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TEST & SCORE: Your Blueprint for Success̥®.
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is a prestigious national-level competitive exam conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit commissioned officers into the Indian Armed Forces. It serves as a premier gateway for graduates to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA). [1, 2, 3, 4]
📅 Key Timelines & Cycles
The exam is systematically divided into two annual cycles: [5, 6, 7]
- CDS I: The written exam typically takes place in April.
- CDS II: The written exam is conducted in September.
- Mode of Exam: It is conducted as an offline (pen-and-paper-based) multiple-choice test. [2, 3, 5, 8]
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
To register, candidates must apply through the UPSC Official Application Portal. The core requirements include: [9]
- Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen (or meet specified national criteria). [10]
- Marital Status: Unmarried for permanent academies; specific rules apply for OTA. [4, 11, 12]
- Educational Qualifications:
- IMA & OTA: A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- INA: A degree in Engineering.
- AFA: A Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering. [4]
- Age Limits:
- IMA / INA: 19 to 24 years.
- AFA: 20 to 24 years.
- OTA: 19 to 25 years.
- Note: Female candidates are eligible only for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). [4, 10, 13]
📝 Written Exam Structure & Marks
The testing schema depends heavily on the academy branch you select. [2, 4]
| Academy Path [2, 14, 15, 16, 17] | Tested Subjects | Paper Duration | Question Count | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA, INA, AFA | English General Knowledge Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours per paper (6 Hours total) | 120 Questions 120 Questions 100 Questions | 300 Marks (100 per paper) |
| OTA | English General Knowledge | 2 Hours per paper (4 Hours total) | 120 Questions 120 Questions | 200 Marks (100 per paper) |
- Negative Marking: A penalty of 1/3rd mark is deducted for every incorrect objective answer. [14]
🎯 The Selection Journey
Cracking the exam requires passing a three-tiered assessment hierarchy: [18, 19]
- Written Examination: Achieving the minimum qualifying cut-off score set by UPSC.
- SSB Interview: Shortlisted individuals undergo a intensive 5-day intelligence and personality evaluation consisting of psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews.
- Medical Examination: A stringent medical board check ensures top-tier physical conditioning. [2, 3, 10, 20, 21]
Upon successfully clearing the final merit list, cadets undergo training at their respective academies and are commissioned with the initial rank of Lieutenant (or equivalent) with a starting basic salary of ₹56,100. [2, 3]
If you are planning to sit for this exam, let me know:
- Which academy choice (IMA, OTA, AFA, or INA) you are targeting?
- Your educational background (to check exact eligibility)?
- If you need a subject-wise preparation syllabus?
[5] https://digitalbenchers.com
[8] https://rpsdegreecollege.edu.in
[9] https://cdn-images.prepp.in
[10] https://testbook.com
[13] https://byjus.com
[14] https://testbook.com
[15] https://dishapublication.com
[16] https://www.centurionacademy.in
[17] https://plutusacademy.com
[18] https://www.pw.live
[20] https://byjus.com
[21] https://www.pw.live
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