What are the stages of CDS selection process?

The selection process for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam consists of three stages: Written Exam: The first stage of the selection process is a written exam consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on English General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The exam is conducted in an offline mode and carries a total of 100 marks for each subject. SSB Interview: Candidates who clear the written exam are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The SSB interview consists of a series of tests such as Intelligence and Personality Test, Group Testing Officers (GTO) Tasks, and Personal Interview . The SSB interview is conducted over a period of five days and carries a total of 300 marks. Medical Examination: Candidates who clear the SSB interview are called for a medical examination to ensure that they meet the required physical standards for the respective defense services. The medical examination includes a thorough physical and medical examination by a board of medical officers. On the basis of the performance of the candidates in the written exam, SSB interview, and medical examination, the final merit list is prepared, and candidates are selected for admission to the respective defense academies. Therefore, candidates who wish to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force through the CDS exam should prepare well and perform their best in all the stages of the selection process to increase their chances of selection.

In how many stages SSB interview for CDS exam is conducted?

The SSB (Services Selection Board) interview for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam is conducted in two stages: Stage 1: The first stage of the SSB interview consists of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT). The OIR tests are conducted to assess the candidate's verbal and non-verbal intelligence, while the PPDT is a test of the candidate's ability to perceive and describe a given picture. Candidates who clear the Stage 1 are selected for Stage 2. Stage 2: The second stage of the SSB interview consists of a series of tests, including Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officers (GTO) Tasks, and Personal Interview . The psychological tests include tests such as Thematic Perception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (What), and Situation Reaction Test (SRT). The GTO tasks include group discussion, group planning exercise, and outdoor group tasks. The Personal Interview is conducted by a board of officers to assess the candidate's personality and suitability for the respective defense service. The SSB interview is conducted over a period of five days, and each test carries a certain weightage in the final selection process. Candidates are required to perform well in all the tests to increase their chances of selection. Therefore, candidates who clear the CDS written exam should prepare well for the SSB interview and perform their best in all the stages of the interview to increase their chances of selection for admission to the respective defense academies.

Can girls apply for the CDS exam?

Yes, girls can apply for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam. The eligibility criteria for the CDS exam are the same for both male and female candidates. The following are the eligibility criteria for girls to apply for the CDS exam: Age Limit: Female candidates should be between 19 to 25 years of age as on 1st January or 1st July of the respective years (depending on the CDS exam they are applying for). Educational Qualifications: Female candidates should have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institution. Physical Standards: Female candidates should meet the prescribed physical standards for admission to the respective defence services. It is important to note that the CDS exam is highly competitive, and candidates, including girls, need to prepare well and perform their best in all the stages of the selection process to increase their chances of selection for admission to the respective defense academies. Therefore, girls who are interested in joining the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force can apply for the CDS exam if they meet the above-mentioned eligibility criteria and should prepare well to succeed in the exam.

What are the educational criteria to apply for CDS exam?

The candidates who wants to appear for the CDS exam must fulfill the eligibility criteria of the CDS exam. The candidates who did not fulfill the eligibility criteria of the CDS exam will not be allowed to fill out the application for the CDS exam. The educational criteria for the CDS exam have been given below for the candidates Indian Military Academy: Graduation Degree Indian Naval Academy: B.E and B.Tech (Intermediate with Physics and Maths Air Force Academy: Graduation, B.E and B.Tech (Intermediate with Physics and Maths Officers Training Academy (Men): Graduation Degree Officers Training Academy (Women): Graduation Degree.

What is the eligibility criteria to appear for CDS exam?

Candidates in the final year of their graduation can also apply provided they do not have any backlog at the application. Also, they have to submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of course. The minimum age required is 19 years. The maximum age allowed is 24 for IMA and INA, 23 for AFA, and 25 for OTA Aspirants must have completed their graduation to be eligible for CDS exam 2025. Indian and candidates who have settled in India permanently also can apply for CDS. Yes, final year graduate candidates can apply for CDS. However, they will be admitted to the exam provisionally. They need to produce certificates of having passed the relevant degree at the time of document verification.

Is the CDS 1 notification released for 2025?

The CDS 1 notification 2025 was released by UPSC on December 11, 2024, on the official website, along with the release of the CDS 1 2025 application form. The last date to apply was January 1, 2025. The exam for CDS 1 2025 will be conducted on April 13, 2025. The candidates who will qualify for the CDS exam will be called for the CDS interview which will be taken to test the mental and physical strength of the candidates. The candidates who are searching for the medical and physical parameters for qualifying for the CDS 1 exam can click the link to get the specific parameters Link for CDS medical and Physical strength Direct Link for the Information of Eligibility Criteria

What is the pattern for CDS written exam?

