UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

SYLLABUS

ENGLISH

The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.

1. Reading Comprehension

2. Cloze Test

3. One Word Substitutions

4. Fill in the blanks

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

General Knowledge includes knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on the History of India and the Geography of nature that candidates should be able to answer without special study.

1. Indian Demography & Politic 

2. Geography

3. Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

4. Current Affairs

5. History

ELEMENTRY MATHEMATICS

ARITHMETIC

Number System—Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, 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. Factorization Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.

1. Number System

2. Volume 0f Cylinder, Cone, Cube, Sphere

3. Trigonometry

4. Linear & Quadratic Equations

ALGEBRA

Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., Theory of polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, the relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered). Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions. Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions. Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions, and conditional identities, Laws of indices.

TRIGONOMETRY

Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos ×, and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°

Simple trigonometric identities.

Use of trigonometric tables.

Simple cases of heights and distances.

GEOMETRY

Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on:

1. Properties of angles at a point,

2. Parallel lines,

3. Sides and angles of a triangle,

4. Congruency of triangles,

5. Similar triangles,

6. Concurrence of medians and altitudes,

7. Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square,

8. Circles and its properties including tangents and normals,

9. Loci

MENSURATION

Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles. Areas of figures can be split up into these figures (Field Book), Surface area and volume of cuboids, lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, surface area, and volume of spheres.

STATISTICS

Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, etc. Measures of central tendency.

SYLLABUS WITH WEIGHTAGE

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

SYLLABUS

ENGLISH

The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.

1. Reading Comprehension

2. Cloze Test

3. One Word Substitutions

4. Fill in the blanks

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

General Knowledge includes knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on the History of India and the Geography of nature that candidates should be able to answer without special study.

1. Indian Demography & Politic 

2. Geography

3. Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

4. Current Affairs

5. History

ELEMENTRY MATHEMATICS

ARITHMETIC

Number System—Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, 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. Factorization Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.

1. Number System

2. Volume 0f Cylinder, Cone, Cube, Sphere

3. Trigonometry

4. Linear & Quadratic Equations

ALGEBRA

Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., Theory of polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, the relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered). Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions. Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions. Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions, and conditional identities, Laws of indices.

TRIGONOMETRY

Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos ×, and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°

Simple trigonometric identities.

Use of trigonometric tables.

Simple cases of heights and distances.

GEOMETRY

Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on:

1. Properties of angles at a point,

2. Parallel lines,

3. Sides and angles of a triangle,

4. Congruency of triangles,

5. Similar triangles,

6. Concurrence of medians and altitudes,

7. Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square,

8. Circles and its properties including tangents and normals,

9. Loci

MENSURATION

Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles. Areas of figures can be split up into these figures (Field Book), Surface area and volume of cuboids, lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, surface area, and volume of spheres.

STATISTICS

Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, etc. Measures of central tendency.

SYLLABUS WITH WEIGHTAGE

Pie Chart For CDS - English Syllabus

Pie Chart For CDS - General Knowledge Syllabus

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

For the English Language

1. High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin

2. Objective General English by SP Bakshi

3. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

For General Knowledge

1. General Awareness by Manohar Panday

2. Manorama Yearbook

3. Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review (CSR), and Yojana

For Elementary Mathematics

1. Mathematics for CDS by RS Aggarwal

2. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal

3. Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant Publications

Admission to Examination Centres

1. Candidates must not forget to take their admit card with ID proof and 2 recent colored photographs.

2. No use of electronic items, books, or watches allowed inside the examination hall.

3. Candidates should reach the examination center 1 hour prior to the commencement of the exam..

5. Candidates cannot leave the examination center without the conclusion of the UPSC CDS exam.

6. Candidates need to follow all the instructions given by the invigilator.

7. Candidates found with debarred items will be disqualified from the exam.

IMPORTANT LINKS

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification - Click here

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

EXAM PATTERN

The CDS examination comprises:

1. Written examination

2. Interview for intelligence and personality test

For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy

For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy

Written Exam

1. There will be 340 questions from 3 sections; English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. For the CDS OTA exam there will be 240 questions from 2 sections; English & General Knowledge.

2. The time duration of the UPSC CDS Exam is 6 hours. For the CDS OTA Exam the time duration is 4 hours.

3. For correct answers, 0.83 marks are given for English and General Knowledge, and 1 mark is given for Maths. For every wrong answer, 0.33 marks will be deducted for all wrong answers.

4. The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only.

6. The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.

Mode Of Examination

The Examination for Combined Defence Services will be conducted as an Offline Written Test. Questions will be Objective Type in nature.

Medium Of Exmination

The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English Language.

Marking Scheme

1. There are four alternatives for the answer to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, One third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty.

2. If a candidate is given more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be the same penalty as above for that question.

3. If a question is left blank, no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.

FAST FACTS

1. Acronym - CDS

2. Conducting Body/ Administrator - Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

3. Exam Purpose - Recruitment of candidates into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy

4. Exam Mode - Written Test & Personal Interview

5. Stages - Stage I & II

6. Offered - Twice in a Year

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- 

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

EXAM PATTERN

The CDS examination comprises:

1. Written examination

2. Interview for intelligence and personality test

For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy

For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy

Written Exam

1. There will be 340 questions from 3 sections; English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. For the CDS OTA exam there will be 240 questions from 2 sections; English & General Knowledge.

