CDS Exam stands for Combined Defence Service Exam. It is a combined exam for joining three parts of armed forces i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force. It is similar to National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam & it is also conducted twice in a year. The only difference is that NDA is conducted by UPSC after 12th and CDS Exam is conducted after graduation. Final year graduation students can also apply for it but they have to produce the degree till a prefixed date, which is different for different training academies. So check all the details about CDS Exam 2024.
CDS Exam
After passing CDS written exam, candidates are called for SSB interview. Recommended & medically fit candidates join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA) for training. Candidates selected for PC (Permanent Commission) join IMA, INA & AFA whereas short service commission candidates join OTA. Candidates selected for permanent commission will undergo training for approx.18 months and candidates selected for short service commission will be trained at OTA for approx.11 months.
CDS Exam Eligibility Criteria
| ACADEMY | Age Limits | Educational Qualifications |
| INA | 19-22 years | B.Sc. with Mathematics & Physics or BE/B. Tech |
| AFA | 19-23 years | B.Sc. with Mathematics & Physics or BE/B. Tech |
| IMA | 19-24 years | Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. |
| OTA | 19-25 years | Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. |
CDS Exam Scheme
Written exam consist of 3 papers i.e. English, General Knowledge & Elementary Mathematics.
a) For admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.
| Subject | Duration | No. of Question | Max. Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 | 100 |
b) For admission to Officers Training Academy.
| Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Max. Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 120 | 100 |
CDS Marking Scheme
| Subject | Correct Answer | Wrong Answer |
| English | +0.83 Marks | -0.27 Marks |
| G.K. | +0.83 Marks | -0.27 Marks |
| Elementary Mathematics | +1 Marks | -0.33 Marks |
CDS Cut off Marks
The Commission fix qualifying marks for each paper and it varies every time. The cutoffs officially declared by UPSC are given below.
| Cut Off → | CDS II 2012 | CDS I 2013 | ||||
| Course ↓ | Minimum qualifying marks in each subject | Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Marks of last recommended candidate | Minimum qualifying marks in each subject | Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Marks of last recommended candidate |
| AFA | 12 | 144 | 266 | 15 | 129 | 256 |
| IMA | 12 | 114 | 237 | 15 | 102 | 225 |
| INA | 12 | 108 | 231 | 15 | 75 | 206 |
| OTA(Men) | 12 | 76 | 158 | 15 | 72 | 154 |
| OTA(Women) | 12 | 76 | 159 | 15 | 72 | 152 |
Important Points about CDSE:-
- Written marks are added to the final All India Merit List
- There is a sectional cut off in CDS Exam, which means candidate has to get minimum qualifying marks in each subject.
- There is no percentage criteria in degree for CDSE.
| Particular | CDS I | CDS II |
| Date of Notification | November | June |
| Date of Exam | February | Sep.-Oct. |
| Written Result | May-June | Dec.-Jan. |
| SSB Dates | August-Sep. | March-April |
| Merit List of IMA,INA,AFA | October | May |
| Merit list of OTA | January | August |
| Training Starts at IMA,INA,AFA | January | July |
| Training Starts at OTA | April | October |
CDS Exam Syllabus:
English
The standard of paper will approximately be such as may be expected of a graduate of an Indian University. The question paper will be designed to test the candidates understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
General Knowledge
General Knowledge including 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 History of India and Geography of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study.
Elementary Mathematics
The standard of the papers in Elementary Mathematics will be of Matriculation level.
- 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. Factorisation Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm, Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.
- Algebra
Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M. Theory of polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, 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 x, cosine x, Tangent x when 00 < x < 900 Values of sin x, cos x and tan x, for x =00, 300, 450, 600 and 900 Simple trigonometric identities. Use of trigonometric tables. Simple cases of heights and distances.
- Geometry
Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on (i) Properties of angles at a point (ii) Parallel lines, (iii) Sides and angles of a triangle, (iv) Congruency of triangles, (v) Similar triangles, (vi) Concurrence of medians and altitudes, (vii) Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) 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 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.