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CDS Full Form - What is the Full form of CDS Exam?

CDS Full Form - What is the Full form of CDS Exam?

Edited By Soujanya K | Updated on May 07, 2024 12:47 PM IST | #CDS

The Combined Defence Services is the full form of the exam popularly known as the CDS exam. Coincidentally, CDS also stands for Chief of Defence Staff, which is the title of the Head of the Indian Armed Forces. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the UPSC CDS exam twice a year with the goal of recruiting candidates to various courses across the Indian Defence services.

In the Material Below, candidates can find a comprehensive list of details regarding the CDS exam, such as eligibility criteria, application form, exam dates, CDS salary and much more. Candidates are encouraged to read this article for information regarding the CDS exam. The CDS is a national-level exam and is generally conducted in the month of April and September. Candidates who clear the CDS are recruited for roles such as officer posts in IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), AFA (Air Force Academy) and OTA (Officers Training Academy). There are three stages in the CDS Selection Process. The 3 stages in the selection process are the written exam, SSB Interview followed by the Medical Examination. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria of 2024 CDS can apply through the official UPSC website- upsc.gov.in.

CDS Full Form Overview

Exam Name

Combined Defence Service

Commonly known as

UPSC CDS Exam

Frequency of the exam

Twice a year

Conducted by

Union Public Service Commission

Stages of the exam

Written Exam

SSB Interview

Medical Examination

Official Website

upsc.gov.in

CDS Exam Dates 2024

CDS 1 Exam Dates

CDS 1 Events

CDS 1 Dates

CDS 1 2024 Notification

December 20, 2023

CDS 1 2024 Application Form

December 20 to June 4, 2024

CDS 1 2024 Exam

April 21, 2024

CDS 2 Exam Dates

CDS 2 Events

CDS 2 Dates

CDS Notification 2024

May 15, 2024

CDS 2 2024 Application Form

May 15, 2024 to June 4, 2024

CDS 2 2024 Exam

September 1, 2024

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2024

The eligibility criteria for CDS are divided into two sections - Nationality, Academic qualification, and age limit. Refer to the following table for the same.

Eligibility Criteria of CDS 2024

Age Limit Criteria

Academic Qualification

20-24 Years: Indian Military Academy (IMA)

IMA & OTA: Graduation Degree from a recognised University

20-22 Years: Indian Naval Academy (INA)

INA: Graduation in B.Sc. with Physics & Mathematics or Bachelor of Engineering

20-23 Years: Air Force Academy (AFA)

AFA: B.Sc. Graduate with Physics/Mathematics or Bachelor of Engineering

20-25 Years: Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)

CDS Notification and Application 2024

UPSC releases the CDS 2024 notification twice a year. The notification dates and the CDS 2024 application form dates are the same. The notification consists of the important dates, eligibility criteria, steps to apply, CDS 2024 exam pattern, syllabus, and important instructions related to the exam in detail. It is mandatory to read the notification of CDS thoroughly before filling out the form.

Popular Online Competition Courses and Certifications:

CDS Admit Card 2024

The admit card of 2024 CDS is an important document that is mandatory for every candidate who is taking the exam. The admit card is issued by UPSC to those candidates who have successfully applied for CDS. If aspirants have made an error in filling up the application form, their candidature will be rejected and they will not be issued the UPSC CDS admit card. So it is important to fill out the UPSC NDA application form carefully and pay the application fee. The UPSC CDS 2024 admit card can be downloaded from the official website using the registration details and date of birth. The CDS admit card consists of all the important details like the candidate's name, roll number, registration number, exam centre address, reporting time, exam day guidelines etc. The UPSC CDS admit card 2024 has to be carried to the exam centre along with a valid ID proof to the exam centre.

Important - Check the Complete List of Full Forms

CDS Exam Centre 2024

CDS exam is conducted across various exam centres in India. From the following table, aspirants can check the exam centres of 2024 CDS.

CDS Exam Centres

Agartala

Kochi

Ahmedabad

Kohima

Aizawl

Kolkata

Bengaluru

Lucknow

Bareilly

Madurai

Bhopal

Mumbai

Chandigarh

Nagpur

Chennai

Panaji(GOA)

Cuttack

Patna

Dehradun

Port Blair

Delhi

Prayagraj

Dharwad

Raipur

Dispur

Ranchi

Gangtok

Sambalpur

Hyderabad

Shillong

Imphal

Shimla

Itanagar

Srinagar

Jaipur

Thiruvananthapuram

Jammu

Tirupati

Jorhat

Udaipur

Visakhapatnam

--

How to Prepare for CDS?

