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My DOB is 1 July 2003. Would I will be eligible for UPSC CDS 2 2026 for IMA ?


Akash Munda 2nd Jan, 2026
Answers (7)
Ritika Tiwari 3rd Jan, 2026

HI AKASH

YES, You will be eligible for this exam because you are falling within the required birth range of jaunary 2 2003 to january 1 2008.

i hope this helps you

Thank you

Prachi Kumari 3rd Jan, 2026

Hello,

Yes, you are eligible for UPSC CDS-2 2026 for IMA .

Your date of birth is 1 July 2003 .
For CDS-2 2026 (IMA), the allowed date of birth range includes 1 July 2003.

You must also be an unmarried male , have a graduate degree (or final year student) , and meet medical standards .

Hope it helps !

Rahul Mandal 3rd Jan, 2026

Hello,

Yes, with a DOB of July 1, 2023, you are eligible for the CDS 2, 2026, for IMA (Indian Military Academy), as the birth date range for IMA is typically from January 2, 2003, to January 1, 2008, making you fall in the range of the 19-14 years of age bracket.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Saumya Sharma 3rd Jan, 2026

Yes you're eligible . If you're born on 1 july 2003, you're eligible for UPSC CDS 2 in 2026 for IMA . For IMA the candidate must be born between 2 july 2002 and 1 july 2007

https://competition.careers360.com/articles/cds-2-exam

Hello,

For UPSC CDS-2 2026 (IMA entry), the official age eligibility is based on your date of birth window as specified in the UPSC notification: unmarried male candidates must be born not earlier than 2 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2007 to apply for the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

Sarkari Results

Since your DOB is 1 July 2003, you fall exactly within the eligible range for IMA for CDS-2 2026, so you are eligible to apply.

Do keep in mind that you must also satisfy the educational qualification (graduate or final year condition as per notification) and remain unmarried until training begins. Always check the official UPSC notification when applying to confirm all criteria before submission.

If you have any other doubts, feel free to ask anytime.

Kaif Alam 3rd Jan, 2026

Hello Aspirant

It is great to see your interest in serving the nation through the Indian Armed Forces. I will answer your question using simple language and a step-by-step breakdown to help you understand your eligibility for the UPSC CDS 2 2026 exam.

Direct Answer

For Indian Military Academy (IMA): You are unfortunately not eligible. You will miss the age cut-off by exactly one day.

For Officers' Training Academy (OTA): There is good news! You are fully eligible.

Detailed Explanation

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is very strict about age limits. They calculate your age based on when the training course starts, not when the exam happens.

1. The "Course Commencement" Date

Exam Name: CDS 2 2026

Course Starts In: July 2027

Age Limit for IMA: 19 to 24 years

2. The Calculation for IMA

To join the IMA for this specific course, the official notification usually requires candidates to be born between two specific dates:

Born Not Earlier Than: 2nd July 2003

Born Not Later Than: 1st July 2008

3. Your Case

Your Date of Birth: 1st July 2003

The Problem: You were born one day before the "Not Earlier Than" date (2nd July 2003).

Result: In the eyes of UPSC, you will be considered "Overage" for IMA because you will complete your 24th year exactly on the day the course begins.

What Should You Do? (The OTA Option)

Do not be discouraged. You are still eligible for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA).

OTA Age Limit: 19 to 25 years.

OTA Cut-off Dates: Born between 2nd July 2002 and 1st July 2008.

Your Status: Since you were born in 2003, you are safely inside this limit.

Difference between IMA and OTA:

IMA: Permanent Commission (You serve until retirement).

OTA: Short Service Commission (You serve for 10-14 years, with an option to convert to Permanent later).

Exam Pattern: For OTA, you do not have to write the Mathematics paper. You only need to prepare for English and General Knowledge.

Summary

While IMA is not possible due to that single day difference, you have a brilliant chance to become an officer through the OTA entry. I recommend checking the official UPSC notification or searching on Careers360 for the specific syllabus to start your studies.

Best of luck with your preparation.

Kaif Alam 3rd Jan, 2026

Hello Aspirant

It is great to see your interest in serving the nation through the Indian Armed Forces. I will answer your question using simple language and a step-by-step breakdown to help you understand your eligibility for the UPSC CDS 2 2026 exam.

Direct Answer

For Indian Military Academy (IMA): You are unfortunately not eligible. You will miss the age cut-off by exactly one day.

For Officers' Training Academy (OTA): There is good news! You are fully eligible.

Detailed Explanation

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is very strict about age limits. They calculate your age based on when the training course starts, not when the exam happens.

1. The "Course Commencement" Date

Exam Name: CDS 2 2026

Course Starts In: July 2027

Age Limit for IMA: 19 to 24 years

2. The Calculation for IMA

To join the IMA for this specific course, the official notification usually requires candidates to be born between two specific dates:

Born Not Earlier Than: 2nd July 2003

Born Not Later Than: 1st July 2008

3. Your Case

Your Date of Birth: 1st July 2003

The Problem: You were born one day before the "Not Earlier Than" date (2nd July 2003).

Result: In the eyes of UPSC, you will be considered "Overage" for IMA because you will complete your 24th year exactly on the day the course begins.

What Should You Do? (The OTA Option)

Do not be discouraged. You are still eligible for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA).

OTA Age Limit: 19 to 25 years.

OTA Cut-off Dates: Born between 2nd July 2002 and 1st July 2008.

Your Status: Since you were born in 2003, you are safely inside this limit.

Difference between IMA and OTA:

IMA: Permanent Commission (You serve until retirement).

OTA: Short Service Commission (You serve for 10-14 years, with an option to convert to Permanent later).

Exam Pattern: For OTA, you do not have to write the Mathematics paper. You only need to prepare for English and General Knowledge.

Summary

While IMA is not possible due to that single day difference, you have a brilliant chance to become an officer through the OTA entry. I recommend checking the official UPSC notification or searching on Careers360 for the specific syllabus to start your studies.

Best of luck with your preparation.

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