UPSC CDS 1 Admit Card 2024

On May 15, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the UPSC CDS 2 2024 application and notification. Until June 4, 2024, candidates may apply to take the CDS 2 exam.

UPSC CDS 2024: On May 15, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) made the application form available for the CDS 2 exam. Until June 4, 2024, candidates may apply online for the CDS exam. September 1, 2024 is the date of the UPSC CSD 2 exam.

The CDS 1 2024 test was previously administered by the UPSC on April 21, 2024. The post contains an exam analysis and a video of the students’ post-examination reactions for those who took the exam. The article has published the UPSC CDS 1 solution key.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam twice a year as a nationwide entrance exam. The Indian Armed Forces, which comprise the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, recruit officers through this exam. There are two components to the CDS exam: a written exam and an interview. The written exam consists of three papers: elementary mathematics, general knowledge, and English. It is administered offline. Each paper has a two-hour time limit and 100 possible points. The Services Selection Board (SSB) conducts the interview, which consists of a battery of tests meant to evaluate a candidate’s intelligence, leadership potential, and personality. UPSC CDS 2024: Application (Out), Alert, Time, Schedule, Qualifications, Courses, and Up-to-Date Information.

CDS 2024 Highlights 

Candidates selected through CDS join as commissioned officers. They undergo training in the respective defence academies. The table below provides some important exam highlights for CDS 2024.

CDS 2024 Exam Highlights
Exam name	Combined Defence Services Examination
Conducting institute	Union Public Service Commission
Exam Level	National
CDS syllabus	Maths, English and General Ability Test (GAT)
CDS pattern	The written exam conducted in pen-and-paper mode
No. of test cities	More than 70
Exam frequency	Twice a year
Exam fees	INR 200 (SC/ST/Women candidates/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from fee payment)
Eligibility	Passed graduation or are appearing in the same
Exam purpose	Admission of candidates for Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training
Exam website	upsc.gov.in

UPSC CDS Result 2024 

The UPSC released the UPSC CDS result in the form of a PDF that comprises the roll numbers of the qualified candidates. The candidates can download the CDS 1 result by following the steps given below:

• Go to the official website 
• Click on the CDS 1 result link 
• The CDS 1 Result PDF link will appear on the screen 
• Click on the CDS 1 result PDF link 
• The UPSC CDS result PDF will appear on the screen 
• Download the UPSC CDS result and save it for later use

Direct Link for CDS 1 Result PDF: Click Here 

UPSC CDS Expected Cut Off 2024

The candidates can check the expected cut off for the UPSC CDS 2024 exam in the table below. The CDS expected cut off 2024 is based on the difficulty level of the CDS exam and more. The candidates can check the UPSC CDS 1 written exam expected cut off below in the table. The expected cut-off for the CDS written exam has been given based on the difficulty level and other UPSC CDS cut-off deciding factors:

CDS Written Exam Expected Cut Off 2024
CDS 1 Expected Cutoff 2024	CDS 1 Written Exam	CDS 1 Final Cutoff
CDS Cut off AFA	135-142	260-270
CDS Cut off IMA	110-125	245-255
CDS Cut off INA	108-115	230-244
CDS Cut off OTA (female)	90-95	158-165
CDS Cut off OTA (male)	90-94	160-170

UPSC CDS 1 2024 Exam Date

CDS 2024 dates have been announced by UPSC for the CDS written examination. The candidates must go through the CDS 1 2024 date and events tables to know the CDS 1 exam date and avoid the lack of information regarding the CDS 2024 exam. 

UPSC CDS 1 2024 Events	CDS 1 2024 Dates
CDS 1 2024 notification	December 20, 2023
CDS 1 2024 application form	December 20, 2023
The last date to apply for the CDS 2024 application form	January 9, 2024
CDS 1 application form correction facility	10-Jan-2024 to 16-Jan-2024
CDS 1 2024 application withdrawal dates	Withdrawal Not Allowed
CDS exam date 2024	April 21, 2024

UPSC CDS 2 2024 Exam Date

UPSC CDS 2 2024 Events	CDS 2 2024 Dates
CDS 2 notification 2024 release date	May 15, 2024
CDS 2 application form 2024 date	May 15, 2024
The last date to apply for the CDS 2 application form	June 04, 2024
CDS 2 application form correction facility date	To be notified
CDS 2 application withdrawal dates	Withdrawal Not Allowed
CDS 2 admit card date	To be notified
CDS 2 exam date 2024	September 1, 2024

CDS 1 2024 Exam Analysis & Students Reaction

The candidates can check the exam analysis and students’ reaction video below:

CDS 1 Exam Analysis for GK and English

Shiksha team visited one of the exam centres in Delhi. Check the student reaction after the exam 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, “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.” 

