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CDS 2 Exam 2025 - Notification (May 28), Exam Dates, Exam centres, Result, Cutoff
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CDS Application Date : 28 May' 2025 - 17 Jun' 2025
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About CDS 2025
Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 2 notification 2025 on May 28, 2025. Along with the notification, the commission will also release the CDS 2 2025 application form on the official website, upsc.gov.in. The CDS application form last date is June 17, 2025. The CDS 2 exam 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on September 14, 2025.
The CDS exam 2025 is conducted for those who wish to pursue their careers as commissioned officers in the Navy, Air Force and Army after graduation or candidates appearing in their final year. There are two stages in the CDS exam 2025, written exam followed by the SSB interview.
Candidates who qualify in written CDS exam 2025 are eligible for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview which includes Personality cum Psychometric tests and Intelligence interviews. Candidates who clear the UPSC CDS exam 2025 selection process will have to undergo training programmes as per their merit and preference for Army, Navy and Air Force jobs. The training of selected candidates will be done at Indian Military Academy (IMA Dehradun), Indian Naval Academy (INA Ezhimala), Air Force Academy (Hyderabad), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA Chennai).
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CDS 2025 Highlights
| Full Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Short Exam Name | CDS |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Frequency Of Conduct | Twice a year |
| Exam Level | Intermediate |
| Languages | English +1 more |
| Mode Of Application | online |
| Application Fee | Offline : 100 +1 more |
| Mode Of Exam | offline |
| Mode Of Counselling | offline |
| Exam Duration | 6 Hours |
CDS Important Dates
CDS Combined Defence Services Examination (session 2025)
28 May' 2025 - 28 May' 2025 . Online
Advertisement Date
28 May' 2025 - 17 Jun' 2025 . Online
Application Date
14 Sep' 2025 - 14 Sep' 2025 . Offline
Exam Date
Union Public Service Commission will release the result of CDS 2 exam on the official website. Candidates have to secure qualifying marks as prescribed by UPSC to qualify the written exam. Candidates who qualify for the written CDS exam are eligible to appear for an SSB interview.
The CDS 2 exam result for the written exam and final CDS result are declared separately. The final result of CDS is calculated by adding the marks secured by candidates in written as well as SSB Interview.
Candidates must check the CDS exam eligibility criteria like age limit, educational qualification, marital status to be eligible for the CDS exam 2025.
Nationality
Candidates applying for CDS exam 2025 must be
- an Indian citizen, or
- a Tibetan refugee (before January 1962), or
- a subject to Nepal or Bhutan, or
- Migrants from Pakistan, Burma, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, with the intention of permanently settling in India
Age
| Academy | Age Limit |
| IMA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| INA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| AFA | Born not before January 2, 2002 and not later than January 1, 2006 |
| OTA (SSC Course for men) | Born not before January 2, 2001 and not later than January 1, 2007 |
| OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born not before January 2, 2001 and not later than January 1, 2007 |
Educational Qualification martial status as per courses
Courses | Marital Status | Qualification |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA - women, Non-Technical) | Unmarried and widow | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA - men) | Unmarried | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Indian Naval Academy (NA) | Unmarried | Degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Unmarried | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Unmarried (Candidates above 25 can be married) | Degree of a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering |
UPSC will release the CDS 2 application form on May 28, 2025. The last date to submit the CDS application form 2025 is June 17, 2025. The UPSC CDS 2025 application form will be released in online mode only.
The authority provides the CDS 2 application form correction window after closing the application form. Candidates have to complete the One-Time Registration and then proceed to apply for the UPSC CDS exam 2025.
Documents Required While Filling CDS Application Form
- Active Email – ID
- Matriculation certificate
- Scanned signature
- Scanned photograph
- One photo identity proof like an Aadhar card/ Voter card/ PAN card/ Passport/ Driving license
Steps to Fill UPSC CDS Application Form
Open the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.
Click on the ‘Apply Online link’ available on the web page.
Online One-Time Registration (OTR)- If the applicants are not completed the One Time Registration, They have to complete it by providing some basic details such as personal and contact details.
Login by using valid login credentials Email ID and OTP/Password or Mobile number and OTP/Password or OTR ID and OTP/Password.
Candidates have to fill out the UPSC CDS 2025 application form in two parts which include filling in other details, fee payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document and selection of preferred exam centre.
Check all the details furnished in the UPSC CDS application form 2025 thoroughly and edit the details if needed.
Once submitted, Applicants will not be able to make changes to their UPSC CDS application form 2025.
After submission, a registration number will be generated. Candidates have to download it as a pdf file and take a printout for future reference.
CDS Application Fee
| Category | CDS Application Fee |
| General & OBC | Rs.200 |
| SC, ST & Female Candidates | No Fee |
Documents Required at Exam CDS 2025
Combined Defence Services Examination 2025
- Admit card
- Aadhar card
- Voter card
- PAN card
- Passport
- Driving license
- Any other photo ID card issued by the state/central government
CDS 2025 Exam Centers
| State | City |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Uttar Pradesh | Allahabad Bareilly Lucknow |
| Karnataka | Bangalore Dharwad |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| Punjab | Chandigarh |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai Madurai |
| Odisha | Cuttack Sambalpur |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| Delhi | Delhi |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur Udaipur |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu Srinagar |
| Assam | Jorhat |
| Kerala | Kochi Thiruvananthapuram |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai Nagpur |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Andhra Pradesh | Tirupati Visakhapatnam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
UPSC prescribes the CDS exam pattern in the official notification. There are two stages in the CDS exam 2025- written and SSB interviews. The written CDS exam 2025 is conducted in pen and paper mode. As per the CDS exam pattern, candidates who apply for Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Indian Military Academy courses have to appear for three subjects - English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics while candidates who have opted for Officers' Training Academy have to appear for two subjects – English and General Knowledge.
