Education

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced a crucial extension for candidates aiming to appear in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) examinations for the year 2025. The application deadline, which was originally set for June 4, 2025, has now been extended to June 20, 2025, providing aspirants with additional time to complete their registration process and submit applications online through the official UPSC portal. This decision has come as a relief to many candidates who were struggling to meet the earlier deadline.

The UPSC, through its latest notification, stated that the deadline extension was made in response to multiple requests and representations from students and applicants across the country. Candidates who could not complete their application process earlier due to various reasons—be it technical issues, documentation delays, or lack of awareness—can now take advantage of the extended timeline and apply without further delay.

The application window is available on the official UPSC websites: upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in. Interested candidates are required to first complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process, followed by filling up the detailed application form for the respective exams. The last date for online submission is June 20, 2025, till 11:59 PM. No further extensions are expected, making this the final opportunity for aspiring defence candidates to ensure their participation in the selection process.

The NDA & NA (II) and CDS (II) exams are among the most prestigious entrance examinations conducted by the UPSC, offering an entry into India’s armed forces including the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The written examinations for both NDA and CDS are scheduled to be held on September 14, 2025, as per the UPSC’s annual calendar. The admit cards for these exams are likely to be released in the first week of September.

As per the official notification, this year the NDA & NA (II) exam will fill 406 vacancies across the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and the Naval Academy. Meanwhile, the CDS (II) exam will fill around 453 vacancies in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

To be eligible for the NDA exam, candidates must be unmarried male or female candidates born between January 2, 2007, and January 1, 2010. They should have passed or be appearing in the Class 12 examination, with Physics and Mathematics required for those applying to the Air Force or Naval wings. For the CDS examination, a graduate degree is mandatory, with specific requirements such as Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level for candidates applying to the Air Force Academy.

The application fees remain unchanged. General category candidates must pay ₹100 for NDA and ₹200 for CDS. However, female candidates, SC/ST applicants, and sons of Junior Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, or Other Ranks are exempted from paying fees.

This extension by UPSC is being welcomed by thousands of candidates who are now rushing to complete their registration and ensure their place in the upcoming recruitment cycle. Defence career aspirants are advised to not wait until the last moment to avoid last-minute technical issues or website slowdowns.

With this final window now open till June 20, all eligible and interested candidates are urged to take swift action and secure their opportunity to serve in India’s esteemed defence forces through the NDA and CDS 2025 examinations.