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CDS 1 Exam 2025 - Notification (Out), Application form (Released), Eligibility, Syllabus, Admit card
Ongoing Event
CDS Application Date : 11 Dec' 2024 - 31 Dec' 2024
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About CDS 2025
The Union Public Service Commission has released the official UPSC CDS 1 2025 notification on December 11, 2024 in online mode. Candidates can check the notification from the official website, upsc.gov.in. The UPSC CDS 1 2025 application form will be released along with the notification. Aspirants interested to apply for CDS 2025 can fill up the application form till December 31, 2024. The UPSC CDS 1 2025 exam is scheduled to be held on April 1, 2025 in offline mode accross various examination centres.
The CDS exam 2025 is conducted for candidates who wish to pursue their careers as commissioned officers in the Navy, Air Force and Army after graduation or candidates appearing in their final year. There are two stages in the CDS exam 2025, written exam followed by the SSB interview. Candidates who qualify in written CDS exam 2025 are eligible for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview which includes Personality cum Psychometric tests and Intelligence interviews.
Candidates who clear the UPSC CDS exam 2025 selection process will have to undergo training programmes as per their merit and preference for Army, Navy and Air Force jobs. The training of selected candidates will be done at Indian Military Academy (IMA Dehradun), Indian Naval Academy (INA Ezhimala), Air Force Academy (Hyderabad), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA Chennai).
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CDS 2025 Highlights
| Full Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Short Exam Name | CDS |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Frequency Of Conduct | Twice a year |
| Exam Level | Intermediate |
| Languages | English +1 more |
| Mode Of Application | online |
| Application Fee | Offline : 100 +1 more |
| Mode Of Exam | offline |
| Mode Of Counselling | offline |
| Exam Duration | 6 Hours |
| No Of Seats | 457 |
CDS Important Dates
CDS Combined Defence Services Examination (session 2025)
11 Dec' 2024 - 31 Dec' 2024 . OnlineOn Going
Application Date
01 Jan' 2025 - 07 Jan' 2025 . Online
Application Correction Date
13 Apr' 2025 - 13 Apr' 2025 . Offline
Exam Date
11 Dec' 2024 - 11 Dec' 2024 . Online
Advertisement Date
Union Public Service Commission will announced the result of CDS 1 exam in PDF format on the official website. Candidates have to secure qualifying marks as prescribed by UPSC to qualify the written exam. Candidates who qualify for the written CDS exam are eligible to appear for an SSB interview. The CDS 1 exam result for the CDS written exam and final CDS result are declared separately. The final result of CDS is calculated by adding the marks secured by candidates in written as well as SSB Interview.
Candidates must check the CDS exam eligibility criteria like age limit, educational qualification, marital status to be eligible for CDS exam 2025.
Nationality
Candidates applying for CDS exam 2025 must be
- an Indian citizen, or
- a Tibetan refugee (before January 1962), or
- a subject to Nepal or Bhutan, or
- Migrants from Pakistan, Burma, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, with the intention of permanently settling in India
Age
| Academy | Age Limit |
| IMA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| INA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| AFA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| OTA (SSC Course for men) | Born not before January 2, 2001 and not later than January 1, 2007 |
| OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born not before January 2, 2001 and not later than January 1, 2007 |
Educational Qualification martial status as per courses
Courses | Marital Status | Qualification |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA - women, Non-Technical) | Unmarried and widow | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA - men) | Unmarried | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Indian Naval Academy (NA) | Unmarried | Degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Unmarried | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Unmarried (Candidates above 25 can be married) | Degree of a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering |
UPSC released UPSC CDS 2025 application form in online mode on December 11, 2025. Candidates will be able to fill out the UPSC CDS application form 2025 till December 31, 2025. The authority will provide CDS 1 application form correction window after closing the application form. Candidates have to complete the One-Time Registration and then proceed to apply for the UPSC CDS exam 2025.
Documents Required While Filling CDS Application Form
- Active Email – ID
- Matriculation certificate
- Scanned signature
- Scanned photograph
- One photo identity proof like an Aadhar card/ Voter card/ PAN card/ Passport/ Driving license
Steps to Fill UPSC CDS Application Form
Open the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.
Click on the ‘Apply Online link’ available on the web page.
Online One-Time Registration (OTR)- If the applicants are not completed the One Time Registration, They have to complete it by providing some basic details such as personal and contact details.
Login by using valid login credentials Email ID and OTP/Password or Mobile number and OTP/Password or OTR ID and OTP/Password.
Candidates have to fill out the UPSC CDS 2025 application form in two parts which include filling in other details, fee payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document and selection of preferred exam centre.
Check all the details furnished in the UPSC CDS application form 2025 thoroughly and edit the details if needed.
Once submitted, Applicants will not be able to make changes to their UPSC CDS application form 2025.
After submission, a registration number will be generated. Candidates have to download it as a pdf file and take a printout for future reference.
