UPSC CDS 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the CDS 2 notification and the application on May 15, 2024. The candidates can apply online for CDS 2 from May 15 to June 4, 2024, and the UPSC will conduct the CDS 2 exam on September 1, 2024. UPSC announced a total combined vacancy of 459 (for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA)
CDS (Combined Defence Services) is a national-level competitive exam conducted for candidates who wish to make their career in the Defence Forces- Army, Navy, and Air Force. CDS’s full form is the Combined Defence Services Exam (CDS). Candidates selected through the CDS 2024 written exam will undergo training Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). After completing training, candidates are selected for the post of lieutenant. The stipend paid to the candidates during training is INR 56,100. In this article, we have covered every detail of the CDS 2024 exam including the CDS Syllabus, dates, eligibility, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, and more.
What is CDS Exam 2024?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the Combined Defence Services Examination (also known as CDS) to candidates seeking commissions as officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Twice a year, generally in February and September, the exam is administered. An enormous number of applicants take the national Defence Entrance Exam each year. The written exam is used to choose candidates, and then the SSB Interview is used to assess candidates’ intelligence and personality. The following academies get the shortlisted individuals according to their merit and preferences.
| Academy | State/City |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | Dehradun |
| Indian Naval Academy | Ezhimala |
| Air Force Academy | Hyderabad |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Men) | Chennai |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women) | Chennai |
CDS 1 & 2 Exam
- CDS 1 exam is conducted for the courses commencing at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in January as well as Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in April.
- CDS 2 exam is conducted for the courses commencing at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in July, and Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in October.
CDS Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CDS 2024 exam.
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 15 May ’24 | CDS 2 Notification |
| 15 May ’24 – 04 Jun ’24 | CDS 2 ApplicationONGOING |
| 01 Sep ’24 | CDS 2 Exam |
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 09 May ’24 | CDS 1 Result |
| 12 Apr ’24 – 21 Apr ’24 | CDS 1 Admit Card |
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CDS 2 Vacancy 2024
The UPSC will release the vacancy for CDS 2 along with the notification PDF. However, the candidates can check the released vacancy details of the CDS 1 exam along with the notification. The candidates can check the CDS 1 2024 vacancy break up in the table below:
| Institution | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 32 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 32 |
| Officer Training Academy – Men (OTA) | 275 |
| Officer Training Academy – Women (OTA) | 18 |
| Total | 457 |
CDS 2024 Exam Highlights
Go through the highlights of the UPSC CDS 1 exam from the table below to know every bit of the examination. Male and female candidates seeking admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy can check out the recruitment process.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of exam | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Conducted by | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year (April and September) |
| Exam mode | Offline |
| Exam stages | Written exam and SSB Interview |
| Exam fees | INR 200 for General and OBC male candidatesFemale, SC, and ST candidates are exempted from fee payment |
| Exam timing | The time allotted to each paper such as English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics is two hours |
| Language of question paper | English and Hindi |
| No of questions | Elementary Maths: 100General English: 120General Knowledge: 120 |
| No.of papers | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA): Three (English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics)Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Two (English and General Knowledge) |
| CDS Exam Pattern | Written ExamIMA, INA and AFA: 300OTA: 200SSB InterviewIMA, INA and AFA: 300OTA: 200 |
| Marking scheme | One mark for the correct answerOne-third mark is deducted for wrong answers |
| CDS Result 2024 | To be Released in May 2024 |
| Exam purpose | To select candidates as Commissioned Officers in Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force |
| Vacancies | Total 341 vacancies were announced for CDS I exam |
| No of the test cities | More than 70 |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
| Contact number | 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 |
Direct link to Apply for CDS 2 2024: https://upsconline.nic.in/upsc/OTRP/
CDS Exam Dates 2024
CDS 1 & 2 Exam Dates 2024 were announced by UPSC through the tentative calendar. The CDS 2 2024 exam will be conducted on September 1, 2024. The notification will be published by UPSC on May 15, 2024. The application form will be made available from May 15 to June 4, 2024. The information for the CDS dates for the year 2023-24 was released by the UPSC through the UPSC exam calendar.
CDS 2 Application Form 2024
The CDS 2 2024 apply online link was activated on May 15, 2024, and will continue till June 4, 2024. Initially, the candidates have to register themselves for the OTR and then they will be allowed to apply for the CDS application form.
How to Make Corrections in the CDS 2 Application Form?
The steps to make corrections in the CDS 2 application form have been given below for the candidates:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the link available for CDS 2 form correction
- Log in to the registered account using login credentials
- Make corrections to the CDS 2 application correction
- Save and print a copy of the modified CDS 2 application form
- Log out from the registered profile
How to Make Corrections in UPSC OTR Profile?
