CDS | Exam Details | CDS 2024 Exam Information: Dates, Syllabus, Registration, Application form and Exam Pattern
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to recruit candidates for various branches of the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
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CDS Exam Details Information
The CDS exam, or Combined Defence Services Examination, is a national-level competitive exam in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam is a gateway for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Indian Air Force Academy (AFA).
UPSC COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION (II), 2024 [INCLUDING SSC WOMEN (NON-TECHNICAL) COURSE]
Date Of Notification CDS II 2024 : 15/05/2024
Last date of receipt of completed CDS Application Form : 04/06/2024
Date of CDS II 2024 Exam is : 01/09/2024
Candidates are required apply UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Exam only online and detailed instructions for filling up online CDS Exam applications are available on the below mentioned website
Combined Defence Service (CDS) exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission twice every year for recruitment to office cadre of the Army, Navy and Air force.
Candidates qualifying the CDS written test are interviewed by the Service Selection Board and if finally selected, depending upon the choice given by the candidates and their merit list ranking, are sent to one of the following institutes for orientation training :
(a) Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
(b) Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
(c) Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
(d) Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras)
(e) Officers Training Academy, Chennai 36th SSC Women (Non-Technical)
Women candidates are eligible for CDS OTA (Officers Training Academy, Chennai) only
Those joining the first three institutes get permanent commission. Cadets passing out of Officers Training Academy get short service commission. Applicants are required to mention their preferences while filling up the application forms
No. of UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Vacancies : 459
1. Indian Military Academy, Dehradun159th (DE) Course commencing in July, 2025 [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC C Certificate (Army Wing) holders] - 100
2. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala Course commencing in July, 2025 Executive (General Service)/Hydro [including 06 vacancies for NCC C Certificate (Naval Wing through NCC Special entry) holders ] - 32
3. Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in July, 2025 i.e. No. 216 F(P) Course.[03 vacancies are reserved for NCC C Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC Spl Entry] - 32
4. Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 122th SSC (Men) Course (NT) commencing in October, 2025 - 276
5. Officers Training Academy, Chennai 35th SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in October, 2025 - 19
The number of CDS (II) vacancies is tentative and may be changed at any stage by Services H.Q.
A CDS candidate is required to specify clearly in respective column of the Online CDS Application the Services for which he/she wishes to be considered in the order of his/her preference.
A male CDS candidate is advised to indicate as many preferences as he wishes to. So that having regard to his rank in the order of merit due consideration can be given to his preferences when making appointment.
Since women CDS candidates are eligible for OTA only, they should give OTA as their first and only preference.
UPSC CDS Eligibility
(a) Nationality :
A candidate must either be :
1. a citizen of India, or
2. a subject of Bhutan, or
3. a subject of Nepal, or
4. a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
5. a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
UPSC CDS Exam Educational Qualifications:
(i) For I.M.A. and Officers Training Academy, Chennai : Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy : Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution.
(iii) For Air Force Academy : Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
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.
UPSC CDS (II) Age Limit:
(i) For CDS IMA : Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2006 only are eligible.
(ii) For CDS Indian Naval Academy : Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2001 and not later than 1st July, 2006 only are eligible.
(iii) For CDS Air Force Academy : 20 to 24 years as on 1st july, 2025 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd july, 2001 and not later than 1st july, 2005 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd July, 1999 and not later than 1st July, 2005 only are eligible.
Note: CDS Candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises.
(iv) For CDS Officers Training Academy : (SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 2000 and not later than 1st July, 2006 only are eligible.
(v) For CDS Officers Training Academy : (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd July, 2000 and not later than 1st July, 2006.
NOTE : Male divorcee/widower candidates cannot be treated as unmarried male for the purpose of their admission in IMA/INA/AFA/OTA, Chennai courses and accordingly they are not eligible for these courses.
SCHEME OF CDS EXAMINATION
The UPSC CDS Competitive examination comprises:
(a) CDS Written examination
(b) CDS Interview for intelligence and personality test of such candidates as may be called for interview at one of the Services Selection Centres.
The subjects of the CDS written examination as follows:
For Admission to CDS Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy :?
1. English
2. General Knowledge
3. Elementary Mathematics
For Admission to CDS Officers Training Academy :-
1. English
2. General Knowledge
HOW TO APPLY CDS II 2024 APPLICATION FORM:
Candidates are required to apply CDS online only, by using the website www.upsconline.nic.in
Detailed instructions are available on the above mentioned UPSC website
NO OTHER MODE IS ALLOWED FOR SUBMISSION OF CDS APPLICATION
LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF CDS APPLICATIONS 2024 :
The CDS (II) 2024 Online Applications can be filled upto 01th June, 2024 till 6:00 PM.
CDS (II) 2024 APPLICATION FEE :
CDS Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs.200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using netbanking facility of SBI, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/State Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala/State Bank of Travancore or by using Visa/Master Credit/Debit Card
FAQs related to the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam:
1. What is the CDS exam?
- The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Indian Air Force Academy (AFA).
2. Who is eligible to apply for the CDS exam?
- Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India.
- Age: Generally between 19 to 24 years, varying slightly for different academies.
- Educational Qualification: Varies based on the academy, but generally requires a bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
3. How often is the CDS exam conducted?
- The CDS exam is conducted twice a year, typically in February and November.
4. What is the exam pattern for the CDS exam?
- The exam comprises three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
- Each paper is of 2 hours duration and carries 100 marks.
- OTA candidates appear for English and General Knowledge papers only.
5. What is the selection process for the CDS exam?
- The selection process includes a written examination, followed by an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB) and a medical examination.
6. Is there negative marking in the CDS exam?
- Yes, there is a penalty for wrong answers. One-third of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted for each incorrect response.
7. How can I prepare for the CDS exam?
- Candidates typically prepare through self-study, coaching institutes, and practice with previous years' question papers and mock tests.
- Focus areas include English grammar and comprehension, current affairs, basic mathematics, and general science.
8. What are the physical standards required for the CDS exam?
- Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards prescribed by the respective academies, including height, weight, vision, and overall health standards.
9. What is the application process for the CDS exam?
- Applications are submitted online through the UPSC website, including personal and educational details, uploading necessary documents, and paying the application fee.
10. When are the results of the CDS exam declared?
- The results are usually declared a few months after the exam and are published on the UPSC website. Candidates can check their results using their roll number.
11. What is the training duration after selection through the CDS exam?
- Training duration varies based on the academy, ranging from approximately 11 months for OTA to around 74 weeks for AFA.
12. Can women apply for the CDS exam?
- Yes, women can apply for the CDS exam, but only for OTA.
13. What documents are required during the CDS application process?
- Documents such as a scanned photograph, signature, valid photo ID proof, educational certificates, and category certificate (if applicable) are required during the application process.
14. What is the fee for the CDS exam application?
- The application fee is generally INR 200 for most candidates. Female, SC, and ST candidates are usually exempted from paying the fee.
15. How can I improve my chances of success in the CDS exam?
- Regular study, thorough understanding of the syllabus, solving practice papers, and effective time management can enhance your chances of success in the CDS exam. Additionally, maintaining physical fitness and staying updated with current affairs are crucial aspects of preparation.
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