CDS
OVERVIEW
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam in India is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment of commissioned officers into four academies. The Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The CDS full form for all these academies is given below.
- Indian Military Academy (IMA): The IMA is a training institute for commissioned officers of the Indian Army.
- Indian Naval Academy (INA): The INA is a training institute for commissioned officers of the Indian Navy.
- Air Force Academy (AFA): The AFA is a training institute for commissioned officers of the Indian Air Force.
- Officers Training Academy (OTA): The OTA is a training institute for both male and female candidates who want to join the Indian Army as Short Service Commissioned officers.
Candidates who pass the CDS Exam are eligible for admission to one of these academies, depending on their rank in the exam and the availability of vacancies. The notification for the CDS Exam typically provides information on the number of vacancies available for each academy.
HOW TO APPLY FOR EXAM?
Step 1: Enter the official website of UPSC to apply for the CDS (1) 2023 Exam.
Step 2: Enter your credentials under the heading “Part I” of your application form.
Step 3: Apply for the respective academy you wish for etc. – (Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, etc.
Step 4: Registration ID will be generated after “Part A”; then, you can proceed to “Part B” of the CDS 1 application form.
Step 5: Add all scanned documents & signatures in the specified format. (PDF, JPEG, etc.).
Step 6: Pay the application fee and select your examination centre.
Step 7: After double-checking, click on “Submit”
Step 8: Save the application number generated safely.
Step 9: Print the application form for future reference.
ELIGIBILTY CRITERIA
Candidates need to be familiar with the criteria for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) examination along with the CDS full form, because these criteria outline the minimum requirements that candidates must meet to be eligible to take the examination. Knowing the CDS eligibility criteria help candidates determine whether they qualify for the CDS examination. It can also help them prepare for the examination by focusing on the necessary educational qualifications and physical standards.
CDS Age Criteria
The age criteria for the CDS exam are set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the organisation responsible for conducting the exam. Candidates can check the age criteria below.
Departments | Age Criteria |
Indian Military Academy | Born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2005 |
Indian Naval Academy | Born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2005 |
Indian Air Force Academy | 20 to 24 years as on 1st January 2024, born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2004 |
Officers’ Training Academy | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1999 and not later than 1st January 2005 |
Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1999 and not later than 1st January 2005 |
CDS Educational Qualification Criteria
It is important to note that there are some specific educational qualification requirements for certain branches of the military, such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Indian Air Force Academy (IAFA). Check the educational qualifications below.
- For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai — Degree from a recognised University or equivalent.
- For Indian Naval Academy— Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution
- For Air Force Academy—Degree from a recognised University; with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
CDS Nationality Criteria
A candidate for the UPSC CDS recruitment exam 2023 must be:
- A Citizen of India, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to settle permanently in India, or Indian origins who migrated to India from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, and the East African countries of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, and Ethiopia, or Vietnamese origins who migrated to India to settle permanently in India.
CDS Physical and Medical Standards
Candidates must be physically and mentally fit according to the medical standards set by UPSC. A large number of qualified candidates are disqualified on medical grounds. As a result, candidates are highly urged to give a medical examination before applying for the Exam.
Some common defects are:
- Male candidates must be at least 157.5 centimetres tall (157 cm for the Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force). The minimum height requirement for female candidates is 152 cm. After all kinds of waivers/dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm.
- Male candidates should have a well-developed chest. After complete inspiration, the minimum range of expansion should be 5 cm.
- Piles
- Wax (Ears)
- Condition of Overweight / Underweight
- Under Sized Chest
- Hydrocele / PhimosisDeviated Nasal Septum
- Tonsillitis
- Gynaecomastia
- Varicocele
- The Body Mass Index of the aspiring candidates should be below 25.
CDS Height and Weight Standards:
- Male candidates should be at least 157.5 cm tall to be considered. (The Navy’s is 157 cm, while the Air Force’s is 162.5 cm for Flying Branch and 157.5 cm for Ground Duty).
- The minimum height for female candidates is 152 cm.
- Gorkhas and people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region – Garhwali and Kumaon, will be allowed to be 5 cm shorter.
- The minimum height for candidates from Lakshadweep can be lowered by 2 cm. After all kinds of dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm. If is criteria is not fulfilled, the candidate will be labelled a dwarf.
SELECTION PROCESS
There will be 4 stages in the CDS Selection Process Written exam, SSB Interview and Document Verification and Interview Process.
- Written Examination: The first stage of CDS is the written examination. It is a 2 hours exam where candidates must attempt the examination’s English and General Knowledge sections for admission to the officer training academy. Candidates for the Indian Naval Academy, Indian Maritime Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy must pass all three English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics papers.
- SSB Interview: Candidates who pass the written exam will be called for an SSB interview. There is two-stage selection processes – stage I and stage II of the SSB interview. Only those applicants who have passed Stage I are eligible to take Stage II.