The candidates need to follow the steps given below to register themselves on the OTR platform:
- Go to the official website: upsconline.nic.in
- Click on the registration link
- Click on the new registration tab
- Fill out the details asked- Name, Mother’s Name, Father’s Name, Mobile Number, Email Id, etc
- Password will be sent to the registered email id and mobile number.
- Re-login to the account and reset the password
- After the re-login go to the account and click on the CDS 2 application form link to apply for the exam
CDS Application Fee
- The application fees can be paid both online and offline
- The application fees are INR 200 for General and OBC male candidates
- SC and ST candidates were exempted from fee payment
How to Fill CDS 2 2024 Application Form Online?
The steps have been given below for the candidates to apply for the CDS 2 exam:
- Go to the official website- upsconline.nic.in
- Login into the account on the OTR platform (The registration process for OTR has given above)
- Fill out the details that have been asked for part 1 registration
- Upload the photograph, signature and photo identity proof
- Make the application fees
- Choose the exam centre for the CDS 2 exam
- Finally, submit the application form
- The confirmation message will be sent to the registered mobile number and email id
CDS 2 Notification 2024
The CDS 2 notification was released by UPSC on May 15, 2024, on the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The notification was released in PDF format and the candidates can have access to it by following the steps given below:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the CDS 2 notification 2024 in the What’s New Section
- Click on the CDS 2 notification PDF link
- The CDS 2n notification PDF will appear on the screen
- Download the CDS 2 2024 PDF and save it for later use
CDS Selection Process
CDS selection process comprises the release of notification & application form, issue of admit card for the written exam, appearing in the written exam, declaration of result for the written exam, appearing in the SSB interview, and declaration of the final result. The infographic below shows the entire CDS selection process for the CDS exam:
CDS Eligibility 2024
To be eligible for the exam, candidates need to fulfil the following CDS Eligibility Criteria 2024:
CDS Exam Pattern 2024
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 comprises two sections: English and General Knowledge. Each section is held for two hours. The total marks of the test 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) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT) and Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences.
CDS Syllabus 2024
CDS Syllabus comprises topics from English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The standard of the CDS syllabus for Mathematics is of Class 10 standard, while for other subjects, it is of graduation level. Candidates can check the syllabus below.
| Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
| English | Antonyms, Sentence improvement, Comprehension, Synonyms, Spotting Errors, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Economics, Current Awareness, Defence, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, etc. |
| Elementary Maths | Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics, etc. |
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CDS Books 2024
The subject-wise books for CDS 2024 are given below.
CDS Books for General Awareness
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | Manohar Panday (Arihant Publications) |
| Manorama Yearbook | Philip Mathew |
| Pratiyogita Darpan (Magazines) | Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team |
| Newspapers | Hindu, The Indian Express, The Economic Times |
CDS Books for English
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Objective General English | S P Bakshi (Arihant Publications) |
| High School English Grammar & Composition | Wren and Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
CDS Books for Maths
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Mathematics for C.D.S. | R S Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R S Aggarwal |
| Pathfinder for CDS |
CDS Preparation Tips 2024
Lakhs of candidates appear for the CDS exam every year, therefore, the competition is high. Candidates need to prepare well to ace the exam. Here are a few tips and tricks on how candidates can prepare for the exam:
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus
- Solve previous years’ question papers to know the types of questions asked in the exam and difficulty level
- Lay emphasis on the important topics
- Make a proper timetable and follow that diligently
- Clear the basic concepts of Maths from the high school books
CDS Exam Day Guidelines
While appearing for the CDS exam, candidates need to follow the exam day guidelines given below:
- Candidates should carry their admit cards along with one photo identity proof (original and photocopy) to the exam centre
- Candidates are allowed to carry a clipboard or hardboard, black ball pen to the exam centre
- A sheet for doing rough work is provided by the invigilator
- Candidates should not bring books, notes, loose sheets, electronic or any other type of calculators, mathematical and drawing instruments, log tables, stencils, slide rules, test booklets, and rough sheets
- Mobiles, Bluetooth, pagers, or any other communication devices are not allowed inside the premises of the exam centre
CDS Mock Test 2024
The candidates who are preparing for the CDS exam must take mock tests while preparing for the exam. Preparing for the CDS exam with the mock test can help the candidates to increase their accuracy and speed in the exam. The candidates should follow the tips given below to practice with mock tests:
- Take the CDS mock tests in exam conditions. The exam condition will help the candidates to get habitual of the exam pressure
- Analyse the topics in the mock tests that are difficult in nature
- Work hard on topics that are difficult in nature
- Focus on the repeated topics that are in the mock test
- Practice for speed and accuracy with the mock tests
CDS Question Paper 2024
CDS 2 question papers for all subjects are available now. The UPSC released the question papers in PDF format. Candidates can also raise objections against the CDS question papers. To access the question paper representation portal, candidates need to log in with their roll number, date of birth, and captcha code. Candidates can download the Previous Year CDS Question Paper through the link below.
