UPSC releases the CDS syllabus 2025 in the official notification. Candidates are advised to make use of the UPSC CDS syllabus 2025 PDF for their exam preparation. The syllabus of CDS exam helps candidates to better understand the type of questions asked. The CDS 1 exam is expected to be held on April 13, 2025. The direct link to download the UPSC CDS syllabus and exam pattern is also updated on this page.
Download - CDS Syllabus PDF
CDS Syllabus 2025 - Download UPSC CDS Exam Syllabus PDF Aspirants can also get the CDS OTA syllabus in the form of a PDF file. Candidates should check the UPSC CDS 2025 syllabus, chapters and topics that will be asked in the exam. Read the article completely to know more about the CDS 1 syllabus 2025.
CDS Syllabus 2025
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 2025 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 2025 - Written Exam
Subjects | Topics |
CDS Maths syllabus | - Number System
- Elementary Number Theory
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Statistics
- Intelligence and personality test
|
CDS English syllabus | The question paper will be asked 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 the History of India and the Geography of nature which candidates should be able to answer without special study. |
CDS Exam Pattern 2025 - Prelims, Mains & SSB Interview
The UPSC CDS 2025 exam pattern is prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission in the official notification. According to the CDS exam pattern, the written exam will be 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 2025
Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 100 | Two hrs |
Paper 2 | English | 100 | Two hrs |
CDS IMA/ INA/ AFA Exam Pattern 20255
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 2025
Candidates should make sure that their exam preparation is in the right direction while preparing for the UPSC CDS exam 2025. The commission will provide the UPSC CDS question paper 2025 in the form of PDF files. The question paper of CDS 2025 will help 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 2025 question papers.
Best Books for CDS 2025
One of the toughest tasks in exam preparation is selecting the best books for CDS exam 2025. Candidates get confused while selecting the best books for CDS 2025. Lot of preparation books are available in the market. Candidates are advised to choose the books based on the latest CDS syllabus 2025 and exam pattern.