Combined Defence Services (CDS) is a competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. It is conducted twice a year and is open to candidates who wish to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the Air Force Academy (AFA), and the Officer Training Academy (OTA).
Parts of the CDS Exam
The CDS examination is divided into two parts: the written examination and the interview. The written examination consists of three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. The interview is conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) and consists of two stages: the Psychological Aptitude Test and the Group Testing Officer Tasks.
Eligibility for Combined Defence Services Exam
To be eligible for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Age: Candidates must be at least 19 years old and not more than 25 years old on the first day of the month in which the examination is held.
Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India, Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962.
Educational Qualifications: Candidates must have a degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
Additionally, candidates must be physically and mentally fit and meet the required medical standards.
It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for the CDS examination may vary depending on the service for which a candidate is applying. For example, the Indian Navy has specific age, educational qualification, and physical fitness requirements for candidates.
Candidates are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility criteria before applying for the CDS examination.
Exam Pattern of Combined Defence Services
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. It is a competitive examination that is held twice a year for the recruitment of officers to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the Air Force Academy (AFA), and the Officer Training Academy (OTA).
The CDS examination consists of two parts: the written examination and the interview.
Written Examination
The written examination consists of three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. The duration of each paper is 2 hours.
English: The English paper consists of objective-type questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and error detection.
General Knowledge: The General Knowledge paper consists of objective-type questions on current events, history, geography, economics, politics, and general science.
Mathematics: The Mathematics paper consists of objective-type questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration.
Interview
The interview is conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) and consists of two stages: the Psychological Aptitude Test and the Group Testing Officer Tasks.
Psychological Aptitude Test
The Psychological Aptitude Test is designed to evaluate a candidate’s personality, intelligence, and other psychological traits. It consists of a series of tests, including the Thematic Apperception Test, Word Association Test, Situation Reaction Test, and Self-Description Test.
Group Testing Officer Tasks
The Group Testing Officer Tasks are designed to evaluate a candidate’s leadership skills and ability to work in a group. It consists of a series of tasks, including the Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, and Half Group Task.
Candidates who pass the written examination and interview are eligible for selection to the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. They must also undergo a medical examination to ensure that they meet the required medical standards. Candidates who pass the medical examination are finally selected for training.
Syllabus of Combined Defence Services
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India for the recruitment of officers to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the Air Force Academy (AFA), and the Officer Training Academy (OTA). The examination consists of two parts: the written examination and the interview.
The syllabus for the CDS written examination is as follows:
English
The English paper consists of questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and error detection. The syllabus for the English paper includes topics such as:
- Sentence structure
- Parts of speech
- Phrasal verbs
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Idioms and phrases
- One-word substitutions
- Active and passive voice
- Direct and indirect speech
- Comprehension of a given passage
General Knowledge
The General Knowledge paper consists of questions on current events, history, geography, economics, politics, and general science. The syllabus for the General Knowledge paper includes topics such as:
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the world
- Geography of India and the world
- Economic and social development of India
- Political Theory and Indian Constitution
- General Science
Mathematics
The Mathematics paper consists of questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration. The syllabus for the Mathematics paper includes topics such as:
- Number systems
- Fractions and decimals
- Percentages and averages
- Ratio and proportion
- Simple and compound interest
- Time, speed, and distance
- Time and work
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Mensuration
It is important to note that the syllabus for the CDS examination may vary depending on the service for which a candidate is applying.
How to apply online for Combined Defence Services
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India for the recruitment of officers to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the Air Force Academy (AFA), and the Officer Training Academy (OTA).
Candidates can apply for the CDS examination online through the UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in). Follow these steps to apply online:
- Go to the UPSC website and click on the “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC” link under the “Examination” tab.
- Click on the “Part I” button under the “Combined Defence Services Examination” heading.
- Read the instructions carefully and click on the “Yes” button to proceed.
- Fill in the online application form with the required personal, educational, and contact information.
- Upload the required documents, including a recent passport-size photograph and a scanned copy of your signature.
- Preview the application form and make any necessary corrections.
- Submit the application form and pay the application fee online using a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
- Print a copy of the application form for your records.