UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 - Check subject wise syllabus

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026

Candidates need to understand the syllabus before moving to the UPSC CDS 2026 exam pattern. The CDS 2026 syllabus covers English, General knowledge, elementary mathematics, including subtopics such as Arithmetic, trigonometry, algebra, mensuration, statistics, intelligence, and personality test. Candidates can refer to the article for detailed subtopics of the CDS syllabus.

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 for English- The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workman-like use of words.

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 for General Knowledge- 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 the History of India and Geography of a nature that the candidate should be able to answer without special Study.

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UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 for Elementary Mathematics

Arithmetic- Number System - Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, and 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, and use of logarithmic tables.

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 inequalities 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 & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions and conditional identities, Laws of indices.

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.

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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, (vii) Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) Loci.

Mensuration- Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles. 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.Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles. 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.

Statistics- Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation of frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, etc. Measures of central tendency.

Intelligence and Personality Test- The SSB procedure consists of a two-stage selection process - stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. The details are:-

(a) Stage I comprises the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception* Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP&DT.

(b) Stage II comprises Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the

Conference. These tests are conducted over 4 days. The details of these tests are given on the website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.

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The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors, viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), the 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 holistically in all the tests.

In addition, marks for the conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and the decision of the Board. All these have equal weightage. The various tests of IO, GTO, and Psych are designed to bring out the presence/absence of the Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly, candidates are Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2026

The exam authority has prescribed the UPSC CDS 2026 exam pattern in the official notification. CDS exam pattern comprises two stages, i.e., the written test and the SSB interview.

As per the exam pattern of CDS for IMA, INA, and AFA, the written test includes English, general knowledge, and elementary mathematics. Each paper carries 100 marks, and the time duration is 2 hours. Candidates can refer to the detailed CDS exam pattern in the table below.

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2026 for IMA, INA, and AFA

Note- IMA- Indian MIlitary Academy, INA- Indian Naval Academy, AFA- Air Force Academy

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Points to Remember

• The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective-type questions only. The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.

• In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the metric system of Weights and Measures only will be set.

• Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write answers for them.

• The Commission has discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.

• The candidates are not permitted to use a calculator for answering objective-type papers (Test Booklets). They should not, therefore, bring the same inside the Examination Hall.

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