| Subject Name | Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|
| Elementary Mathematics | Click_Here |
| English | Click_Here |
| General Knowledge | Click_Here |
CDS Admit Card 2024
CDS admit card 2024 was released online by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) on the official website-upsc.gov.in. The candidates were allowed to access the CDS admit card from the official website through the candidate’s login using the registration number or roll number and date of birth. The steps to download the admit card by following the steps given below:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the CDS admit card link
- The link will redirect to the new page
- Click on the CDS Admit card link
- Read the instructions carefully
- Fill out the details asked like application number, date of birth, etc.
- Click on the submit button
- The admit card will appear on the screen
- Download the admit card and save it for later use
Discrepancies in UPSC CDS Admit Card
Candidates are advised to check their name, father’s name, category, date of birth, photograph, signature, etc. printed on the admit card carefully. In case there are any discrepancies in the details, candidates should immediately contact the examination authority. Candidates should provide the following details while reporting the issue:
- Exam name and year
- Registration number
- Roll number
- Postal address (Candidates need to mention the application number)
What to Do If You Find Discrepancy in the CDS Admit Card?
According to the latest instructions by the UPSC for the CDS 2 exam, the candidates should follow the measures given below:
- In case of any discrepancy in the e-Admit Card, the same may be communicated to the Commission immediately at e-mail ID: Skindo- upsc@gov.in, to enable the Commission to decide between the matte
- In case the photograph is not visible or available on the e-admit Card, candidates are advised to carry three (03) identical photographs (one photograph for each session) along with the printout of the e-admit Card at the Venue of the Examination for appearing at the Examination with an undertaking. No paper Admit Card will be issued for the Examination by the Commission
CDS Exam Centres 2024
CDS exam 2024 will be conducted in more than 70 cities in three shifts. Candidates are required to enter their preferences for CDS 2024 exam centres while filling out the application form. Candidates can choose only one exam city at the time of application. CDS exam centres are allotted to candidates on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Some of the CDS exam centres 2024 are given below.
| CDS Exam Centres | |
|---|---|
| Agartala | Ranchi |
| Ghaziabad | Bengaluru |
| Panaji | Jaipur |
| Agra | Sambalpur |
| Gorakhpur | Bareilly |
| Patna | Jammu |
| Ajmer | Shillong |
| Gurgaon | Bhopal |
| Port Blair | Jodhpur |
| Ahmedabad | Shimla |
| Gwalior | Siligudi |
| Prayagraj | Dehradun |
| Aizawl | Bilaspur |
| Hyderabad | Jorhat |
| Puducherry | Kozhikode |
| Aligarh | Cuttack |
| Imphal | Thane |
| Pune | Kolkata |
| Almora | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Indore | Coimbatore |
| Raipur | Srinagar |
| Anantapur | Kohima |
| Itanagar | Chennai |
| Rajkot | Srinagar |
| Aurangabad | Kochi |
| Jabalpur | Chandigarh |
| Leh | – |
CDS Expected Cut Off 2024
The expected cut off for the CDS 1 exam is provided in the table below. The CDS 1 expected cut off is based on the difficulty level, previous trends and more:
| Academy | Written Exam | Final Exam |
|---|---|---|
| IMA (Indian Military Academy) | 120 – 130 | 245 – 255 |
| INA (Indian Naval Academy) | 105 – 120 | 233 – 245 |
| AFA (Air Force Academy) | 145 – 150 | 268 – 270 |
| OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) men | 73 – 85 | 162 – 170 |
| OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) women | 74 – 85 | 164 – 170 |
CDS Previous Year Question Papers
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 Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep). The link for the CDS previous years’ question papers has been given below.
CDS 2024 Question Paper
The CDS 1 2022 question paper has been given below for the candidates in the table. The candidates preparing for the CDS upcoming exam can use it for practice:
| Subjects | CDS Previous Year Paper |
|---|---|
| CDS Maths Question Paper | Download Here |
| CDS English Question Paper | Download Here |
| CDS GK Question Paper | Download Here |
CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2021
CDS question paper 2021 is available for free download below in the table. After solving the CDS previous year’s question papers candidates need to check the answers from the solutions PDF. This way they can smoothly track their preparation and start improving the weak section. Download CDS’s previous year’s paper 2021 through the links available below.