- Document Verification: Candidates selected in the interview must submit the documents for verification.
- Medical Examination: The shortlisted candidates will undergo a medical examination to determine whether or not they are medically fit. A Board of Service Medical Officers conducts a medical examination of the applicants nominated by the Services Selection Board. A Medical Board examines women applicants made up of male and female doctors, specialists, and gynaecologists. Those candidates deemed fit by the Medical Board will be allowed into the Academy.
EXAM SYLLABUS
The CDS (Combined Defence Services) syllabus is for a UPSC exam in India for officer positions in the military. It covers English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics to test candidates’ skills and knowledge. The comprehensive CDS exam syllabus PDF can be found in this article and downloaded for future reference.
| CDS Syllabus Overview 2024 | |
| Mode of CDS exam | Offline |
| Total number of marks |
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| Total Number of sections |
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| Language of the CDS question paper | Hindi and English |
| Total Duration of the test | 2 hours for each section of test |
| Nature of the questions | Objective type |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd deducted for every wrong answer |
CDS Syllabus 2024 Overview
The CDS syllabus is divided into three subjects: General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics (not required for OTA). UPSC conducts the CDS exam twice a year, providing students with the opportunity to take the exam more frequently. To crack the UPSC CDS 2024 exam, it is crucial to know the syllabus, which is the basis for the exam questions. The detailed syllabus, along with a CDS Syllabus PDF version, is provided below for the candidate’s benefit.
CDS OTA Syllabus
The syllabus of the CDS Officers Training Academy (OTA) is all the same as given above in the article. A minor change is that the Mathematics exam is not conducted by the UPSC for OTA, so those who are appearing for OTA only and do not want to appear for INA and IMA can skip the Mathematics part of the syllabus while preparing for CDS 2024. Candidates can check the other details for OTA in CDS by visiting this link.
| CDS OTA Syllabus Subjects | Exam Duration | Total Marks |
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
The changes in CDS OTA Syllabus effects the exam pattern and marking scheme for OTA exam as well. The CDS OTA (Officers Training Academy) exam pattern for 2024 is as follows:
- The exam comprises two sections: English language and General Knowledge.
- The exam is a written test consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- The total time stipulated for solving the questions is 4 hours.
- The maximum marks for the OTA are 200. The maximum marks for IMA, INA, and AFA categories are 300 as mathematics is also included in these categories.
- There is no penalty for wrong answers in CDS OTA.
CDS Syllabus Subject-Wise 2024
The examinations cover several subjects that come with detailed questions. A candidate will have to understand every subject in the syllabus at length. Below we have mentioned the common subject-wise CDS Syllabus for an aspirant’s understanding of the exam.
- CDS Syllabus for General Knowledge
- CDS English Syllabus 2024
- CDS Maths Syllabus 2024
CDS Exam Syllabus – General Knowledge
The General Knowledge section of the CDS Exam Syllabus includes knowledge of current events and everyday observations expected of an educated person with a graduate degree. It covers subjects like Political Science, History, Economics, and Geography, with questions based on various topics listed below.
| CDS Syllabus for General Knowledge | |
| Topic | Description |
| Current Affairs | Events of national and international importance, sports, awards and honours, books and authors, and major developments in the fields of politics, economics, and social issues |
| History | Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, Indian national movement, and the growth of nationalism |
| Geography | Physical, social, and economic aspects of geography, including Indian geography and world geography |
| Indian Polity and Governance | Constitution of India, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. |
| Economic and Social Development | Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. |
| Science and Technology | Developments in the field of science and technology, including space technology, biotechnology, and computer technology |
| Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, and climate change |
| Defence and Security Issues | Current events related to national security, internal and external threats, and role of Armed Forces |
CDS Syllabus for English
The English section of the CDS Exam Syllabus tests candidates’ understanding of basic English, including vocabulary, basic grammar, error detection, and idioms & phrases. The syllabus for the CDS English paper is divided into three sections: Vocabulary, Reading Passage, and Grammar.
| CDS English Syllabus Topics | ||
| Section | Topics | Description |
| Vocabulary | Basic Grammar, Idioms & Phrases, Synonyms & Antonyms, Sentence Completion, etc. | This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English vocabulary. |
| Reading Passage | Reading Comprehension Solving, Para Jumbles, Understanding the main idea and supporting details, Answering questions based on the passage, etc. | This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written English. |
| Grammar | Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Cloze test, Active and passive voice, Direct and indirect speech, Transformation of sentences, etc. | This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English grammar. |
Important Topics to Focus on CDS English Syllabus
The CDS English syllabus consists of various topics that test candidates’ command over the English language. Here are some important topics to focus on in the CDS English syllabus:
- Vocabulary
- Reading passages
- Grammar, including topics such as:
- Tenses
- Parts of speech
- Active and passive voice
- Rearrangement of sentences
- Cloze test
Candidates are advised to read newspapers, books, and magazines regularly to improve their reading and writing skills. The level of difficulty of questions will be of the secondary school level. It is recommended to invest at least 2 hours daily for the English paper
CDS Syllabus for Maths
The CDS Maths Syllabus is vast and further divided into sections like Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Static. The CDS Maths Syllabus section is included in the written exam for INA and IMA, whereas candidates appearing for OTA need not prepare for this section. Check the details of all the sections given below.
