CDS Exam: Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility, Result, Selection Process

CDS Exam: CDS stands for the Combined Defence Services Exam. It is a national-level test conducted twice yearly by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).  

To apply for the CDS exam, candidates must be a graduate or a final-year student. The test includes English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics questions (Maths not required for OTA). It is one of the most popular exams for aspirants seeking a permanent commissioned officer role in the armed forces.

CDS Exam Overview

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is a prestigious gateway for aspirants aiming to serve as officers in the Indian Armed Forces. The exam emphasizes academic skills and officer-like qualities.  

Here is an overview highlighting the key aspects: 

CDS Exam Date 2026

The CDS Exam 2026 will be held in two sessions, and the dates have been announced by UPSC on the official website. CDS I will be conducted on 12 April 2026. The official CDS 2026 notification will be out on 10 December 2025 on the official website. 

Here are the important dates for the CDS exam 2026: 

CDS Exam Eligibility Criteria

CDS Exam eligibility criteria include age limit and educational requirements, and vary for posts under the IMA, AFA, Navy, INA, SSC(M), and SSC(W).

Here are the details of the eligibility requirements for the CDS exam: 

• To join the Indian Military Academy (IMA) or Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), you need a bachelor's degree or equivalent from any recognized university. 
• For the Indian Naval Academy (INA), an engineering degree from a recognized university or institution is essential.
• The Air Force Academy (AFA) requires a bachelor's degree (with Physics and Math at the 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
• Candidates must be 19-24 years old (born July 2, 2002–July 1, 2007) for IMA/INA recruitment. 
• For the Air Force Academy (AFA), candidates must be between 20 and 24 years old. The upper age limit extends to 26 years for those who hold a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). 
• For men applying to the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), eligible candidates should have been born between 2 July 2001 and 1 July 2007.

CDS Vacancy 

UPSC releases the CDS vacancy details in the official notification for CDS 1 and CDS 2. It is the total number of officer posts released by UPSC for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA in each CDS cycle. These vacancies change every year depending on training capacity and defence requirements. 

For the 2026 CDS exam cycle, 453 posts are there across IMA, INA, Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). 

CDS Syllabus 

The CDS syllabus outlines the subjects and topics tested in the UPSC Combined Defence Services Exam. It includes English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics for IMA, INA, and AFA, while OTA candidates only appear for English and GK.

Key topics across sections under the CDS Syllabus include: 

• English: Grammar, synonyms/antonyms, sentence improvement, error detection, reading comprehension, para-jumbles, etc.
• General Knowledge (GK): History, geography, current events, everyday science, general awareness.
• Elementary Mathematics (for IMA/INA/AFA): Matriculation-level Maths including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, mensuration, arithmetic, etc.

CDS Exam Pattern

The CDS exam pattern explains how the UPSC conducts the written test for selection into the armed forces academies. IMA, INA, and AFA have three papers, i.e., English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. Each paper carries 100 marks. OTA candidates appear only for English and General Knowledge.

Check out the CDS Exam Pattern: 

CDS OTA Syllabus

For those applying to OTA (Officers Training Academy), the syllabus excludes Mathematics. The papers are:

• English: Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, etc
• General Knowledge: Current events, history, geography, general awareness, etc.

This makes OTA a good option for candidates more confident in languages and general awareness than in mathematics.

CDS Admit Card 

The CDS admit card is released a few weeks before the exam date. For CDS 1 2026, it is expected to be available shortly before 12 April 2026. For the CDS admit card download, candidates must visit the official UPSC website, open the “CDS Admit Card” link, and log in using their registration ID or roll number along with their date of birth. 

CDS Selection Process

The CDS selection process begins with the written examination. Candidates who qualify in the written test are called for the SSB interview or Personality Test. Following this, applicants must complete document verification, providing age proof, educational certificates, identity proof, and other required documents. Next, a medical examination is conducted by Service Medical Officers to ensure physical fitness. Finally, candidates who clear all stages are selected and undergo training at their respective academies.

CDS Cut Off & Result

CDS exam cut-off for each subject is generally around 20% as the minimum qualifying mark. However, the final aggregate cut-off varies in each cycle depending on the exam’s difficulty level, the number of vacancies, and overall candidate performance. After the written exams and SSB interviews, UPSC releases the results on its official website, and selected candidates are notified to begin their training at the respective academies.

CDS Previous Year Papers

Previous year question papers (for English, GK, Mathematics) are available officially on the UPSC website. Downloading and solving them helps aspirants understand exam pattern, question types, difficulty level, and time management. Using previous papers alongside mock tests can significantly improve your speed and accuracy. 

CDS Preparation Tips

For effective CDS preparation, create a consistent study schedule covering English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. Focus on revision, time management, and staying updated with current affairs.

Here are some preparation tips: 

• Start early and build a study schedule that covers all subjects.
• Revise basic maths from the NCERTs and practice regularly for Mathematics. 
• For the English paper, practice grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary daily.
• Follow current affairs, history, and geography, and keep notes of important facts.
• Solve CDS previous year papers and mock tests to get familiar with the CDS exam pattern and time management.