The CDS (Combined Defence Services) written exam consists of three papers English General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The details of the pattern for each paper are as follows: English: The English paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's proficiency in the English language and includes questions on comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, error detection, sentence rearrangement, and fill in the blanks. General Knowledge: The General Knowledge paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's knowledge of current events, history, geography, and other topics related to India and the world. Elementary Mathematics: The Elementary Mathematics paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's knowledge of elementary mathematics, including topics such as arithmetic, Algebra geometry, and Trigonometry. All the papers are objective type and consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The standard of the papers is that of a graduate-level examination. It is important to note that there is negative marking for wrong answers in the CDS written exam. One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer. Therefore, candidates should prepare well and practice solving mock tests and previous year question papers to score well in the CDS written exam and increase their chances of selection.

What is the difference between NDA and CDS exams?

Though both are defence exams, there are many similarities and differences in the recruitment process, exam pattern, training, salary, perks, promotion, eligibility, etc. NDA is conducted for candidates who wish to join the defence services after Class 12. CDS is the exam conducted for the graduate candidates for training at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Air Force Academy (AFA), Officers Training Academy (OTA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA). NDA exam is conducted for Class 12 pass candidates. Whereas, CDS exam is conducted for graduate-level candidates. NDA exam carries two subjects-GAT and Maths. CDS exam carries three papers-Maths, English and GK. English and GK section is conducted for OTA, IMA, INA and AFA. Maths paper is conducted for IMA, INA and AFA. The total marks allotted to the written exam of NDA is 900 whereas it is 300 for CDS.

How can I pay the application fee for the CDS exam?

The application fees of CDS can be paid both online and offline. The steps to pay the application fees has been given below: Online a) At the last of the application form select the mode of payment online b) Select the payment gateway c) Select the mode of payment again credit card/debit card/ UPI etc. D) Pay the application fees and save the application form Offline a) Candidates have to deposit the application fee in any SBI Branch b) Fillout the details of the deposit fee in the application form by logging into the registered account.

What to do if there is a delay in accessing the CDS application page?

If there is a delay in accessing CDS application page, candidates should retry after some time, preferably not during peak hours. The time taken to access the page depends upon factors such as Internet speed and the number of applicants filling the applications at the same time. The candidates need to check the things mentioned below before filling out the application form to avoid any hassle: a) Internet connection and speed b) Browser fit for filling out the application form c) Scanned copies of documents in the prescribed size.

UPSC CDS Notification 2025 OUT: Download CDS 1 Notification Here

577 Students Q&A

Exam On - 13 Apr '25

Updated on Jan 13, 2025 12:06 IST

By Shikha Goyal, Assistant Manager

CDS Notification 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the CDS 1 2025 notification on the official website on December 11, 2024. The last date to apply for CDS 1 2025 was January 1, 2025 (6 PM). The CDS 1 notification comprises the details of the exam like eligibility, exam schedule, syllabus, and more. The CDS 1 exam 2025 will be conducted on April 13, 2025. On the other hand, CDS 2 2025 notification will be released on May 28, 2025. The last date to apply for CDS 2 2025 will be June 17, 2025. The CDS 2 2025 exam will be conducted on September 14, 2025. The candidates are advised to visit the UPSC official website for the latest information related to the UPSC CDS exam. However, the latest information related to the CDS notification will be shared in the article.

Also Read: CDS Eligibility 2025: Age Limit, Qualification & Physical Standards for IMA, INA & AFA

Q: What is the selection process of CDS exam 2025?

The CDS 2025 selection process comprises various stages:

The selection process of CDS comprises three stages that assess the academic knowledge, physical fitness and mental aptitude of candidates. The selection process includes:

Stage 1: Written Examination

Stage 2: SSB Interview (Service Selection Board)

Stage 3: Medical Examination and Merit List

After all these stages, a Final Merit List is prepared based on the written examination and SSB performance.

The written test is of 300 marks (for INA, IMA and AFA) and 200 marks (OTA). The candidates qualifying the written exam will be called for the SSB Interview. At the second stage, the candidates have to undergo the vigorous 5 days interview in which the candidates are assessed on the physical, psychological and analytics level. Further, the SSB interview is followed by the medical test in which the candidates are assessed on physical standards. In the final stage merit list is released along with the release of the CDS results.

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Q: How many vacancies are announced for the CDS 1 2025 exam?

On December 11, 2024, UPSC released the CDS 1 approximate Vacancies 2025, along with the CDS 1 notification. UPSC has announced 457 CDS 1 Vacancies 2025 for IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), AFA (Air Force Academy), and OTA (Officers Training Academy). The UPSC will fill the CDS 1 vacancy 2025 by holding an online test for all applicants. The UPSC CDS 1 2025 Vacancy, as well as the CDS 1 Notification 2025, has been published on the official website.