CDS 1 Maths Exam Analysis & Students’ Reaction 

UPSC CDS 1 Admit Card 2024

The UPSC released the CDS 1 admit card on April 12, 2024. The candidates will be able to download their CDS 1 hall ticket by following the steps given below:

• Go to the official website-upsc.gov.in 
• Click on the UPSC CDS 1 2024 Admit Card link
• The login page will appear on the screen 
• Fill out the details required- application/registration number and date of birth 
• Fill out the captcha available on the screen 
• Click on the submit button
• The UPSC CDS 1 admit card will appear on the screen 
• Download the CDS 1 admit card and save it for later use

CDS 2024 Admit Card Download Link 

The candidates who will successfully submit their application form for the CDS 2024 exam will be able to download the CDS 2024 admit card. The direct link to download the CDS admit card 2024 is below in the article as soon as it is released on the official website. The direct link will redirect the candidates to the login page where the candidates can download the CDS admit card using their login credentials. 

UPSC CDS Age Limit 2024

• CDS 2 2024 age limit for Indian Military Academy (IMA) is that unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2005, are eligible to apply
• CDS 2 2024 age limit for Indian Naval Academy (IMA) is that unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2005, are eligible to apply
• Candidates applying for Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years old as of January 1, 2024. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2004For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 1999, and not later than January 1, 2005, are eligible to apply
• For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates should be unmarried and born not earlier than January 2, 1999, and not later than January 1, 2005

UPSC CDS Qualification

• For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, the required educational qualification is Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university
• For Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university
• For Air Force Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university. They must have studied Physics and Mathematics in Class 12

UPSC CDS Physical Standards 2024

The candidates who want to appear for the CDS exam must go through the CDS physical standards before applying for the CDS exam so that they can check that they are eligible to qualify for the eligibility criteria 

CDS 2024 Male Height and Weight

The height and weight standards for the army and navy (male) have been given below for the CDS exam aspiring candidates. The candidates can refer to the table for the CDS age-wise weight and height below:

Height/Age	18 years	20 years	22 years	24 years
152	44&*nbsp;	46	47	48
155	46	48&**nbsp;	49	50
157	47	49	50	51
160	48	50	51	52
162	50	52	51	54
165	52	53	55	56
168	53	55	57	58
170	55	57	58	59
173	57	59	60	61
175	59	61	62	62
178	61	62	63	64
180	63	64	65	66
183	65	67	67	68
185	67	69	70	71
188	70	71	72	74
190	72	73	74	76
193	74	76	77	78
195	77	78	79	81

CDS 2024 Female Height and Weight

The height and weight standards for the army and navy (female) have been given below for the CDS exam aspiring candidates. The candidates can refer to the table for the CDS age-wise weight and height below:

Height/Age	20 years	25 years	30 years
148	39	41	43
150	40	42	43.5
153	42	43.5	45
155	43	44	46
158	45	46	48
160	46	47	49
163	47	49	51
165	49	51	53
168	50	52	54

CDS Eyesight 2024

Candidates who want to appear in CDS 2024 must know about visual standards so that they can verify that they are eligible to appear for the CDS exam or not. The UPSC has divided visual standards into three parts – IMA & OTA, Naval Candidates, and Air Force. The details of the visual standards have been given below: 

CDS 2024 Eyesight : IMA and OTA 

• Uncorrected vision (max allowed) – 6/60 &6/60  
• BCVA – Right 6/6 & Left 6/6 
• Myopia –
• Hypermetropia –
• Lasik/equivalent surgery – Permitted 
• Colour perception: CP II 

CDS 2024 Eyesight: Navy

• Uncorrected without glasses: 6/12, 6/12  
• Corrected with glasses: 6/6, 6/6  
• Myopia Limit: -1.5D 
• Hypermetropia Limit: +1.5D  
• Binocular Vision: III  
• Limits of Colour Perception: I 

