The Union Public Service Commission provided the details pertaining to the CDS 2025 exam centres online in the official notification. The official CDS 2025 notification is available to download at upsconline.nic.in/upsc.gov.in. Candidates attempting the UPSC CDS exam can choose their exam centre while filling out the application form. Therefore, candidates have to select their CDS 2025 exam centre carefully before submitting the application.
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The cities where the CDS exam will take place are listed in the table below. Please note that candidates will not be able to change or make corrections to their choice of exam centre after submitting the application form.
Events | CDS 02/2025 |
CDS 2 Advertisement | May 28, 2025 |
| CDS 2025 application date | May 28, 2025 |
Last day of CDS 2 Application | June 20, 2025 (extended date) |
CDS 2 2025 Exam Date | September 14, 2025 |
Events | CDS 01/2025 |
CDS 1 Advertisement | December 11, 2024 |
| CDS 1 2025 application form date | December 11, 2024 |
Last CDS 1 2025 registration date | December 31, 2024 |
CDS 1 2025 exam date | April 13, 2025 |
The CDS exam centre 2025 details are given in the official notification. The CDS exam 2025 will be held in the offline mode. The number of exam centres may vary. Candidates can refer to the table below to know the list of exam centres of UPSC CDS.
| AGARTALA | GHAZIABAD | NAVI MUMBAI |
| AGRA | GORAKHPUR | PANAJI (GOA) |
| AJMER | GURGAON | PATNA |
| AHMEDABAD | GWALIOR | PORT BLAIR |
| AIZAWL | HYDERABAD | PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) |
| ALIGARH | IMPHAL | PUDUCHERRY |
| ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) | INDORE | PUNE |
| ANANTPUR (ANDHRA PRADESH) | ITANAGAR | RAIPUR |
| CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR [AURANGABAD (MAHARASHTRA)] | JABALPUR | RAJKOT |
| BENGALURU | JAIPUR | RANCHI |
| BAREILLY | JAMMU | SAMBALPUR |
| BHOPAL | JODHPUR | SHILLONG |
| BILASPUR (CHHATISGARH) | JORHAT | SHIMLA |
| CHANDIGARH | KARGIL | SILIGUDI |
| CHENNAI | KOCHI | SRINAGAR |
| COIMBATORE | KOHIMA | SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
| CUTTACK | KOLKATA | THANE |
| DEHRADUN | KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
| DELHI | LEH | TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
| DHARAMSHALA | LUCKNOW | TIRUPATI |
| DHARWAD | LUDHIANA | UDAIPUR |
| DISPUR | MADURAI | VARANASI |
| FARIDABAD | MANDI | VELLORE |
| GANGTOK | MUMBAI | VIJAYAVADA |
| GAYA | MYSORE | VISHAKHAPATNAM |
| GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR | NAGPUR | HANUMAKONDA (WARANGAL URBAN) |
Candidates must bring the following documentation to the exam centre
A valid photo ID card, such as an Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card or Passport/Driving Licence.
UPSC CDS admit card
Passport-size photographs
Candidates must take care to follow these rules during the CDS exam.
Candidates must be present at the CDS exam centre at least an hour before the exam starts.
The candidate must be carrying all the required documentation.
Candidates must use only a black ballpoint pen on the OMR sheet.
Candidates must not use any unfair means in the exam. This includes not bringing any of the prohibited items listed below.
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Candidates will be allowed to take the following items inside the exam centre of CDS 2025.
CDS 2025 admit card
Valid photo identity proof
One or two photographs
Transparent water bottle
The following are the items prohibited to carry inside the CDS 2025 exam centre.
Mobile phone
Pen Drive
Smartwatches
Pager
Bluetooth device
Stationery items, etc.
Check Here For A List of Other Government Exams
The Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 2025 admit card soon at upsc.gov.in. Candidates will be able to download the UPSC CDS 2 2025 admit card by using the valid registration number and date of birth. They can check exam centre details on the CDS 2025 admit card.
The details specified on the UPSC CDS admit card are personal details, exam details, contact details, and the exam day instructions, photograph, signature, etc. Candidates are advised to reach the CDS exam centre in 2025 at least one hour before the starting time of the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CDS selection process 2025 consists of a written exam, SSB interview and medical examination.
Yes, as per the CDS exam pattern 2025, there is a negative marking of one-third mark for every incorrect answer.
No, once the CDS 2025 exam centre is alloted, it cannot be changed.
The CDS Full Form is Combined Defence Services exam.
There were a total of 78 exam cities this year.
The CDS age limit is between 20 and 24 years.
In order to better the CDS 2025 exam, candidates should prepare a strategy and cover the whole syllabus from CDS exam books 2025.
Candidates can download the UPSC CDS admit card 2025 by using the registration number and date of birth.
Pathfinder from Arihant Publications is the best book for CDS exam preparation 2025.
The CDS exam centre list is provided in the official notification. However, aspirants can also check the exact UPSC CDS exam centre on their admit card.
On Question asked by student community
Choosing the best CDS coaching in Lucknow really depends on what kind of learning environment you’re looking for. Some students prefer centres with strict discipline and regular mock tests, while others focus more on experienced faculty or smaller batch sizes. From what I’ve observed and heard from fellow aspirants, Shield Defence Academy is one of the institutes worth considering—they maintain consistent classes, focus on basics, and their test series is fairly well-structured.
Hello aspirant,
No, after tenth grade, you are not eligible to take the CDS exam. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in order to sit for the CDS exam. It is intended for people who are in their last year of graduation or who have finished their college education. You must finish your 12th grade before you can graduate if you recently passed the 10th. You can then apply for the CDS exam to become an officer in the Indian Armed Forces.
Thank you
Hey! Since your date of birth is 07 Nov 2006 and you will complete graduation in 2029, here’s how many chances you’ll get for CDS (INA, IMA, AFA) and AFCAT:
For CDS exams, the age limit is usually 19–24 years.
For AFCAT, Flying Branch requires 20–24 years and Ground Duty goes up to 26 years.
By 2029, you will be around 22–23 years old, so you’ll be perfectly eligible at that time. Since CDS requires a graduate degree, you can only start applying after 2029 once you finish graduation. From that year onwards, you’ll have around 2–3 years window where you can appear for CDS (IMA, INA, AFA) as well as AFCAT.
Dear Candidate,
You are eligible for CDS 2026, but for IMA, INA and AFA post, you must be born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008.
For OTA ( male and female ), all 2003 born candidates are eligible.
Hi dear candidate,
The age limit for various roles in CDS are:
1) IMA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.
2) INA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.
3) OTA: 19 TO 25 years of age, 10 to 11 attempts.
This is all considering your DOB as of 26 Oct, 2005 as you are 19 years old in Aug 2025.
Know more at:
CDS Exam Dates 2025 (Out) - Check UPSC CDS 2 Complete Exam Schedule
CDS Selection Process 2025 - Written Exam, SSB Interview, DV, Pay Scale
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