CDS Exams

Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for admission to the under mentioned courses

1. Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
2. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
3. Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
4. Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) for both Men and Women

FEE:

Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST Candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay fee of Rs.200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only)

?(a) Nationality: A candidate must be unmarried and must either be:
(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iii) a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) 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 or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

(b) Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status:
(i) For IMA – unmarried male candidates with age between 19 years and 24 years
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy - unmarried male candidates with age between 19 years and 24 years
(iii) For Air Force Academy - 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2023 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd July, 1999 and not later than 1st July, 2003 (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, 1997 and not later than 1st July, 2003 only are eligible.
Note: 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 Officers' Training Academy— (SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 1998 and not later than 1st July, 2004 only are eligible.
(v) For Officers Training Academy (OTA)— (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, 1998 and not later than 1st July, 2004.

(c) 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.
Note: Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog upto the last semester / year for which results have been declared upto the time of submission of application and they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of course

1. The Competitive examination comprises: (a) Written examination (b) Interview for intelligence and personality test (vide Part ‘B’ of this Appendix) Of such candidates as may be called for interview at one of the Services Selection Centres. 2. The subjects of the written examination, the time allowed, and the maximum Marks allotted to each subject will be as follows:

(a) For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy:

(b) For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy

A. ENGLISH (Code No. 01): The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
B. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (Code No. 02): General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on History of India and Geography of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study.
C. ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS (Code No. 03)

1. ARITHMETIC
• 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.
• 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.

2. ALGEBRA
• Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., Theory of Polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, relation between its roots and Coefficients (Only real roots to be considered). Simultaneous linear equations in two Unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions.
• Simultaneous linear inequations in Two variables and their solutions. Practical problems leading to two simultaneous Linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one Variable & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions and Conditional identities, Laws of indices.
3. 3. TRIGONOMETRY:Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°. Simple trigonometric identities, Use of trigonometric tables, Simple cases of heights and distances.
4. GEOMETRY: Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on (i) Properties of angles at A point, (ii) Parallel lines, (iii) Sides and angles of a triangle, (iv) Congruency of Triangles, (v) Similar triangles, (vi) Concurrence of medians and altitudes, (vii) Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) Loci.
5. 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 and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, surface Area and volume of spheres.
6. STATISTICS: Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency Polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc. Measures of central tendency.

INTELLIGENCE AND PERSONALITY TEST

• The Service Selection Board (SSB) procedure consists of two stage Selection process - stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:- - Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests & Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in OIR Test and PP&DT. -Stage II Comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted over 4 days. Details of these tests are given on website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
• The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist. There are no separate weightage for each test. The marks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in all the test. In addition, marks for Conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and decision of the Board. All these have equal weightage.
• The various tests of IO, GTO and Psych are designed to bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly candidates are Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.

Stipend of Gentlemen or Lady Cadets Under Training.

(a) Gentlemen or Lady Cadets at IMA, OTA at Chennai and Gaya, Cadets Training Wings at College of Military Engineering receive a fixed stipend of Rs 56100/- per month (starting pay in Level 10) for the period of training.
(b) On successful commissioning, the pay in the Pay Matrix of the Officer commissioned is fixed in first Cell of Level 10 and the period of training is not treated as commissioned service.

Pay Scale and Salary on successful commissioning

Note: Military Service Pay (MSP) for officers in rank Lieutenant to Brigadier also gets a fixed Military Service Pay of INR 15,500 each month.

Allowances & Perks

• Qualification Grant: Employees will be governed according to the newly proposed Higher Qualification Incentive (HQI). The order is yet to be issued by MoD.
• Flying Allowance: Pilots serving in level 10 and above pay scale gets a fixed allowance of INR 25,000 per month.
• Dearness Allowance: Same rates as applicable to the civilian personnel from time to time.
• Kit Maintenance Allowance: Combined with the newly proposed dress allowance of INR 20,000 per year.
• Field Area Allowance: Depending on the area and rank of posting, officers get the following field area allowances:
  - Highly Active Field Area (HAFA) – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 16,900 per month
  - Field Area Allowance – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 10,500 per month
  - Modified Field Area Allowance – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 6,300 per month
• High Altitude Allowance: High Altitude allowances varies for officers in the following manner:
  - CAT I – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 3,400 per month
  - CAT II – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 5,300 per month
  - CAT III – For officers serving in rank 10 or above get INR 25,000 per month
• Siachen Allowance: Siachen allowance is INR 42,500 per month.
• Uniform Allowance: This has been covered under the newly proposed dress allowance of INR 20,000 per year.
• Transport Allowance: Transport allowance varies depending on the city of the officer as follows:
  - Higher TPTA cities: Officers working in level 9 or above get an allowance of INR 7,200 + DA per month.
  - Other Places: Officers working in level 9 or above get an allowance of INR 3,600 + DA per month.
  - Officials of pay level 14 and above who are allowed to use the official car can either utilize the official car or take an allowance of INR 15,750 + DA per month.
• Children Education Allowance: Children Education Allowance of INR 2,250 per month is applicable from nursery to class 12. Allowance is given only for the two eldest children only.
• Free Ration: Officers serving in filed areas & peace are entitled to free ration.