2. The time duration of the UPSC CDS Exam is 6 hours. For the CDS OTA Exam the time duration is 4 hours.

3. For correct answers, 0.83 marks are given for English and General Knowledge, and 1 mark is given for Maths. For every wrong answer, 0.33 marks will be deducted for all wrong answers.

4. The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only.

6. The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.

Mode Of Examination

The Examination for Combined Defence Services will be conducted as an Offline Written Test. Questions will be Objective Type in nature.

Medium Of Exmination

The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English Language.

Marking Scheme

1. There are four alternatives for the answer to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, One third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty.

2. If a candidate is given more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be the same penalty as above for that question.

3. If a question is left blank, no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.

FAST FACTS

1. Acronym - CDS

2. Conducting Body/ Administrator - Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

3. Exam Purpose - Recruitment of candidates into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy

4. Exam Mode - Written Test & Personal Interview

5. Stages - Stage I & II

6. Offered - Twice in a Year

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification - Click here

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Nationality

i. A candidate applying for the UPSC CDS exam must be either – 

ii. A Citizen of India or 

iii. A subject of Nepal or 

iv. A subject of Bhutan or 

v. A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or 

vi. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. 

Age Limit

The detailed CDS age limit criteria below for different posts:

Age Relaxation

Candidates who hold a valid and current commercial pilot license issued by DGCA (India) are entitled to relaxation in the upper age limit up to 26 years.

Educational Qualifications

The following table lists the specific CDS qualification requirements:

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Nationality

i. A candidate applying for the UPSC CDS exam must be either – 

ii. A Citizen of India or 

iii. A subject of Nepal or 

iv. A subject of Bhutan or 

v. A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or 

vi. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. 

Age Limit

The detailed CDS age limit criteria below for different posts:

Age Relaxation

Candidates who hold a valid and current commercial pilot license issued by DGCA (India) are entitled to relaxation in the upper age limit up to 26 years.

Educational Qualifications

The following table lists the specific CDS qualification requirements:

Note: 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.

Marital Status (Male)

To check the CDS marital criteria of male candidates, refer to the table provided below:

Marital Status (Female)

The CDS eligibility for female candidates is also specified. To get the details about the same, check out the given table:

Medical Eligibility

As per the CDS Eligibility, candidates who are interested in the exam should be medically fit to be considered eligible for the job. To fulfil the CDS Eligibility Criteria, every candidate should know about the medical conditions that can hinder their journey. Given below are the specifics of the medical conditions that would not allow you to apply for the exam:

1. Condition of Overweight/Underweight

2. Under Sized Chest

3. Piles

4. Wax (Ears)

5. Deviated Nasal Septum

6. Tonsillitis

7. Gynaecomastia

8. Varicocele

9. Hydrocele / Phimosis

Physical Eligibility

1. According to the CDS Eligibility, candidates must meet the prescribed physical standards for fitness.

2. They must be in good physical and mental health and free from any disease/disability which can interfere with the performance of duties.

3. There should be no evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects, or underweight. The candidate should not be overweight or obese.

4. Candidates should have no past history of mental breakdown or fits.

5. The minimum CDS height required for male candidates is 157.5 cms (157 cms for the Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force). For women candidates, the minimum CDS height required is 152 cm. However, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm after all types of waivers/dispensations.

6. For Male Candidates, the chest should be well developed. 

7. The Body Mass Index of the candidates should be below 25.

IMPORTANT LINKS

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification - Click here

UPSC CDS ( I&II ) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS ( I & II ) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

IMPORTANT DATES

IMPORTANT LINKS

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification - Click here

UPSC CDS ( I&II) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS (I & II) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

CDS- I Exam Analysis 2024 (21th April 2024)

Difficulty level (Overall)

Good Attempts

Section Wise Analysis

English Section

UPSC CDS ( I&II) EXAMINATION 2025: LATEST UPDATE

Official UPSC Notification for CDS (I & II) Examination 2025 Released on 11-12-2024, with the Aim of Filling 457 Vacancies. Interested Candidates can apply online application from 11/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 and CDS I Exam 2025 will be held on 13/04/2025. As per the exam calander CDS- II 2025 Notification Released on 28-05-2025 and CDS II Exam 2025 will be held on 14/09/2025.

OVERVIEW

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates who wish to begin their career in the defence forces like Army, Navy, and Air Force. Every year, the CDS exam is conducted in two phases CDS - I & CDS - II. This is a remarkable opportunity for graduates who wish to serve the country by joining the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

CDS- I Exam Analysis 2024 (21th April 2024)

Difficulty level (Overall)

Good Attempts

Section Wise Analysis

English Section

General Knowledge

Mathematics

CDS- I Exam Analysis 2023 (16th April 2023)

CDS- I 2023 Exam Analysis - Difficulty level (Overall)

UPSC CDS- I Exam Analysis 2023 (English)

Important Topics & Good attempts

English

CDS- I Exam Analysis 2023 (General Knowledge)

Important Topics & Good attempts

General Knowledge

CDS- I Exam Analysis 2023 (Mathematics)

Important Topics & Good attempts

Mathematics

CDS- II Exam Analysis 2023 (3rd September 2023)

CDS- II 2023 Exam Analysis - Difficulty Level (Overall)

UPSC CDS- II Exam Analysis 2023 (English)

Important Topics & Good attempts

English

CDS- II Exam Analysis 2023 (General Knowledge)

Important Topics & Good attempts