| CDS Maths Syllabus Topics | |
| Section | Topic |
| Arithmetic |
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| Algebra |
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| Trigonometry |
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| Geometry |
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| Mensuration |
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| Statistics |
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CDS Maths Syllabus: Weightage
The syllabus weightage represents the relative significance or emphasis given on every topic in the CDS exam’s Math part. It assists candidates to figure out the proportion of questions that may be expected from different areas of math, allowing them to tailor their preparation accordingly.
CDS Maths Syllabus – High Weightage Topics
The CDS exam often assigns higher weightage to certain topics within the Mathematics section.
CDS Maths Syllabus Consists:
- Number System (20-22 questions)
- Mensuration (14-16 questions)
- Geometry (10-12 questions)
- Trigonometry (10-12 questions)
- Algebra (10-11 questions)
CDS Maths Syllabus – Moderate Weightage Topics
In addition to the high weightage topics mentioned earlier, there are several other topics within the Mathematics section of the CDS exam that typically carry a moderate weightage. These topics are important and require a decent amount of preparation.
- Time, Speed and Distance (4-5 questions)
- Percentage (3-5 questions)
- Data Interpretation (2-3 questions)
- Profit and Loss (1-2 questions)
- Ratio and Proportion (1-3 questions)
- Simple Interest (1-2 questions)
- Compound Interest (1-2 questions)
- Miscellaneous (1-4 questions)
UPSC CDS Syllabus for Intelligence and Personality Test
The SSB selection process consists of two stages – stage I and stage II. Candidates who clear stage I can appear for stage II.
Candidates’ personalities are assessed by three assessors: Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist. There is no separate weightage for each test, and marks are given based on overall performance in all tests, including Conference. IO, GTO, and Psych tests are designed to identify Officer Like Qualities and trainability. Candidates’ recommendations are based on their SSB performance.
| CDS Syllabus for SSB Selection | |
| Stage | Test |
| Stage 1 |
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| Stage 2 |
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| Stage 3 | Group Discussion |
CDS Exam Pattern 2024
The CDS Exam pattern consists of a written examination and an interview process. The written test includes papers on English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, each varying in duration and marks. The interview assesses candidates’ personalities, leadership qualities, and suitability for commissioning into the Indian Armed Forces.
Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA
Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
English | 2 Hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
SSB/Interview | 5 Days | 300 |
Exam Pattern for OTA
Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
English | 2 Hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
SSB/Interview | 5 Days | 300 |
Best Books for UPSC CDS Syllabus Preparation 2024
Candidates must be willing to learn the CDS books they can refer to for successful preparation after learning the topic-by-topic CDS syllabus. Dedicated CDS exam books will aid candidates in gaining a better understanding of the subjects and, as a result, achieving a high score on the exam.
As a result, some of the most relevant books for the CDS exam that candidates should have on hand are listed below.
| CDS Syllabus Books for Preparation | |
| Subject | Book |
| Maths |
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| English |
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| General Knowledge |
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Important Instructions for CDS 2024
A candidate can prepare for the examination with so much hard work and dedication but sometimes basic things can cause them failure in the exam. There are a few things every candidate should keep in mind while appearing for the UPSC CDS exam. Given below are some of the important instructions that the candidates should note:
- Use a blue or black ball pen for OMR Sheet.
- Fill circles on the answer sheet with booklet series, subject code, and roll number carefully.
- Report booklet or sheet errors to the invigilator immediately.
- Check the booklet for missing pages or objects, and replace if necessary.
- Do not write or fold the answer sheet.
CDS Preparation Tips 2024
The following are some helpful hints for passing the CDS 2 exam:
- The goal for candidates should not be to meet the CDS cutoff but to achieve the highest possible score.
- Candidates who put in a lot of effort, and commitment, and keep a cool head during the exam will undoubtedly get the best CDS result and will be able to qualify for the SSB.
- Candidates must attempt to solve as many previous year’s CDS question papers as possible.
- Different kinds of questions from each subject should be practiced.
- Invest three to four hours per week in your studies.
- Review all of the subjects in the CDS syllabus thoroughly.
- Working on the weak areas while also devoting time to the strong areas is a good idea.
- Take full-length and sectional mock tests.
- For each subject, make sure you understand the principles and fundamentals.