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| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Combined Defence Services (CDS) |
| No. of sessions | Two |
| CDS 2024 Exam timings | 1. English: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 2. General Knowledge: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 3. Elementary Mathematics: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| CDS 2024 Exam fee | INR 200 (All categories) except SC/ST/Females |
| No. of test takers | 3.5 lakh (as of previous data) |
| Mode of examination | Pen-and-paper offline format |
| Scores validity | Valid only for that specific recruitment cycle |
| Conducting Institute for CDS exam 2024 | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| CDS exam website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 May 2024 | CDS 2 Notification |
| 15 May 2024 - 04 Jun 2024 | CDS 2 Application form filling |
| 05 June 2024 - 11 June 2024 | CDS 2 Application Correction |
| 23 Aug 2024 | CDS 2 Admit Card |
| 1st September 2024 | CDS 2 Exam |
| To be announced | CDS 2 Result Release Date |
Candidates applying for CDS 2024 should have any one of the following
Open your browser and navigate to the official UPSC website.
Under the Examinations section, you will see a link titled Apply online for All Examinations. Click it to proceed to the application portal.
Find the link for the CDS exam in a list of active examinations and select it. Part I Registration includes filling out personal information, educational qualifications, address and contact details, preferences for academies, and photo ID information.
Application Fee: General and OBC male candidates must pay INR 200, while SC/ST candidates and female candidates are usually exempt. Payment can be made online via debit/credit card, e-banking, or through SBI’s e-challan
Upload Documents: Scan and upload your passport-sized photograph and signature in the required dimensions and format. Select Exam Center: Choose your examination center from the provided drop-down list.
Agree to Declaration: Check the declaration and agree by selecting the respective checkbox. Submission and Printout: Review all the details entered in both Part I and II before submitting the form. Once submitted, you will receive a Registration ID. Print the confirmation page along with the fee receipt for your records.
| City/State/ Union Territory | City/State/ Union Territory | City/State/ Union Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Agra | Ghaziabad | Panaji |
| Agartala | Thiruvananthapuram | Srinagar |
| Gorakhpur | Kolkata | Coimbatore |
| Patna | Chennai | Srinagar |
| Ajmer | Srinagar | Kochi |
| Gurgaon | Chandigarh | Imphal |
| Ahmedabad | Indore | Almora |
| Prayagraj | Bilaspur | Raipur |
| Hyderabad | Jabalpur | Leh |
| Puducherry | Aligarh | Aurangabad |
| Rajkot | Itanagar | Anantapur |
| Pune | Port Blair | Dehradun |
| Kozhikode | Jorhat | Shimla |
| Jaipur | Jodhpur | Thane |
| Cuttack | Jammu | Bareilly |
| Kohima | Sambalpur | Bhopal |
| Shillong | Gwalior | Siliguri |
| Guwahati |
| Topic | No of Questions | Level of difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| English | 120 | Moderate |
| General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | Tough |
| Total | 300 | Moderate |
| Books | Books |
|---|---|
| General Awareness by Manohar Panday (Arihant Publications) | Manorama Yearbook by Philip Mathew |
| Pratiyogita Darpan (Magazines) by Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team | Newspapers by Hindu, The Indian Express, The Economic Times |
| Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications) | High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren and Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis | Mathematics for C.D.S. by R.S. Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal | Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant |
CDS exam pattern 2024 is divided into a written exam and SSB Interview. The written exam for IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three sections:
English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
The test paper for admission to OTA consists of two sections: English and General Knowledge. Each section is held for two hours.
The total test marks for IMA, INA, and AFA are 300, while it is 200 for OTA.
The SSB Interview for IMA, INA, and AFA carries 300 marks each while it is 200 marks for OTA. The SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: I and II. Stage I of the SSB Interview comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT) and Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences.
| Colleges | City |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | Dehradun |
| Indian Naval Academy | Ezhimala |
| Air Force Academy | Hyderabad |
| Officers' Training Academy (SSC Men) | Chennai and Gaya |
| Officers' Training Academy (SSC Women) | Chennai |
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) does not follow the traditional reservation system (like caste-based reservations) seen in many other government exams in India. However, there are certain aspects related to eligibility and seat allocation that candidates should be aware of:
Reservation for female candidates.
Reservation for NCC 'C' certificate holders
Special consideration for permanent commission
The CDS question papers are uploaded in PDF form for all the sets of test booklets of Maths, English, and GK. Candidates can also raise objections against the question papers through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep). The link for the CDS previous years' question papers has been given below.
The CDS question papers are uploaded in PDF form for all the sets of test booklets of Maths, English, and GK. Candidates can also raise objections against the question papers through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep). The link for the CDS previous years' question papers has been given below.
Answer Keys for the CDS 2 Exam will be released soon by UPSC on its official website. However, some coaching institutes have already published the answer keys for candidates who have given their exam. Using these answer keys, students can calculate their marks for the exam and get an idea about their chances of selection in SSB interview.
| College/ Posts/ Academy | Cut off for general category |
|---|---|
| IMA (Indian Military Academy) | 245-255 |
| INA (Indian Naval Academy) | 233-245 |
| AFA (Air Force Academy) | 268-270 |
| OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) men | 162-170 |
| OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) women | 164-170 |
CDS Preparation tips: Below are five short suggestions for CDS preparation:
Study the exam pattern before preparing for the exam. Create a study plan with deadlines and include revision schedule as well. Practicce mock tests and quizzes on a regular basis. Keep yourself hydrated, exercise daily, and balance study along with your family.
