WHAT IS THE CDS EXAM?

CDS stands for Combined Defence Services. Organized biannually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as CDS (I) and CDS (II), this competitive examination serves as the gateway for ambitious graduates aiming to earn their commission as Gazetted Officers in the prestigious Indian Armed Forces.

This exam provides direct entry into:

Indian Army

IMA, Dehradun

Indian Navy

INA, Ezhimala

Indian Air Force

AFA, Hyderabad

Officers' Training

OTA, Chennai (Men/Women)

Selection Process At A Glance

Written Exam

Objective Testing (200 - 300 Marks)

Written Result

UPSC Shortlist & SSB Call Letters

SSB Interview

5-Day Personality & Officer Testing

Medical Exam

Comprehensive Armed Forces Fitness

Final Merit

National Academy Allotment

CDS Eligibility Criteria & Age Limits

Indian Military Academy (IMA)

Degree from Recognized University

Graduation in any discipline (B.A, B.Sc, B.Com, B.Tech, etc.) or equivalent qualification. Age: 19 to 24 Years (Unmarried).

Indian Naval Academy (INA)

Engineering Degree (B.E. / B.Tech)

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution. Age: 19 to 24 Years (Unmarried).

Air Force Academy (AFA)

Degree with Physics & Math or B.E/B.Tech

Graduation with 10+2 Physics & Mathematics, or a Bachelor of Engineering. Age: 20 to 24 Years (Unmarried).

Officers' Training Academy (OTA)

Graduation in Any Stream (Men & Women)

Degree from a recognized university. Short Service Commission entry for Men & Women. Age: 19 to 25 Years.

Final Year Students: Aspirants currently in their final year/semester of graduation are fully eligible to apply for CDS, subject to submitting proof of passing by the date stipulated by UPSC.

Academy Name	Applicable Gender	Age Limit Window	Marital Status
IMA (Indian Military Academy)	Male	19 – 24 years	Unmarried
INA (Indian Naval Academy)	Male	19 – 24 years	Unmarried
AFA (Air Force Academy)	Male	20 – 24 years	Unmarried
OTA (Officers' Training Academy - SSC)	Male & Female	19 – 25 years	Unmarried / Married as per guidelines

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern & Marks Breakdown

The written test consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions. Negative Marking: Each incorrect answer incurs a penalty deduction of one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question.

IMA, INA & AFA Pattern (3 Papers)
Subject	Time	Marks
Paper I: English	2 Hours	100
Paper II: General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Paper III: Elementary Math	2 Hours	100
Written Total (SSB Interview: 300 Marks)		300 (Total: 600)

OTA Pattern (2 Papers - No Math)
Subject	Time	Marks
Paper I: English	2 Hours	100
Paper II: General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Written Total (SSB Interview: 200 Marks)		200 (Total: 400)

Comprehensive CDS Syllabus

Master the complete curriculum structured by defense examination experts at Hezal Defence Institute:

English

Grammar & Syntax

Parts of Speech Tenses & Voice Subject-Verb Agreement Direct/Indirect Speech Prepositions & Articles

Vocabulary & Usage

Synonyms & Antonyms Idioms & Phrases One-Word Substitution Spotting Errors Sentence Rearrangement

Reading Comprehension

Passage Analysis Contextual Inference

General Knowledge

Core Disciplines

Current Affairs (National & International) Indian Polity & Constitution Modern, Medieval & Ancient History Physical & Indian Geography Indian Economy

General Science

Physics Concepts Chemistry Fundamentals Life Sciences / Biology Defence & Tech Updates

Elementary Math (IMA/INA/AFA)

Core Math Topics

Arithmetic & Number Theory Algebra & Quadratic Equations Trigonometry & Heights/Distances 2D & 3D Geometry Mensuration (Areas & Volumes) Statistics & Probability

*Note: Elementary Mathematics is not required for Officers' Training Academy (OTA) applicants.