Chennai is open to women as well as men.
SSBWINGS is mentored by ex-SSB assessors. The 15-day offline course at our Noida campus and the 20-day online course cover all five days of the SSB — screening (OIR and PPDT), psychology (TAT, WAT, SRT, SD), GTO tasks on a full ground, the personal interview and the conference — with one-on-one feedback.
⏳ New batches open every month · Seats are limited
Your Chest Number
Is Waiting to Be Called
Every day you delay is a day your competition trains. Book a free counselling call — a mentor will map your entry, your timeline and your battle plan.