CDS Syllabus 2026 - Download UPSC CDS Exam Syllabus PDF
CDS Syllabus 2026 - UPSC specified the CDS syllabus 2026 in the official notification. Candidates are advised to make use of the UPSC CDS 2026 syllabus PDF for their exam preparation. The syllabus of CDS exam helps candidates to better understand the type of questions asked. The CDS exam is conducted in offline mode. The direct link to download the UPSC CDS syllabus and exam pattern is also updated on this page.
Download - CDS Syllabus PDF
This Story also Contains
- CDS Syllabus 2026
- CDS Exam Pattern 2026 - Prelims, Mains & SSB Interview
- CDS Exam Pattern for SSB Interview
- CDS Question Paper 2026
- Best Books for CDS 2026
Aspirants can also get the CDS OTA syllabus in the form of a PDF file. Candidates should check the UPSC CDS 2026 syllabus, chapters and topics that will be asked in the exam. Read the article completely to know more about the CDS 2 syllabus 2026.
CDS Syllabus 2026
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam has two written papers for the OTA course and three written papers for other courses. The subjects from which the questions are asked in the CDS 2026 exam are Mathematics, English and General Knowledge.
English and General Knowledge questions are asked in both the CDS OTA and CDS IMA/ INA/ AFA courses. CDS IMA/ INA/ AFA course has one extra subject which is Mathematics. The questions asked in the CDS exam are of 10th and 12th standard.
CDS Syllabus 2026 - Written Exam
Subjects | Topics |
CDS Maths syllabus |
|
CDS English syllabus | The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. |
CDS General Knowledge syllabus | General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on History of India and Geography of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study. |
CDS Exam Pattern 2026 - Prelims, Mains & SSB Interview
The UPSC CDS 2026 exam pattern is prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission in the official notification. According to the CDS exam pattern, the written exam is objective type in nature i.e. in the form of MCQs. As per the CDS OTA syllabus , OTA exam has two papers whereas CDS IMA/ INA/ AFA have three papers. Along with the exam pattern, candidates must also check the CDS exam syllabus for better preparations. There is a negative marking for every wrong answer.
CDS OTA Exam Pattern 2026
Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 100 | Two hrs |
Paper 2 | English | 100 | Two hrs |
CDS IMA/ INA/ AFA Exam Pattern 2026
Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hrs |
Paper 2 | English | 100 | 2 hrs |
Paper 3 | Mathematics | 100 | 2 hrs |
CDS Exam Pattern for SSB Interview
The CDS SSB procedure consists of two stages - Stage 1 and Stage 3. Candidates who clear Stage 1 are eligible to appear for Stage 2. The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist. There is no separate weightage for each test. The marks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate.
SSB Interview: Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception & Description Test (PP & DT). The candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of the combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP & DT.
SSB Interview: Stage II Comprises of Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These all tests are conducted for four days.
CDS Question Paper 2026
Candidates should make sure that their exam preparation is in the right direction while preparing for the UPSC CDS exam 2026. The commission will provide the UPSC CDS question paper 2026 in the form of PDF files. The question paper of CDS 2026 helps the candidates to improve their exam preparation. Also, It is mandatory to solve the previous years' question paper of CDS to get an overall idea about the syllabus and exam pattern. Candidates can evaluate themselves by solving the previous year's UPSC CDS 2026 question papers.
Best Books for CDS 2026
One of the toughest tasks in exam preparation is selecting the best books for the CDS exam 2026. Candidates get confused while selecting the best books for CDS 2026. A lot of preparation books are available in the market. Candidates are advised to choose the books based on the latest CDS syllabus 2026 and exam pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CDS 2026 exam has two stages – a written exam and an SSB interview.
As per the CDS OTA syllabus, there are two sections including English and General Knowledge.
Questions related to CDS
On Question asked by student community
CDS is a graduate-level defence entrance examination and candidates must satisfy the prescribed age, educational qualification and other eligibility requirements for the particular academy. Being born on January 1, 2010, you are currently below the age required for CDS. You would first need to complete graduation and then meet the
Hey there,
Yes — you may have a chance in CDS OTA 2027, but most likely only for CDS (I) 2027.
You were born 16 June 2002.
- CDS (I) 2027 – OTA: You should be age-eligible under the expected age criteria, subject to the official 2027 notification.
- CDS (II) 2027
Hello, for CDS OTA (II) 2027, candidates must be born between 2 July 2001 and 1 July 2007 as per the latest CDS II age criteria. Since your date of birth is 27 May 2003, you fall within this age range and meet the age requirement.
For more details check
Hello Student,
For CDS OTA, the usual age limit for women is 19–25 years. A candidate born on 27 May 2003 would be around 24 years old in 2027 and is likely to fall within the age limit. However, the exact eligibility depends on the DOB range specified in the
Hello, with a date of birth of 02 October 2002, you are eligible for the CDS OTA entry for CDS II 2026, as the prescribed age range is 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007.