CDS is one of the highest competitive exams in India. Just like NDA, CDS is the gateway for candidates who want to serve the nation by joining the Defence forces of India. The difficulty level of UPSC CDS 2024 is graduation as the minimum eligibility criteria is graduation only. Many aspirants join coaching institutes to prepare for CDS 2024 but there are a few more who also prepare from home by referring to the best 2024 CDS books etc. Here we have shared the CDS 2024 preparation tips for all the candidates who are planning to appear for the CDS exam.

Other exams conducted by UPSC:

CDS Answer Key 2024

The CDS 2024 answer key consists of all the answers to the questions asked in the exam. The unofficial answer key will be released by various coaching institutes on the day of the exam while the official answer key of CDS 2024 will be released on the official website of UPSC. Candidates preparing for the UPSC CDS exam can match the answer key along with the questions from the exam and spectate their chances of qualification.

CDS Result 2024

UPSC will release the UPSC CDS 2024 result on the official website only. The result of 2024 CDS will be released after the exam is conducted in online mode. Candidates who qualify for the UPSC CDS exam as per the result will be able to appear for the next stage of the exam. The written exam CDS 2024 result is released in PDF format on the official website and has the academy wise roll numbers of all the shortlisted candidates.

CDS Final Merit

The final merit list of CDS will be released after the complete recruitment process is over. The merit list of 2024 CDS is released in PDF format on the official website and has the academy-wise roll number and name of all the candidates who have qualified the exam and have been shortlisted for the CDS 2024 recruitment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the salary of a CDS officer?

A CDS officer gets a starting salary of Rs 15600-39100.

2. What is the eligibility criteria to apply for CDS?

As per the eligibility criteria of CDS, the academic qualification is graduation while the age limit for CDS is 20-25 years.

3. What is the difference between the NDA and CDS exam?

The basic difference between both these exams is the eligibility criteria, for NDA candidates the academic qualification is 10+2 while for CDS it is graduation. In NDA, only male candidates can apply and in CDS both male as well as female candidates can apply.

4. What is the frequency of the CDS exam?

2024 CDS is conducted twice a year by UPSC.

5. What is the CDS selection process?

CDS 2024 selection process has 3 stages - A written exam, the SSB interview as well as a Medical Exam.

6. What is the full form of CDS?

The full form of the CDS exam is the Combined Defence Services Exam. 

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Questions related to CDS

Have a question related to CDS ?

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.

https://competition-careers360-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/competition.careers360.com/exams/nda/amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17249903789211&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fcompetition.careers360.com%2Fexams%2Fnda

Thank you

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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

To determine your eligibility for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, we need to consider the age criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the exam.

For the CDS exam, the age criteria generally are as follows:

  1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  2. Indian Naval Academy (INA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  3. Air Force Academy (AFA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 24 years old.
  4. Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) : Candidates should be between 19 to 25 years old.

Your date of birth is 29th November 2003. By March 2027, you will be 23 years and 4 months old. This means you fall within the eligible age range for all branches (IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA) for the CDS exam.

Given that you will complete your course in March 2027, you should be eligible to apply for the CDS exam in 2027, provided you meet other criteria such as nationality, marital status, and educational qualifications. Make sure to check the official CDS notification for any updates or changes in the eligibility criteria closer to the exam date.


Hello aspirant,
The upper age limit for CDS IMA is 24 years. Since you are currently 21 years 3 months old, you have 2 years and 9 months left to appear for the CDS IMA exam. This means you can attempt the exam 3 more times before reaching the age limit.

However, please note that this is just a general estimate and the actual number of attempts may vary depending on the specific notification released by the UPSC for the CDS exam in 2025. It is always advisable to refer to the official notification for accurate information regarding the age limit and number of attempts allowed.

I hope this information helps you.

Hello Aspirant

The eligibility criteria for CDS is that the candidate must be between the ages of 19 to 25 years. Since you were born in 2003, that will make you 24 years old, making you eligible for the exam.

But, just to be on the safer side, I would suggest that you start appearing for the exam now itself since you have crossed the minimum age limit and it would give you the practice that you need.

Hope this helps

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