Union Public Service Commission released the CDS 2 2025 notification on May 28, 2025 on the official website upsconline.nic.in/ upsc.gov.in. UPSC prescribed the information about the CDS exam like, exam eligibility criteria, syllabus, and exam pattern in the official UPSC CDS notification 2025. Union Public Services Commission conducts the CDS exam twice annually. The UPSC CDS 2 notification can be downloaded in PDF format.
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Candidates are encouraged to go through the CDS 2025 notification thoroughly and acquaint themselves with all the details regarding the exam. Twice a year, the CDS exam is held with the purpose of shortlisting eligible candidates for various courses under the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. Below, we go through all the details presented in the CDS for candidates’ reference.
From the following table, candidates can check all the important CDS exam dates 2025. Candidates are advised to keep track of all the dates so that they don’t miss any events.
CDS 2 Events | CDS 2 2025 Date |
UPSC CDS 2 notification | May 28, 2025 |
CDS 2 application form starts | May 28, 2025 |
Last date to register for CDS |
June 20, 2025 (Extended date) |
Admit card release date | To be announced |
CDS for written exam | September 14, 2025 |
Release of official question paper | To be announced |
CDS 2 result date | To be announced |
CDS official question papers release date | To be announced |
CDS 1 Events | CDS 1 2025 Date |
CDS 1 notification | December 11, 2024 |
CDS 2025 application form | December 11, 2024 |
Last CDS 1 2025 Registration date | December 31, 2024 |
Application form correction window | January 1 to 7, 2025 |
Admit card release date | To be announced |
CDS 1 2025 exam date | April 13, 2025 |
CDS result date | To be announced |
CDS official question papers release date | To be announced |
UPSC released the CDS 2 2025 application form online on May 28, 2025. The last day to fill the CDS 2 application form 2025 was June 20, 2025 (Extended date). While filling out the application form, candidates have to fill in their details, and academic information, select the CDS 2025 exam centre and pay the application fee. Candidates who successfully submit their application form will get their CDS 2025 admit card.
Also read: Basic Information about category-wise career exams
Union Public Service Commission specified the CDS 2025 eligibility criteria in the official notification. The CDS exam eligibility consists of the CDS exam age limit, nationality, academic qualification, and physical standards required to fill in the application form. The detailed CDS exam eligibility is mentioned in the notification.
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Union Public Service Commission mentioned the details regarding the CDS selection process 2025 in the official notification. As per the selection process, there are two stages in the exam - the written exam and the SSB interview. Candidates who clear the written exam are called to appear in the SSB interview round, which is a 5-day affair. The written exam tests a candidate's aptitude and reasoning abilities, while SSB tests psychological aptitude and mental condition. Candidates will have to clear both these stages to be commissioned officers in the Indian defence forces.
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The CDS 2 notification 2025 consists of the exam pattern prescribed by UPSC. The CDS 2 2025 exam pattern consists of the stages of the exam, time duration, making scheme, subjects which need to be studied etc. Candidates must refer to the CDS exam pattern while preparing for the exam as the CDS question paper 2025 will be based entirely on it. From the following tables, Candidates can check the CDS exam pattern.
Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
English | 2 hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 |
Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
English | 2 hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
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Apart from the exam pattern, the notification also consists of the CDS syllabus. UPSC has prescribed the official CDS 2025 exam syllabus which consists of the subjects, topics and sub-topics which candidates need to study in order to clear the exam. Candidates must streamline the CDS exam syllabus with the exam pattern to form their preparation strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CDS 2025 notification was released on May 28, 2025.
Candidates can apply for the CDS 2 2025 exam by visiting the official website and following the steps mentioned there.
There are two stages in the CDS exam - written test and SSB interview.
Yes, there is a negative marking of ⅓ mark in the CDS 2 written test.
Candidates who meet the CDS eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for the CDS 2 exam 2025.
Candidates can apply for the CDS 2 exam 2025 from May 28, 2025 onwards.
Yes, females are eligible for CDS but only for OTA (Officers Training Academy).
On Question asked by student community
Hello
If you’re looking for the best CDS coaching in Lucknow, Centurion Defence Academy is one of the most trusted options with strong faculty and solid SSB preparation. Shield Defence Academy is also popular and gives good support for written tests and doubts.
Target Defence Academy is another reliable place, especially if you want a disciplined environment. All these are well-known, so choose based on distance, fees, and teaching style. You can also check from here
https://competition.careers360.com/articles/top-cds-exam-coaching-institutes-in-india
Hope it will help you
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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