A comprehensive selection process is adopted by the armed forces through Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, to recommend appropriate number of candidates.

The "Combined Defence Services" (CDS) Examination is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy.

Armed forces offer very exciting career to Indian youth in several fields. This is adventurous career for energetic and courageous young men and women. A comprehensive selection process is adopted by the armed forces through Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, to recommend appropriate number of candidates. Armed forces system of selection is based on the “trait theory” of leadership which assumes that every leader must have some specific and pre-determined leadership traits. It also presumes that such traits can be acquired by a candidate with the passage of time meaning thereby that a person once rejected in an SSB interview is likely to succeed if he acquires some of the traits with the passage of time. The present system of selection is comprehensive candidate in which the qualities like initiative, alertness, judgement, courage, physical fitness endurance, cooperation, group planning, decisiveness, knowledge, etc. are judged and takes a week. In addition, psychological and mental alertness of the candidate also judged by the SSB. Finally an overall assessment of the personality of a candidate is made by way of an exhaustive personal interviews.

The Notification for the examination is usually released in the months of October and June, and the examinations are conducted in February and November respectively. Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam.

Age Limit

• Indian Military Academy (19–24years)
• Air Force Academy (19–24 years)
• Naval Academy (19–24 years)
• Officer's Training Academy (19–25 years)

Scheme of Examination

Indian Military Academy / Air Force Academy / Naval Academy

All the papers are of objective type.

Subject	Marks
English	100
General Knowledge	100
Elementary maths	100
Total	300

Officers' Training Academy

Each paper contains objective type questions.

Subject	Marks
English	100
General Knowledge	100
Total	200

Those Candidates qualified in the written exam. Then they are shortlisted for an interview by a Services Selection Board which evaluates a candidate's suitability for a career in the Indian Armed Forces. Apart from SSB interview, Air Force academy candidates (only those who have applied for flying branch) are tested for PABT. After these tests, candidates undergo medical examination before finally admitted into the above-mentioned academies, and after successful completion of training, they are inducted into the armed forces.