CDS Application Fee
| Category | CDS Application Fee |
| General & OBC | Rs.200 |
| SC, ST & Female Candidates | No Fee |
Documents Required at Exam CDS 2025
Combined Defence Services Examination 2025
- Admit card
- Aadhar card
- Voter card
- PAN card
- Passport
- Driving license
- Any other photo ID card issued by the state/central government
CDS 2025 Exam Centers
| State | City |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Uttar Pradesh | Allahabad Bareilly Lucknow |
| Karnataka | Bangalore Dharwad |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| Punjab | Chandigarh |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai Madurai |
| Odisha | Cuttack Sambalpur |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| Delhi | Delhi |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur Udaipur |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu Srinagar |
| Assam | Jorhat |
| Kerala | Kochi Thiruvananthapuram |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai Nagpur |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Andhra Pradesh | Tirupati Visakhapatnam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
UPSC prescribes the CDS exam pattern in the official notification. There are two stages in the CDS exam 2025- written and SSB interviews. The written CDS exam 2025 is conducted in pen and paper mode. As per the CDS exam pattern, candidates who apply for Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Indian Military Academy courses have to appear for three subjects - English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics while candidates who have opted for Officers' Training Academy have to appear for two subjects – English and General Knowledge.
CDS Exam Pattern – Written Exam
Structure of CDS exam pattern for admission to Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Indian Military Academy.
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
Structure of exam pattern for admission to Officers’ Training Academy
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
CDS Exam Pattern – SSB Interview
Stages | Tests | |
Stage-I | Screening Test | Verbal and non-verbal tests. PPDT |
Stage-II | Psychological Test | Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test (SD) |
Group Testing Officers Test | GD GPE PGT HGT IOT Command Task Snake race/ Group Obstacle Race Individual lecture FGT | |
Personal Interview | ||
Conference | ||
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CDS 2025 Syllabus
CDS Combined Defence Services Examination Syllabus
Arithmetic
Algebra
Trigonometry
Geometry
Mensuration
Statistics
Elementary mathematics: Unit 01
Arithmetic
- Number system-natural numbers, integers, rational, and real numbers
- Fundamental operations, addition, substraction, 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
Elementary mathematics: Unit 02
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 and their solutions
- Set language and set notation, rational expressions and conditional identities, laws of indices
Elementary mathematics: Unit 03
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
Elementary mathematics: Unit 04
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
- Theorems on (vii) properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle, and square, (viii) circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) loci
Elementary mathematics: Unit 05
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
Elementary mathematics: Unit 06
Statistics
- Collection and tabulation of statistical data, graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc.
- Measures of central tendency
To score well in the written exam of CDS, candidates must know the preparation tips and strategies. Candidates must know the importance of solving the previous years’ question papers, timely revision, time management, etc. which are the key elements of preparation.
Union Public Service Commission issues the UPSC CDS 1 exam 2025 admit card in online mode. The CDS 1 admit card 2025 will be available for download at upsc.gov.in. Candidates can download the CDS exam admit card till the examination date. In order to download the CDS admit card 2025, candidates can either log in through roll number or registration number. The CDS 2 2025 admit card is available for candidates who have successfully filled and submitted the application form.
Details on the CDS Admit Card 2025
- Candidate’s name
- Scanned signature and colour photograph
- Registration number
- Candidate’s category
- Examination date
- Reporting time
- Address of examination centre
- Examination timing
UPSC releases the official answer key of CDS 1 exam. CDS 1 answer key will be available subject wise for all test booklets. Candidates can check the number of correct and incorrect answers marked by them with the help of answer key. There are some coaching institutes who release the unofficial answer key after the completion of the CDS exam 2025 on the same day.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the cut off of CDS exam 2025 separately for the written exam and final. Candidates who score equal or more than cutoff released by UPSC for written exam are eligible SSB Interview. The CDS cut off marks of written test for is calculated out of the total score of 300 for INA, IFA and IMA, and 200 for OTA (Men & Women). The final cut off will be released in by UPSC later.
Documents Required at CDS 2025 counselling
Combined Defence Services Examination 2025
- Call letter
- Matriculation/secondary school examination certificate or equivalent
- Degree/provisional degree certificate/marks sheet
The selection process of CDS exam 2025 is of two stages - written exam and SSB interview. In the first stage - CDS written exam, candidates are required to appear in three papers for admission in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force and two papers for admission in Officers’ Training Academy.
General Information
Contacts
011-23385271 + 2 more
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to check CDS marks?
The CDS marks can be checked from the official website. The CDS marks are released after declaration of final result.
2. What are passing marks for CDS exam?
The written exam of CDS is conducted for 300 marks and candidates must score a minimum of 20% of the total marks i.e. 60. Candidates need to qualify in all three papers of the CDS exam.