CDS 1 Question Paper 2021
| Subjects | CDS 1 Previous Year Paper 2021 |
|---|---|
| CDS 1 Maths Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
| CDS 1 English Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
| CDS 1 GK Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
CDS 2 Question Paper 2021
| Subjects | CDS 1 Previous Year Paper 2021 |
|---|---|
| CDS 2 Maths Previous Year Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
| CDS 2 English Previous Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
| CDS 2 GK Previous Question Paper 2021 | Download Here |
CDS Exam Analysis
Shiksha visited one of the exam centres for the CDS 1 2024 exam and took the exam review from the students who have taken the exam. Check their reaction and the difficulty level of the exam according to them on the page below:
- Yash Tomar said, ” The CDS exam for OTA was moderate in nature. However, the GK paper was moderate to difficult. The questions were asked from economics in General Awareness. The English paper was easy and dowable in nature.”
- Adhirat Deshwal said, “The exam pattern was a bit different in English from the previous year’s exam i. No questions were asked from modern history. The English paper was moderate to difficult and the question, synonyms, and antonyms were dominant in the English question Paper.”
- Nishant said, ” The CDS maths questions were moderate. The questions from Economics were dominant approximately 10 to 15 questions from the subject. The questions from Science was decreased.”
- Jasveer said, ” The Maths was easy as compared to the previous year. The pattern was changed in the English section, the questions from linguistics were dominant in the English section.”
- Rajnish said, ” The overall difficulty level for the CDS exam was moderate. The General Knowledge section was doable in nature and the Maths section was moderate in nature.
CDS 2 English & GK Exam Analysis 2023
The CDS 2 2023 English section analysis was shared on September 3, 2023, after the exam was over. Check the topic-wise difficulty level of English and GK below:
- Manish Kumar Jha Said, ” The CDS exam for OTA was moderate. However, the GK paper was moderate to difficult. The questions were asked from the 8 months of current affairs. The English paper was easy and dowable.”
- Himanshi said, “The exam pattern was a bit different from the previous year’s exam. No questions were asked from modern history. The English paper was easy and the question, synonyms, and antonyms were dominant in the English question Paper. The latest currents were asked in the GK.”
- Narayani Kumari,” The questions were good for both English and Gk Sections. The questions were asked from recent current affairs and had questions from all sections like Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. The expected cut-off for the General candidates can go up to 120 marks.”
- Sandeep,” The exam was lengthy for GK and English. The overall difficulty level for the exam is moderate to difficult. The current affairs were asked till January 2023. The cut-off for t
CDS 2 2023 Exam Analysis Maths
Check the reaction of the students who have taken the CDS 2 maths exam below:
- Rishabh Anand Mandal said, “Maths was a little difficult as compared to the other sections. The paper was lengthy and the questions from algebra were dominant in the exam”.
- Devesh said, “The exam was good and the difficulty level of the maths paper was high and the questions were asked from advanced algebra. The expected cut-off will be around 120”.
- Saransh said,” The maths was moderately difficult. The questions were asked from statistics, percentages, algebra, arithmetic, triangles, and more.
- Md. Mursallain said, “The maths sections were easy. The questions were asked from trigonometry and the difficulty level of them were easy, geometry and mensuration question were dominant in the paper.
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023
The candidates can check the CDS exam analysis for the CDS 1 exam below. The exam reaction video has also been provided for the candidates in the article below.
CDS 1 English Exam Analysis 2023
The CDS 1 2023 exam analysis for the CDS English Paper has been shared below for the candidates. The candidates can check the difficulty level of the question paper in the article. Check the topic-wise weightage in the CDS English Exam:
- The English Paper was Moderate in Nature
- The Questions were asked about Idioms and Phrases, Figures of speech, Gerund and Participle, Adjective, etc
- Ten questions were asked from each section mentioned-Figure of Speech, Spotting Errors, Filling in the blanks, Completion of Sentences, Cloze Test, Ordering Sentences
CDS 1 General Knowledge Exam Analysis
The CDS 1 Exam analysis for general knowledge has been given below for the candidates. The candidates can check the difficulty level and question paper in the article:
- The overall CDS General Knowledge paper was Moderate in nature
- There GK Sections were asked in depth.
- The Science section was dominant in the paper
CDS 1 Elementary Maths Exam Analysis 2023
- The CDS 1 exam for elementary mathematics has been given below for the candidates. Check the difficulty level of the CDS maths paper below:
- The CDS Maths Paper was moderate in nature and comprised the previous year’s questions.
- The question was asked about ratio and proportion, time and work, distance and speed, HCF and LCM, Algebra, Cube and Cub roots, Factorial, etc.
CDS Exam 2024 FAQs
Is the CDS result out in 2024?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the result of the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination I, 2024.
How many vacancies are in CDS in 2024?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the vacancies for the Combined Defense Services Examination (CDS) 2024 on 20th December 2023. The CDS 1 2024 exam is offering 457 vacancies.
