CDS Syllabus 2025: Subject-Wise Syllabus PDF & Exam Pattern

UPSC CDS syllabus consists of three subjects- Elementary Mathematics, English Language, and General Knowledge. Candidates must note that Elementary Mathematics is only for candidates who have applied for IMA, INA, and AFA. Going through the CDS syllabus candidates can make out which topics and chapters to cover for the exam. The candidates preparing for the should go through the previous years' question papers to find out the important topics for the CDS exam.

Also Read: Preparation Tips for Women to Crack CDS 

Given below is the overview of the CDS syllabus 2025.

Also Read: UGC NET 2024

Candidates who are willing to join the Indian defence forces must prepare for the written exam well and the CDS syllabus can help the candidates in preparing for the written exam. The syllabus contains topics from all three subjects- English, Elementary Maths, and General Knowledge. CDS Syllabus PDF can be downloaded for free through the link available below. Candidates must strategise their preparation according to the CDS syllabus to ensure they are preparing in the right direction. Check below the CDS Syllabus for 2024.

CDS Syllabus PDF: Click Here  

The questions in this section are designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English. The CDS syllabus for the English Language is given below.

Also Read: CDS 2025 Preparation Tips for English

The General Knowledge tests the candidate’s knowledge regarding current affairs. The paper includes questions from the History of India and the Geography of nature. The CDS syllabus for General Knowledge is given below.

Questions in Elementary Mathematics are asked from Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics. Check below the topics for Elementary Mathematics:

CDS Syllabus: 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.

CDS Syllabus: 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.

CDS Maths Syllabus: Trigonometry

• Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0°
• Simple Trigonometric Identities
• Use of Trigonometric Tables
• Simple Cases of Heights and Distances

CDS Maths Syllabus: Geometry

Lines and Angles, Plane and Plane Figures, Theorems on Properties of Angles at a Point, Parallel Lines, Sides and Angles of a Triangle, Congruency of Triangles, Similar Triangles, Concurrence of Medians and Altitudes, Properties of Angles, Sides, and Diagonals of a Parallelogram, Rectangle and Square, Circles and its Properties including Tangents and Normal and Loci. 

CDS Maths Syllabus: 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
• The volume of Right Circular Cones, Cylinders, and Surface
• Area and Volume of Spheres

Also Read: 

• CDS Preparation Tips for GK
• CDS Preparation Tips for Maths

The OTA syllabus has two sections English and general knowledge. CDS OTA exam syllabus does not have a maths section. The topic-wise syllabus for the OTA has been provided for the candidates. Aspirants who are willing to appear for the OTA can go through the topic-wise syllabus for OTA CDS below on page 

The syllabus for English subjects has been given below for the candidates. However, the English syllabus is quite similar to IMA, INA, and AFA. But the candidates should go through the syllabus to know accurate information about the English syllabus for OTA CDS:

• Sentence Arrangement 
• Synonyms and Antonyms 
• Jumble Words 
• Idioms and Phrases 
• Ordering Sentences 
• Ordering Words
• Fill up the blanks 

The General Ability Test (GAT) is taken to analyse the candidate's awareness about different topics that are currently going on, subjects that he or she has studied earlier, social awareness, and more. The candidates must go through the GAT OTA syllabus given below to understand the syllabus:

• Current Affairs 
• History 
• Polity
• Geography 
• Physics 
• Chemistry 
• Biology 
• Sociology
• Defence Related Awareness
• Sports and Culture 
• Environmental Studies 

The CDS exam pattern is prescribed by the UPSC for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. The exam is conducted offline, i.e. through pen and paper mode. The question paper on Mathematics and General Knowledge is set bilingually, i.e. Hindi and English. The written exam carries objective-type questions only. For admission to IMA, INA, and AFA, the written exam comprises three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The test carries a total of 300 marks and is held for six hours. For admission to OTA, the written exam comprises two sections: English and General Awareness. The duration of the test is four hours and carries 200 marks. There is also a penalty for wrong answers. 1/3 of the marks are deducted for every incorrect answer by the candidates. Candidates qualifying for the written exam are called for the SSB interview. The CDS exam pattern for the written exam is given below:

The marking scheme of CDS is given below:

• For the correct answer, candidates score one mark
• For incorrect answers, 1/3 marks are deducted
• More than one option is treated as incorrect
• There is no negative marking for questions left unanswered

Candidates qualifying for the CDS written exam are called for an SSB interview. The SSB interview comprises two stages and is conducted for four days. The stages of the SSB interview are given below:

• Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)
• Stage-II consists of Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conference

The topic-wise distribution of questions under each section of the UPSC CDS exam is given below.

Candidates can follow the tips and tricks given below to crack the CDS exam:

• Candidates' target should be both securing the CDS cut-off and scoring high marks
• Hard work and dedication will surely give candidates the best CDS result 
• Candidates should practice different types of questions from each topic
• Candidates must spend three to four hours in regular study
• Candidate must revise all the topics given in the CDS syllabus properly
• Candidates should work towards improving the weak areas, equally dedicating time to the strong areas
• Candidates should attempt sectional and full-length mock tests
• Candidates must clear their concepts and basics for each topic

Also Read:

• CDS 2025 preparation tips
• CDS Toppers Tips

The subject-wise best books for the CDS exam are given below:

Best Books for CDS English Language

Candidates can refer to the following books for the English Language section:

• Objective General English by RS Aggarwal
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• High School English Grammar and Composition

Books for General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Candidates need to read the newspapers regularly in order to keep themselves updated with recent events. The books that candidates can refer to for this section are given below:

• Manorama Yearbook
• Lucent’s General Knowledge
• Competition in Focus (Half-Yearly and Yearly)

CDS Books for Elementary Mathematics

For this section, candidates can refer to the following books:

• Mathematics for CDS by RS Aggarwal
• Quantitative Aptitude for Examinations paperback by RS Aggarwal

Aspiring candidates who want to join Indian Defence can also take another exam as NDA, AFCAT, UPSC CAPF, and more. To know more about these exams, the candidates must go through their exam syllabus and pattern. The links for these exam syllabi have been given below for the candidates in the table. 

The candidates who are preparing for CDS must focus on the given points below to score more in less time. Check the important topics in the CDS Syllabus to score maximum marks in the CDS 2025 exam: 

• General Knowledge: Current affairs, Indian polity, Indian history, general science, geography, etc.  
• Maths: Profit and loss, simple Interest, compound interest, mensuration, trigonometry, percentage, line, and angles, etc. 
• English: Synonyms and Antonyms, Jumbled Sentences, reading comprehension, fill in the blanks, idioms & phrases, substitution, etc. 

The candidates who are going to appear for the upcoming CDS exam must know the important points regarding the exam:

• Only use a black ballpoint pen while filling out the sheets 
• If the candidates get an un-numbered OMR sheet or booklet series code then the candidates have to report the authorities immediately
• Fill out the OMR sheet carefully, especially the roll number, test book series code, or the answer sheet is liable for rejection 
• Do not write any specific information like the name on the rough work or the answer sheet or it will be rejected 
• Do not fold or damage or extraneous marks on the answer sheet or the answer sheet will be rejected 

Also Read:

• CDS books
• CDS Exam Analysis