Army Officer, Short Service Commission (CDS, Officers' Training Academy)
थल सेना अधिकारी, अल्प सेवा कमीशन (सीडीएस, ओटीए)
Short service commission in the Army for graduates through UPSC CDS — 10 years of service, extendable to 14.
Indian Army (through the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai) · Ministry of Defence
Exam
UPSC CDS
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
19–25 years
Transfers
Anywhere in India
Work hours
No fixed hours; duty follows the unit
Probation
About 49 weeks of training at OTA Chennai
Pay on commissioning / month
₹1,14,560
| Basic pay (Level 10) | ₹56,100 |
| Military Service Pay | ₹15,500 |
| Dearness Allowance (60%) | ₹42,960 |
Before income tax. Transport allowance, free rations, dress allowance and field, flying or other risk allowances are extra, and married or single accommodation is normally provided in place of HRA. There is no NPS deduction; pension is under defence rules. Rates as of January 2026.
Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month during training at OTA. Short service officers who leave after 10 or 14 years get gratuity and other release benefits, not a pension.
What you will actually do
- Commanding a platoon or equivalent sub-unit
- Training troops and conducting exercises
- Operational duties in field and counter-insurgency areas
- Administration of stores, accounts and personnel
- Staff and instructional appointments later in the tenure
A typical day
Daily life is the same as for a permanent commission officer in the same unit: PT with the troops, training, maintenance, paperwork, sports and mess life, with field postings in between. The difference is in the background. You know the engagement is for ten years unless you opt for and are granted permanent commission, so many officers plan a second career alongside.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Army Officer, Short Service Commission (CDS, Officers' Training Academy) (joining)
Level 10 + MSP
Captain
2 years, time-scale · via dpc
Major
6 years, time-scale · Level 11 · via dpc
₹1,02,000–₹1,19,000 in-hand
Permanent commission
By option and selection in the tenth year, subject to vacancies and merit · via dpc
Lieutenant Colonel
13 years, for those who continue · via dpc
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Union Public Service Commission
- 1.Written examination (English and General Knowledge, 100 marks each)
- 2.SSB interview (intelligence and personality test, about five days)
- 3.Medical examination
- 4.Merit list
Eligibility: Degree of a recognised university or equivalent. Final-year students can apply. Open to unmarried men and, for the non-technical women's course, to unmarried women and issueless widows or divorcees who have not remarried. Age 19–25. No category-based age relaxation. Candidates must be unmarried and must not marry during training.
Physical standards: Army medical standards for height, weight, eyesight and general fitness, checked by a medical board after the SSB.
The good
- ✓ Shorter training and no mathematics paper in the exam
- ✓ Open to women graduates
- ✓ Officer experience that is valued in civilian careers afterwards
The hard parts
- – No pension unless you get permanent commission
- – You may have to start a new career in your mid-thirties
- – Same risks and separation as any Army officer
Postings
The same rotation of field and peace stations as the rest of the Army, across India.
Questions people ask
What is the salary of Army Officer, Short Service Commission (CDS, Officers' Training Academy)?+
On commissioning, pay is fixed at the start of Level 10: basic pay ₹56,100 plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500. With dearness allowance at 60% (January 2026) that comes to about ₹1,15,000 a month, before transport, field, flying and other allowances. Cadets get a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month during training at the service academy.
What is the qualification and age limit for Army Officer, Short Service Commission (CDS, Officers' Training Academy)?+
Degree of a recognised university or equivalent. Final-year students can apply. Open to unmarried men and, for the non-technical women's course, to unmarried women and issueless widows or divorcees who have not remarried. Age: 19–25 years. Relaxation: No category-based age relaxation. Candidates must be unmarried and must not marry during training.
Which exam do I need to clear for Army Officer, Short Service Commission (CDS, Officers' Training Academy)?+
UPSC CDS (Union Public Service Commission).
How long is the service?+
Ten years initially, extendable by four. In the tenth year officers can opt for permanent commission, which is granted on merit and vacancies.
Compare with similar posts
Army Officer, Permanent Commission (CDS, Indian Military Academy)
थल सेना अधिकारी, स्थायी कमीशन (सीडीएस, आईएमए)
Permanent commission in the Army for graduates through UPSC CDS — 18 months at IMA Dehradun, then Lieutenant.
Defence Officer through NDA (Army, Navy, Air Force)
एनडीए के माध्यम से रक्षा अधिकारी (थल सेना, नौसेना, वायु सेना)
Officer entry after Class 12 through UPSC NDA — three years at the academy, a degree, then a commission as an officer.
Assistant Commandant (CAPF)
सहायक कमांडेंट (केंद्रीय सशस्त्र पुलिस बल)
Group A gazetted officer via the UPSC CAPF exam — commanding a company in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP or SSB.
Sources
- UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 notice (official PDF)
- Join Indian Army — official portal
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.