3. What is the salary offered to candidates selected through CDS exam?
The cadets are paid Rs. 56,100 per month. During training, they get a stipend of Rs. 6000 OTA while Rs 12,000 per month in IMA, INA and Air Force academy.
4. Can girls apply for CDS exam?
Yes, girls too can apply for CDS exam. Girls are considered for OTA and allotted Short Service Commission in non-Technical cadre.
5. What is the educational qulification required for the CDS exam?
Bachelors degree is must to apply for the CDS examination.
6. What is the age limit to apply for the CDS exam?
Candidates between the age group of 20 years to 24 years can apply for the CDS exam.
7. When will the CDS 1 2025 application be released?
UPSC has released the CDS 1 application form online on December 11, 2025.
8. What is the CDS 1 2025 exam date?
CDS 1 written exam is to be conducted on April 13, 2025 by UPSC.
E-books and Sample Papers
Upcoming Exams
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
Application Date
11 Dec, 2024 - 31 Dec, 2024
Questions related to CDS
Have a question related to CDS ?
Hello,
Yes, you can join the Indian Navy through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam with a B.Sc. in Non-Medical (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). Here are the key points:
- Eligibility: A B.Sc. degree with Physics and Mathematics or Engineering degree is required for Indian Naval Academy (INA).
- Age Limit: Candidates must be between 19-24 years of age.
- Exam: Appear for the CDS exam conducted by UPSC twice a year.
- Selection Process: Clear the written exam, followed by SSB (Service Selection Board) interview and medical examination.
- Role: Selected candidates undergo training at INA, Ezhimala, Kerala.
Prepare thoroughly for CDS to secure your place.
Hope it helps !
Prachi Kumari 15 December 2024
Hello aspirant,
When applying to the Officers Training Academy, SSC Women enrolled in non-technical courses must be at least 25 years old to sit for the CDS exam.
Applicants must have finished their degree program or be taking the final test in order to sit for the CDS exam.
So if you fulfill this eligibility criteria, then you are eligible for CDS exam 2027.
Thank you
Sajal Trivedi 11 December 2024
No, completing your college through dummy or non-regular means will not necessarily result in a negative impression during your SSB interview or screening process.
The SSB (Service Selection Board) assesses candidates based on various qualities such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and personality. While the mode of completing your college education may be considered, it is not the sole determining factor.
Here are some important points to keep in mind:
- Focus on the Fundamentals: Ensure you have a strong understanding of the core subjects related to your degree. The SSB assesses your knowledge and problem-solving skills, not just the mode of study.
- Extracurricular Activities: Highlight any extracurricular activities, internships, or projects you've undertaken during your college years. These can demonstrate your leadership, teamwork, and initiative.
- Confidence and Communication: Project confidence and effective communication skills during the SSB process. Your ability to express yourself clearly and confidently is crucial.
- Honesty and Integrity: Be honest about your educational background and any relevant experiences. The SSB values integrity and transparency.
While completing your college through dummy or non-regular means may raise questions, it is not an automatic disqualification. If you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and potential, you can still successfully clear the SSB and be considered for selection.
It's important to focus on developing the qualities and skills that are valued by the SSB. By showcasing your abilities and potential, you can overcome any initial concerns related to your mode of education.
Samprikta Mondal 23 October 2024
Hello aspirant,
On August 23, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission made the NDA 2 2024 admit card available on its official website, upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in. The timeframe for editing NDA 2 2024 application forms was open until June 11, 2024. On June 5, 2024, the NDA rectification window opened. On June 4, 2024, the commission closed the NDA 2 2024 application form. On May 15, 2024, the UPSC NDA 2 2024 application form became available. Those who wish to take the NDA 2 2024 exam must confirm that they meet the requirements before applying. September 1, 2024 is the planned date of the UPSC NDA 2 exam.
To know complete information about admit card and exam you can visit our site by clicking on the link given below.
Thank you
Sajal Trivedi 30 August 2024
Hello there,
Yes, you can apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) after completing your graduation in 2027, based on your date of birth, 29th November 2003. Here’s how your eligibility works out:
Eligibility Criteria for CDS IMA:
-
Age Limit: For IMA, the candidate should be between 19 and 24 years old at the time of course commencement. Since you were born on 29th November 2003, you will be within the eligible age range for several years after your graduation.
-
Educational Qualification: A degree from a recognized university or equivalent is required. Since you will complete your graduation in 2027, you will meet this qualification.
-
Application Timing: The CDS exam is conducted twice a year. Depending on the exam you apply for, your eligibility will be determined by your age at the time of the course commencement, typically a few months after the exam.
Example Timeline:
If you apply for the CDS exam in 2027, the courses would typically start in 2028, and you would be 24 or under, fitting within the age limit.
Conclusion:
You are eligible to apply for the CDS exam for IMA as long as you apply before you turn 24. Make sure to check the specific age cutoff for the exact year you plan to apply.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
kumardurgesh1802 24 August 2024
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