CDS WRITTENS
The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS ) Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. The Notification for the examination is usually released in the months of December and May, and the examinations are conducted in April and September respectively. Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam. Examination is conducted twice a year. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
Any student can take this exam after graduation.
This exam has 2 steps. First, there is a written test and after passing it there is the interview
The CDS exam is conducted in offline mode. The duration of the exam is 6 hours for admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Airforce Academy. For admission to Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), candidates have to appear for two papers only – English & General Knowledge. The duration of the exam is 4 hours.
Eligibility criteria
The candidates must meet the eligibility standards as set by the Union Public Service Commission for defence recruitment. Check detailed eligibility (nationality, education, age, marital status, sex) from below.
- A candidate should hold The Citizenship of India, subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who had been migrated to India before January 01, 1962, with the intention of Permanent Settle, or An individual of Indian Origin who migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire & Vietnam for permanent settle purpose in India.
Education qualification
- For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy – The candidate should have a graduation degree (any subject) from a recognized University or equivalent.
- For Indian Naval Academy- The candidate should have completed their Graduation in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution.
- For Air Force Academy- The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering.
Age limit
- For IMA- Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2006 only are eligible.
- For Indian Naval Academy- Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2006 only are eligible.
- For Air Force Academy- 20 to 24 years as on 1st January 2025 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2005
Marital status and sex
- For the Indian Military Academy, and Indian Naval Academy, only Unmarried males are eligible to apply for CDS Exam.
- For the Indian Air Force Academy, both married and unmarried males can apply, however, marriage during the training is not permitted
- For Officer Training Academy, unmarried males & females can apply for the CDS Exam.
Selection procedure
The recruitment of AFA, IMA, INA & Officers Training Academy posts will be conducted based on:
- Written Exam
- SSB Interview/Personality Test
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
Exam Pattern
- There will be Multiple-Choice Questions in each paper
- The question paper for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set in Hindi as well as in English.
- There will be a penalty of 1/3 marks for a wrong answer
- Duration of each exam is separate i.e. 2 hours.
For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy
| S.No | Subject | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 120 | 2 hrs |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 120 | 2 hrs |
| 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hrs |
For Officer’s Training Academy
| S.No | Subject | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 100 | 2 hrs |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hrs |
- Note : The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be equal for each course i.e. the maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy respectively
Exam syllabus : Subject-wise
| Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
| English | Spotting Errors Questions |
| Sentence Arrangement Questions | |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | |
| Selecting Words | |
| Ordering of Sentence | |
| Comprehension Questions | |
| Ordering of words in a sentence | |
| Fill in the blanks questions | |
| Idioms and Phrases | |
| General Awareness (GK) | Economics | Physics |
| Current Affairs | |
| Politics | |
| Chemistry | |
| Sociology | |
| History | |
| Defence related Award | |
| Geography | |
| Environment | |
| Sport | |
| Biology | |
| Cultural | |
| Book | |
| Statement | |
| True/False | |
| Elementary Mathematics | Algebra
|
Arithmetic
| |
Trigonometry
| |
Geometry
| |
Mensuration
| |
Statistics
|
Important instructions
- Write only in Black ballpoint pen, your Centre and subject followed by the CDS test booklet series (in bracket), subject code and the exam roll number at the appropriate space provided on the answer sheet at the top.
- Encode your CDS booklet series (A, B, C, or D as the case may be), subject code and roll number in the circles provided for the purpose in the answer sheet.
- In case the CDS booklet series is not printed on the test booklet or answer sheet is un-numbered then candidates should report immediately to the invigilator and get the test booklet/answer sheet replaced.
- Candidates should note that any omission/mistakes/discrepancy in encoding/filling of details in the CDS OMR answer sheet, especially with regard to the Roll Number and Test Booklet Series Code, will render the answer sheet liable for rejection.
- Immediately after the commencement of the CDS please check that the test booklet supplied to you does not have any unprinted or torn or missing pages or items etc., if so, get it replaced by a complete test booklet of the same series and subject.
- Do not write your name or anything other than the specific items of information asked for, on the CDS answer sheet/test booklet/sheet for rough work.
- Do not fold or damage or put any extraneous marking over the CDS Answer Sheet. Do not write anything on the reverse of the answer sheet.