CDS 2024 Eyesight: Air Force 

Candidates who wear spectacles regularly are not eligible for India Air Force. The visual standards for the Air Force have been given below: 

• Hypermetropia Colour Vision CP-1  
• Hypermetropia: +2.0 d Sph  
• Manifest Myopia: Nil  
• Retinoscopic Myopia- 0.5 in any meridian  
• Astigmatism : +0.75 D Cyl (with + 2.0 D- Max) 

Maddox Rod Test at 33 cms: 

• Exo-16 prism D  
• Eso-6 prism D  
• Hyper-1 prism D 
• Hypo-1 prism D 

 at 6 meters: 

• Exo-6 prism D 
• Eso-6 prism D 
• Hyper-1 prism D 
• Hypo-1prism D  

CDS Vacancy 2024

The final UPSC CDS 2024 vacancy will be announced simultaneously with the release of the official notification on upsc.gov.in. The Union Public Service would release UPSC CDS vacancies in 2024 separately for both sessions. CDS 2024 openings for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) Men & Women will be available here for each session.

CDS Application Form 2024

UPSC released the CDS application along with the notification on the official website on December 20, 2023. The candidates can apply for the CDS exam till January 9, 2024 by following the steps that have been provided in the article below. 

How to register for the CDS application form? 

The steps to fill out the application form are given below:

• Go to the official website for application-  upsconline.nic.in
• Log in to your registered account or register for the OTR (the steps to register for UPSC OTR has been given below in the article)
• Click on the CDS 2 exam link
• Fill out the details asked
• Upload the photograph, signature, and Photo Identity card
• Make the application fee for the CDS 2 exam 
• Choose the CDS 2 exam centre
• Finally, submit the application form 
• A confirmation message will be sent to the candidate’s registered mobile number and email id 

Direct Link to Apply for the CDS 1 2024 exam: Closed

CDS Exam Pattern 2024

Candidates can check the CDS 2024 exam pattern in the table below:

Parameters	Details
Mode of exam	Offline
Number of sections	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA)-ThreeOfficers’ Training Academy (OTA)-Two
Total marks of the test	IMA, INA, and AFA-300OTA-200
Nature of questions	Objective type
Language of question paper	Hindi and English
Duration of the test	Two hours for each section of the test

CDS Negative Marking Scheme

• For the incorrect answer, 1/3 mark is deducted
• Candidates marking more than one option are treated as incorrect 
• If a question is left unanswered, there will be no negative marking 

Section Wise Marking Scheme

The section-wise marking scheme of the CDS exam has been given below for the candidates. The section-wise marking scheme will help the aspirants to understand the complex structure of the marking scheme: 

Specifications	English	GK	Mathematics
Maximum marks	100	100	100
Marks for the correct answer	+1 mark for each correct option	+1 mark for each correct option	+1 mark for each correct option
Negative marking	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer

CDS Exam Pattern 2024 for SSB Interview

The candidates who will join the Indian defence as commissioned officers will be promoted according to the norms and time period of the service. The candidates can check the rank-wise post list below:

• Captain – Two years of commissioned service
• Major – Six years of commissioned service
• Lieutenant Colonel – Thirteen years of commissioned service
• Colonel – Fifteen years of commissioned service
• Colonel (TS) – Twenty-six years of commissioned service
• Major General – Twenty-five years of commissioned service
• Brigadier – Twenty-three years of commissioned service
• Lieutenant General – Twenty-eight years of commissioned service
• General – No restrictions
• Lieutenant – Promotion only after completion of training

CDS 2024 Career Growth in INA & IMA

Candidates who want to join the Indian Naval Academy or Indian Military Academy must check their CDS 2024 career growth in the table below:

Ranks	Time Duration
Lieutenant	After completing training
Captain	2 years of Commissioned Service
Major	6 years of Commissioned Service
Lieutenant Colonel	13 years of Commissioned Service
Colonel (TS)	26 years of Commissioned Service
Colonel	15 years of Commissioned Service
Brigadier	23 years of Commissioned Service
Major General	25 years of Commissioned Service
Lieutenant General	28 years of Commissioned Service
General	No restrictions

CDS 2024 Career Growth in AFA

The candidates who are willing to join the Air Force Academy can check the career growth in the AFA in the table below:

