CDS Cut-off

The CDS exam is conducted by the UPSC to select candidates for admission to various courses in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). The CDS exam is conducted twice a year, and candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the exam. The exam consists of a written test followed by a Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which is designed to assess the personality traits and suitability of the candidates for the respective course or post. The CDS exam is a highly competitive exam, and candidates who clear the written test and the SSB interview are selected for admission to the respective course or post based on their overall performance in the exam. The CDS exam provides an opportunity for candidates who are interested in a career in the Indian Armed Forces to pursue their dream and serve the country with honor and pride.

The number of exam centres allotted for the CDS exam may vary each year depending on the number of candidates and other related factors. The UPSC which is the conducting authority for the CDS exam, usually releases a list of exam centres along with the notification for the exam. In general, the CDS exam is conducted at multiple centres across India to accommodate the large number of candidates who appear for the exam. Candidates can choose their preferred exam centre while filling out the application form, and the final allotment of exam centres is done by the UPSC based on the availability of seats and other related factors. Candidates should check the official notification for the CDS exam on the official website of the UPSC to get the latest updates on the exam centres and other related information.

The minimum qualifying marks for the written exam and the SSB interview vary for each course in the CDS (Combined Defense Services) exam. The minimum qualifying marks are the minimum score that a candidate needs to obtain in order to be eligible for the next stage of the selection process. Here are the minimum qualifying marks for each course:
1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers' Training Academy (OTA): The minimum qualifying marks for each subject in the written exam is 20 per cent. The aggregate minimum qualifying marks in the written exam is 40 per cent
2. Indian Naval Academy (INA): The minimum qualifying marks for each subject in the written exam is 20 per cent. The aggregate minimum qualifying marks in the written exam is 40 per cent.
3. Air Force Academy (AFA): The minimum qualifying marks for each subject in the written exam is 20 per cent. The aggregate minimum qualifying marks in the written exam is 50 per cent. For the SSB interview, there is no fixed minimum qualifying marks, as the selection is based on the overall performance of the candidates in the interview. The SSB interview is designed to test the personality traits and suitability of the candidates for the respective course or post.

The weightage given to the written exam and the SSB interview in the final merit list for the CDS exam varies for each course. Here is the approximate weightage given to the written exam and the SSB interview for each course:
1. Indian Military Academy (IMA): The written exam carries a weightage of 70 per cent and the SSB interview carries a weightage of 30 per cent.
2. Indian Naval Academy (INA): The written exam carries a weightage of 50 per cent and the SSB interview carries a weightage of 50 per cent.
3. Air Force Academy (AFA): The written exam carries a weightage of 50 per cent and the SSB interview carries a weightage of 50 per cent.
4. Officers' Training Academy (OTA): The written exam carries a weightage of 50 per cent and the SSB interview carries a weightage of 50 per cent
It's important to note that the weightage given to the written exam and the SSB interview may vary slightly each year, and the exact weightage may be declared by the Union Public Service Commission UPSC in the official notification. Candidates should also check the official notification and updates regarding the CDS exam on the official website of the UPSC.

The merit list for the CDS exam is prepared based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the written exam and the performance in the SSB interview. The cut off marks for the written exam are used as a qualifying criterion to shortlist candidates for the SSB interview, and the final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in both the written exam and the SSB interview. The marks obtained by the candidates in the written exam are used to determine the eligibility of the candidates for the SSB interview. Only those candidates who score equal to or above the cut off marks in the written exam are considered eligible for the SSB interview. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained by the candidates in both the written exam and the SSB interview. Therefore, while the CDS cut off marks are an important criterion for shortlisting candidates for the SSB interview, the final merit list is prepared based on the overall performance of the candidates in both the written exam and the SSB interview.

The cut off marks for Air Force Academy (AFA) are usually higher than the cut off marks for Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA) due to the higher level of competition and the specialised nature of the Air Force Academy. Here are some reasons why the cut off marks for AFA are generally higher:
1. Specialised training: The Air Force Academy is a specialised training institute for the Indian Air Force, and the training provided there is different from the training provided at IMA and INA. Therefore, the selection process for AFA is more stringent, and the cut off marks are usually higher.
2. Technical knowledge: The AFA requires candidates to have a good understanding of technical concepts, which adds to the difficulty level of the exam. As a result, the cut off marks for AFA are usually higher than those for IMA and INA.
3. Limited seats: The number of seats available at AFA is limited compared to IMA and INA, which means that the competition for admission to AFA is higher. This also contributes to the higher cut off marks for AFA.