Q.1 Who is eligible for the CDS exam?

ANS: The eligibility criteria for the CDS examination are divided according to the academy to which one is applying. Indian Naval Academy applicants must be Engineering graduates. On the other hand, the Air Force Academy applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Math as compulsory subjects. The Officers Training Academy and Indian Military Academy accept students from any field. All applicants must necessarily be Indian citizens or from Tibetan refugees, Nepal and Bhutan. For the Indian Naval Academy and the Military Academy male unmarried aspirants must be between January 1997 to July 2002. Officer’s training candidates should be between January 1996 to July 2002. The Air Force Academy accepts individuals with birth years between January 1997 to July 2001. Finally, single women, widows and unmarried divorcees born between January 1996 to July 2002 can apply to the Officers Training Academy.

Q.2 Is the CDS exam after the 12th?

ANS: No, the minimum educational requirement to attempt the CDS examination is a bachelor’s degree. The applicant could have either graduated with a relevant degree or is awaiting the results of the examinations. There are, however, requirements on the type of degree, depending on the institute one is applying to.

Q.3 How is the CDS exam conducted?

ANS: The CDS examination, the first stage, takes place in offline mode. There are three papers English, Elementary Mathematics and also General Knowledge. Candidates applying for the Indian Military, Naval and Air Force Academy need to attempt all three papers. The Officer’s Training Academy candidates need to take only two papers, English and General Knowledge. Each paper is two hours in duration, and the questions are objective.

Q.4 I am a female candidate and want to apply for CDS. Do they provide any posts for females?

ANS: Yes, female aspirants can apply for the CDS Exam as they are eligible to join the Officers’ Training Academy. Female aspirants cannot get jobs in the technical field.

Q.5 Are the physical requirements for getting selection in CDS is same for every age aspirant?

ANS: The physical requirement or eligibility for getting selected in CDS is different based on a different age. Height, weight, and other requirements are directly based on the aspirant's age, for more details, it is advisable to check the official notification.

Q.6 I want to apply for the Female Officers' Training academy. Please tell me what height is required for the physical test?

ANS: The minimum height required to apply for the Female Officers' Training academy is 152 cms.

Q.7 I am a widow and I want to apply for the CDS 2022 exam. Am I eligible?

ANS: Yes, if you are a widow and not remarried then you are eligible to apply for the CDS exam.

Q.8 Do CDS provide DA and TA to officers of CDS 2022?

ANS: Yes, the CDS provides DA and TA to officers of the CDS 2022 exam.

Q.9 I did my graduation in English, can I apply for the Indian Navy Academy in CDS 2022 exam?

ANS: No, to apply to the Indian Navy Academy one must complete his/her graduation in engineering. With an English degree, you can apply for other posts in CDS exam.

Q.10 What is the duration of the training period after selection in the CDS 2022 exam?

ANS: 37-40 months of training is provided to the Navy Officers, 74 months for Air officers in the Training academy and 18 months of training is provided to Air Force officers, Navy, Army, after selection in the CDS 2022 exam.

Q.11 How many times an aspirant can give the CDS exam?

ANS: Until an aspirant fulfils the age criteria, they can attempt the CDS 2022 exam as there is no limit to it.

Q.12 What is the pattern of CDS theoretical examination?

ANS: The written part of the CDS examination consists of three different papers. There is English, Elementary Mathematics and General Knowledge. Each paper is two hours long and has 100 marks in total each. The question type of all the papers is objective type, and there are three sections. There are negative markings for each wrong answer where a 1/3 mark is deducted.

Q.13 What is the pattern of CDS theoretical examination?

ANS: The written part of the CDS examination consists of three different papers. There is English, Elementary Mathematics and General Knowledge. Each paper is two hours long and has 100 marks in total each. The question type of all the papers is objective type, and there are three sections. There are negative markings for each wrong answer where a 1/3 mark is deducted.

Q.14 How many shifts do the CDS Exams include?

ANS: The CDS examinations occur twice a year, named CDS 1 and CDS 2. There are three shifts, one each for each subject, on the examination day. The English paper is the first and takes place between 9:00 am to 11:00 am. After that, the General Knowledge paper is between 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, and lastly, Mathematics takes place between 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Q.15 Are CDS and NDA the same?

ANS: No, the CDS examination is conducted for admission to the Officer’s Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy and also to the Air Force Academy. On the other hand, the NDA examination is held for admission to the Army, Air Force, and the Navy departments at the National Defense Academy.