CDS written exam notifications are sent in November and July. UPSC conducts exams in the months of February and October. Students can only apply for CDS and OTA written exams online at UPSC website.

Education: Minimum educational level is class 12 under school education form 10 2 or equivalent in the NDA wing. For Air Force Naval Academy, Navy and NDA, applicants must pass the 12th examination under Form 10 2 of Physical Education and Mathematics administered by the state or university board of education.
Age: Applicants must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years old.
Gender: Only male candidates can appear for the NDA exam.

• NDA or National Defence Academy is a national institute for training selected young men for officer level entry into the Armed forces of India. NDA is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra. It is a training facility for the leaders of tomorrow who will be respected and followed. It is not just an institution but a way of life. NDA transforms a hesitant young cadet into an honourable, physically and mentally competent and polished man who is prepared for any kind of adversity that might face him; an officer and a gentleman.
• The training at NDA is rigorous. In addition to service training for the army, navy and air force, the cadets are also taught academics to cover the graduation level degree in Arts, Sciences or Computers. The training at NDA is broken into six terms and the total duration of training is three years. Once their training is concluded, the cadets are awarded their bachelor’s degree at the passing out parade of NDA. Thereafter the cadets go to their respective service institutes i.e. the Indian Military Academy or IMA for army cadets, Air Force Academy Hyderabad for Air force cadets and Naval Academy Cochin for Naval Cadets.