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Q: When will the CDS 1 2025 exam be conducted?

The Union Public Service Commission released the CDS 1 exam date 2025 on the official website. The CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 13, 2025. The candidates must be aware that these dates are released by UPSC through the exam calendar. However, the candidates can prepare for the CDS exams according to the exam date.

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CDS Notification 2025

DeskCalendar Notification: 28 May '25

CDS notification was released to select candidates who wish to join the courses of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Officers Training Academy Courses (Men and Women). The CDS selection process comprises two stages-written exams and an SSB interview. Candidates qualifying for the written exam are called for an SSB interview. The final selection for the CDS 2025 exam will be done based on the written exam and SSB interview. After undergoing training at the respective defence academies, candidates join the post of lieutenant. Candidates can check below the CDS notification for 2025.

CDS Notification 2025 PDF: Download Here

CDS Notification 2024 PDF: Click Here

CDS Application Form 2025

DeskCalendar Registration: 28 May '25 - 17 Jun '25

The CDS 1 2025 application form was released on December 11, 2024, and the last date to apply was January 1, 2025. Further, the application form for CDS 2 2025 will be released on May 28 and the last date to apply will be June 17, 2025. The CDS 1 application form can be filled in two parts. Part I comprises the candidate’s registration, choosing the preferred branches, verifying details, and generation of registration ID. Part II comprises paying the application fees, selection of exam centre, and uploading scanned images of photograph and signature. The application fees are INR 200 which can be paid both online and offline. The online application withdrawal facility is made available after the completion of the registration process.

How to apply Online for CDS Exam?

The candidates need to follow the given steps to apply for the CDS exam:

Candidates have to register themselves on the OTR (One Time Registration) page.
Fill out all the details asked on the registration page
Upload the document (if needed)
The login ID will be generated by the UPSC for the candidates and will be sent to the registered mobile and email id
Go to the latest exam tab and click on the CDS 1 exam link
Fill out the application by giving the details that have been asked in the form

Also Read: UGC NET 2024

CDS Application Fees 2025

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

Also Read: CDS OTA Syllabus 2024

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025

The eligibility criteria of CDS provide details regarding nationality, age, and educational qualification. Candidates should check the eligibility criteria before filling out the application form. Only those candidates are considered for CDS recruitment who fulfils the eligibility criteria. The candidates can check out the latest eligibility criteria below in the article.

CDS Educational Qualification

The education qualification for the CDS exam has been given below for the aspiring candidates:

Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA): The candidates must have a graduation degree from any discipline from any recognised university.
Indian Naval Academy (INA): Candidates must have an engineering degree from a recognised university
Air Force Academy (AFA): The candidates must have an engineering degree from a recognised university with physics and maths in 10+2

Also Read: CDS eligibility criteria

CDS Selection Process 2025

The candidates have to qualify in different tests to be enrolled in the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. The different levels of the CDS selection process have been given below for the candidates:

Written Exam
SSB Interview/Personality Test
Document Verification
Medical Examination

CDS Admit Card 2025

CDS admit card will bereleased three weeks before the exam. Candidates need to download the admit card from the official website. The admit card can be downloaded till the day of the exam by logging with either the registration number or roll number. The hard copy of the CDS admit card is not sent to candidates by post.

CDS Exam Pattern 2025

The exam pattern of CDS is prescribed by the examination authority. According to the CDS exam pattern 2025, the question paper for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) comprises three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The total marks for the test are 300. The test paper for admission to the Officers’ Training Academy comprises two sections: English and General Knowledge. The maximum marks for the test are 200. All questions are objective type only. The question papers on General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are available in Hindi and English.

CDS Syllabus 2025

The syllabus highlights the topics that candidates need to prepare for the exam. The topics given in CDS syllabus are of Class 10, 12, and Graduation levels. Candidates can check below CDS syllabus.

Subjects	Details
English	The question paper in English is designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English language
General Knowledge	The paper test a candidate’s knowledge regarding Current Affairs. The paper includes questions on the History of India and Geography
Elementary Mathematics	This paper comprises questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics

CDS Result 2025

The result of CDS is announced in two stages: written exam and SSB Interview/Final. First, the CDS result 2025 for the written exam is announced followed by the declaration of the final result. Based on the performance of candidates in both rounds, candidates will be selected for admission to various defence academies.

CDS Cut off 2025

The cut-off of CDS is the minimum qualifying marks that candidates need to secure to qualify for the exam and become eligible for the next round of the selection process. Candidates need to secure separate CDS cut-off marks in the written exam and SSB Interview for final selection.

UPSC 2025 Revised Calendar: Click Here