Common Defence Services Examination(CDS)

CDS 2025 Exam dates have been announced. As per the announced dates by UPSC,

 CDS exam I will be held on April 13, 2025,

CDS II will be held on September 14, 2025.

CDS exam will be held offline in PBT format . UPSC conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam. The exam is held twice a year in the month of April and September 2025.

Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam is a national-level exam. It is conducted to recruit officers for all three defense forces (Indian Army, Indian Air Force, & Indian Navy).

NOTIFICATION_CDS EXAM I (2025)_CLICK HERE

HOW TO APPLY:

Candidates are required to apply online by using the website upsconline.gov.in.

OR Direct link for OTR(One Time Registration)__CLICK HERE

Modification in Registration Profile

The Commission has also decided to extend the facility of making correction(s) in any field(s) of the application form for this examination from next day of the closure of the application window of this Examination. This window will remain open for 7 days from the date of opening of the same i.e. from 01.01.2025 to 07.01.2025. In case a candidate wants to carry out any change in his/her Registration profile during this period, then he/she should login to the Registration platform and do the needful accordingly. In other words, no change in the Registration profile can be made by visiting the window for Modification in application form.

Eligibility Criteria:

Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens, or citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who have settled in India before 1962.

Age Limit:

  • Indian Military Academy (IMA): 19 to 24 years.
  • Indian Naval Academy (INA): 19 to 22 years.
  • Air Force Academy (AFA): 19 to 23 years.
  • Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): 19 to 25 years.

Educational Qualification:

  • IMA: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
  • INA: A degree in Engineering.
  • AFA: A degree in Engineering or a Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level.
  • OTA: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB.

Candidates, who have yet to pass their degree examination will be eligible only if they are studying in the final year of degree examination.

Those candidates who have yet to qualify in the final year Degree Examination and are allowed to appear in the UPSC Examination should note that this is only a special concession given to them. They are required to submit proof of passing the Degree Examination by the prescribed date and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of basic qualifying University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever. Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester degree course are required to submit at the time of SSB interview a bonafide certificate issued by University/College stating that they will be able to submit their proof of passing the graduation degree examination by the specified date, failing which their candidature will be cancelled

FEE :

Candidates(Male)__ Rs. 200/-

Female/SC/ST candidates__No Fee

Exam Structure: The CDS exam is divided into three parts for IMA, INA, and AFA, and two parts for OTA.

  • Written Exam:
    • For IMA, INA, AFA:
      • English (100 marks)
      • General Knowledge (100 marks)
      • Elementary Mathematics (100 marks)
    • For OTA:
      • English (100 marks)
      • General Knowledge (100 marks)
  • Duration:
    • Each paper lasts for 2 hours.
  • Negative Marking:
    • One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
  1. Exam Schedule:
    • The CDS exam is held twice a year, typically in February and November.
    • The notification for the exam is usually released around October for the first exam and June for the second exam.
  2. Syllabus:
    • English: Focuses on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and basic writing skills.
    • General Knowledge: Includes topics related to history, geography, economics, current affairs, politics, and general science.
    • Elementary Mathematics: Topics include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Number Systems.
  3. Selection Process:
    • Written Exam: The first stage of the exam.
    • Interview/Personality Test: Candidates who clear the written exam are called for a SSB (Services Selection Board) interview. This assesses the candidate’s psychological, physical, and leadership qualities.
    • Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by the SSB are then medically examined.
  4. Training:
    • After selection, candidates undergo training at their respective academies:
      • IMA: Dehradun
      • INA: Ezhimala, Kerala
      • AFA: Hyderabad
      • OTA: Chennai
  5. Important Tips for Preparation:
    • Time Management: Proper planning and time allocation to each subject are essential.
    • Focus on General Knowledge: Read newspapers, watch news, and refer to current affairs books.
    • Mathematics: Practice regularly and focus on formulae, shortcut methods, and time-saving techniques.
    • English: Build vocabulary and focus on reading comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, and grammar.
  6. Important Resources:
    • Books:
      • General Knowledge: Lucent’s General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook.
      • Mathematics: R.S. Aggarwal’s Mathematics.
      • English: Wren and Martin for grammar, Objective English by R.S. Aggarwal.
    • Online Resources: Practice papers, mock tests, and online tutorials.
  7. Admit Card and Results:
    • The Admit Card is available online, usually 2-3 weeks before the exam.
    • Results for the written exam are typically declared within a few months of the exam. Successful candidates are called for the SSB interview.