CDS Rank – AFA	Time Duration
Flying Officer	On Commission
Flight Lieutenant	2 Years of commissioned service
Squadron Leader	6 years of commissioned service
Wing Commander	13 years of commissioned service
Group Captain	26 years of commissioned service
Air Commodore	–
Air Vice Marshal	–
Air Chief Marshal HAG Scale	–
Air Chief Marshal Apex Scale	–
Air Chief Marshal	–

CDS 2024 Exam Centres

The candidates can check the exam cities in which the CDS 2024 exam will be conducted in the table below:

State	Examination Centre
Tripura	Agartala
Gujarat	Ahmedabad
Mizoram	Aizawl
Uttar Pradesh	Allahabad
Karnataka	Bengaluru
Uttar Pradesh	Bareilly
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal
Punjab	Chandigarh
Tamil Nadu	Chennai
Tamil Nadu	Cuttack
Uttarakhand	Dehradun
Delhi	Delhi
Karnataka	Dharwad
Assam	Dispur
Sikkim	Gangtok
Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad
Manipur	Imphal
Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar
Rajasthan	Jaipur
Jammu and Kashmir	Jammu
Assam	Jorhat
Kerala	Kochi
Nagaland	Kohima
West Bengal	Kolkata
Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow
Tamil Nadu	Madurai
Maharashtra	Mumbai
Maharashtra	Nagpur
Goa	Panaji
Bihar	Patna
Andaman and Nicobar	Port Blair
Chhattisgarh	Raipur
Jharkhand	Ranchi
Odisha	Sambalpur
Meghalaya	Shillong
Himachal Pradesh	Shimla
Jammu and Kashmir	Srinagar
Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram
Arunachal Pradesh	Tirupati
Rajasthan	Udaipur
Arunachal Pradesh	Visakhapatnam

Comparison Between Similar Defence Exams

The candidates preparing for the Defence exams can check the similar exams to CDS.  The comparison between CDS (Combined Defense Services), AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test), and NDA (National Defense Academy) is given below in the table:

Criteria	CDS	AFCAT	NDA
Full Form	Combined Defense Services	Air Force Common Admission Test	National Defense Academy
Conducting Authority	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)	Indian Air Force	UPSC (Written Exam) and Services Selection Board (SSB) for Interviews
Level	Graduate Level	Graduate Level	10+2 (12th Grade) Level
Branches	Army, Navy, Air Force	Indian Air Force	Army, Navy, Air Force
Age Limit	19-25 years	20-26 years	16.5-19.5 years (10+2 level)
Eligibility	Graduation in any discipline	Graduation in any discipline	10+2 (12th Grade) pass
Exam Pattern	Written Exam (English, GK, Maths) + SSB Interview	Written Exam (Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, GK) + EKT (for technical branches) + SSB Interview	Written Exam (Maths, General Ability) + SSB Interview
Selection Process	Written Exam, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination	Written Exam, EKT (for technical branches), SSB Interview, and Medical Examination	Written Exam, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination
Training Academy	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)	Air Force Academy (AFA)	National Defense Academy (NDA)
Commission Offered	Permanent Commission (PC) for men and Short Service Commission (SSC) for women	Short Service Commission (SSC)	Permanent Commission (PC)

CDS 2 202

CDS 2 2024 FAQs

4 FAQs

Q1. When will the CDS1 2024 admit card be released?

The CDS 1 admit card will be released by the end of March 2024. The candidates will be able to download the CDS admit card by following the steps given below:

• Go to the official website 
• Click on the CDS 1 admit card link 
• The UPSC CDS login page will appear on the screen
• Fill out the login credentials 
• Fill out the captcha available on screen
• Click on the submit button 
• The CDS 1 admit card will appear on the screen 
• Download the CDS admit card and save it for later use

Q2: What is the CDS 1 exam date?

The UPSC CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 21, 2024. The exam will be conducted for AFA (Air Force Academy), IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) in a single day. However, the OTA exam will be conducted for for 4 hours whereas, the AFA, IMA, and INA for 6 hours. 

Q3: What is the CDS exam shift timing?

The shift timing for the CDS exam are given below in the table:

Paper	Exam Timings
English	9.00 am to 11.00 am
GK	12.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Elementary Mathematics	3.00 pm to 5.00 pm