Combined Defence Services Selection Pattern

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has prescribed CDS exam pattern . The exam pattern provide details like different sections of exam, section-wise weightage of topics, marking scheme and total marks. Candidates should check CDS exam pattern before beginning with the preparation. This will give candidates an idea regarding the overall structure of CDS exam. Candidates can check below the detailed CDS exam pattern.The selection process of CDS recruitment includes two stages –

Written Exam

This is the first stage of the CDS selection process.

• Candidates who register successfully for the exam are required to appear in the written exam.
• According to the CDS exam pattern, the written exam for IMA, INA and Air Force comprises three sections, English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
• The total mark of the test is 300.
• The written exam for Officers’ Training Academy consists of two sections – English and General Knowledge.
• The total mark of the test is 200.
• Candidates qualifying the written exam will be called for SSB Interview for intelligence and personality test.

SSB Interview
There are two stages in SSB Interview -

• Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test. Candidates qualifying the stage one will be called for the second stage.
• Final selection of candidates is done based on their performance in written exam and SSB Interview. Selected candidates will have to undergo training at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai.

Highlights of CDS Exam Pattern

CDS Exam Pattern for Written Test

The written exam for IMA, INA and AFA comprises three sections - English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. The test paper for admission to OTA comprises two sections – English and General Knowledge. Total exam duration for IMA, INA and AFA is 6 hours (each section is for 2 hours) while it is 4 hours (with section for 2 hours) for OTA. Total marks of the test for IMA, INA and AFA are 300 while it is 200 for OTA. The test paper will consists of objective type questions only. The standard of the topics in CDS syllabus for Elementary Mathematics will be of Class 10 level. The standard of papers for other subjects will be of graduation level.

Structure of question paper

The structure of CDS question paper for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA is as follows –

IMA, INA, AFA

OTA

CDS Marking Scheme 

• Each question in CDS exam carries 4 options, out of which only 1 option will be correct
• For incorrect answer, 1/3 marks will be deducted
• More than one option marked will be treated as incorrect 
• If a question is left unanswered there will be no negative marking 

The section-wise marking scheme of CDS exam is given below - 

CDS Exam Pattern for SSB Interview

The SSB Interview for IMA, INA, AFA is for 300 mark each while for OTA it is 200. The SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages – I and II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear in stage II. The details of both the stages are given below -

• Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT).  
• Stage II comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and Conference. These tests are conducted for over 4 days.

CDS  Important Dates 

CDS Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for CDS exam, candidates need to fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status

For Indian Military Academy (IMA), unmarried candidates

For Indian Naval Academy (IMA), unmarried male candidates

Candidates applying for Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years    

For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates

For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates should be unmarried .

Educational Qualification

For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, candidates must be a graduate.  

For Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university.

For Air Force Academy, a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering is necessary.

Physical Fitness

Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to CDS exam.

CDS - Exam Syllabus

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has prescribed CDS Exam  syllabus for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). The syllabus of CDS Exam is broadly divided into three subjects – English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.

• The standard of the questions in Elementary Mathematics will be of matriculation level.
• The level of questions in other subjects will be of graduation level.

Candidates before beginning with their preparation must check the CDS syllabus as it will help them to know the topics which they need to cover for the exam.

CDS Syllabus 2024 for English Language

The questions in this section are designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English. Questions in this section are basically asked from the following topics –

CDS Syllabus 2024 for General Knowledge

The General Knowledge section tests a candidate’s knowledge regarding the current events. The paper include questions on History of India and Geography of a nature. Topics that candidates should prepare in General Knowledge section are given below.

CDS Syllabus 2024 for Elementary Mathematics

Questions in Elementary Mathematics are asked from Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics. Check below the topics for Elementary Mathematics.

Number System - Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, substraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions. Unitary method, time and distance, time and work, percentages, applications to simple and compound interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, variation.

Elementary Number Theory - Division algorithm. Prime and composite numbers. Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Multiples and factors. Factorisation Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.

Algebra

Trigonometry

• Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0°
• Simple trigonometric identities
• Use of trigonometric tables
• Simple cases of heights and distances

Geometry

Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures

Theorems on - Properties of angles at a point, Parallel lines, Sides and angles of a triangle, Congruency of triangles, Similar triangles, Concurrence of medians and altitudes, Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, Circles and its properties including tangents and normal and Loci

Mensuration

• Areas of squares
• Rectangles
• Parallelograms
• Triangle and Circle
• Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book)
• Surface area and volume of cuboids
• Lateral Surface
• Volume of Right Circular Cones, cylinders and Surface
• Area and volume of spheres

Statistics

How to apply online for CDS?

The application form of CDS 2 is made available on the official website. Candidates can check below the steps to fill the application form.

• Visit the official website of UPSC
• In the home page, candidates will find the apply link -https://upsconline.nic.in/
• CDS application form can be filled in two parts - I and II
• In Part I, candidates need to enter details like personal details, address and educational qualification, preferred branch etc
• On successful submission of application form, candidates will get their registration ID
• In Part II of CDS application form, candidates can pay their fee, select exam centre and upload images
• After final submission, candidates should take printout of the application form and fee receipt