CDS Exam Pattern – Written Exam
Structure of CDS exam pattern for admission to Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Indian Military Academy.
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
Structure of exam pattern for admission to Officers’ Training Academy
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
CDS Exam Pattern – SSB Interview
Stages | Tests | |
Stage-I | Screening Test | Verbal and non-verbal tests. PPDT |
Stage-II | Psychological Test | Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test (SD) |
Group Testing Officers Test | GD GPE PGT HGT IOT Command Task Snake race/ Group Obstacle Race Individual lecture FGT | |
Personal Interview | ||
Conference | ||
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CDS 2025 Syllabus
CDS Combined Defence Services Examination Syllabus
Arithmetic
Algebra
Trigonometry
Geometry
Mensuration
Statistics
Elementary mathematics: Unit 01
Arithmetic
- Number system-natural numbers, integers, rational, and real numbers
- Fundamental operations, addition, substraction, multiplication, division, square roots, 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, use of logarithmic tables
Elementary mathematics: Unit 02
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 inequations 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 and their solutions
- Set language and set notation, rational expressions and conditional identities, laws of indices
Elementary mathematics: Unit 03
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
Elementary mathematics: Unit 04
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
- Theorems on (vii) properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle, and square, (viii) circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) loci
Elementary mathematics: Unit 05
Mensuration
- Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangle, and circle
- 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
Elementary mathematics: Unit 06
Statistics
- Collection and tabulation of statistical data, graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc.
- Measures of central tendency
To score well in the written exam of CDS, candidates must know the preparation tips and strategies. Candidates must know the importance of solving the previous years’ question papers, timely revision, time management, etc. which are the key elements of preparation.
Union Public Service Commission will issue the UPSC CDS 2 2025 admit card in online mode. The CDS 2 admit card 2025 will be available for download at upsc.gov.in. Candidates can download the CDS exam admit card until the examination date. In order to download the CDS admit card 2025, candidates can either log in using their roll number or registration number. The CDS 2 2025 admit card will be available for candidates who have successfully filled and submitted the application form.
Details on the CDS Admit Card 2025
- Candidate’s name
- Scanned signature and colour photograph
- Registration number
- Candidate’s category
- Examination date
- Reporting time
- Address of examination centre
- Examination timing
UPSC releases the official answer key of CDS 2 exam on the official website. The CDS 2 answer key will be available subject wise for all test booklets. Candidates can check the number of correct and incorrect answers marked by them with the help of answer key. There are some coaching institutes who release the unofficial answer key after the completion of the CDS exam 2025 on the same day.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the cut off of CDS exam 2025 after the selection process is over. Candidates who score equal or more than cut off released by UPSC are eligible SSB Interview. The CDS cut off marks of written test for is calculated out of the total score of 300 for INA, IFA and IMA, and 200 for OTA (Men & Women). The final cut off will be released in by UPSC later.
Documents Required at CDS 2025 counselling
Combined Defence Services Examination 2025
- Call letter
- Matriculation/secondary school examination certificate or equivalent
- Degree/provisional degree certificate/marks sheet
The CDS2 selection process 2025 is of two stages - written exam and SSB interview. In the first stage - CDS written exam, candidates are required to appear in three papers for admission in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force and two papers for admission in Officers’ Training Academy. The next stage is the SSB interview.
General Information
Contacts
011-23385271 + 2 more
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many CDS vacacnies have been announced?
The number of CDS 2 vacancies are not known yet.
2. What are passing marks for CDS exam?
The written exam of CDS is conducted for 300 marks and candidates must score a minimum of 20% of the total marks i.e. 60. Candidates need to qualify in all three papers of the CDS exam.
3. What is the salary offered to candidates selected through CDS exam?
The cadets are paid Rs. 56,100 per month. During training, they get a stipend of Rs. 6000 OTA while Rs 12,000 per month in IMA, INA and Air Force academy.
4. Can girls apply for CDS exam?
Yes, girls too can apply for CDS exam. Girls are considered for OTA and allotted Short Service Commission in non-Technical cadre.
5. What is the educational qulification required for the CDS exam?
Bachelors degree is must to apply for the CDS examination.
6. What is the age limit to apply for the CDS exam?
Candidates between the age group of 20 years to 24 years can apply for the CDS exam.
7. When will the CDS 2 application be released?
UPSC will release the CDS 2025 application form on May 28, 2025.
8. What is the CDS 2 exam date?
The CDS 2 exam 2025 is going to be conducted on September 14, 2025.
Upcoming Exams
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination
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28 May, 2025 - 28 May, 2025
Questions related to CDS
Have a question related to CDS ?
Hello Aditya,
As a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) student after your 12th board exam, you cannot directly appear for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam because it requires a bachelor’s degree. However, here’s a clear and concise guide on how you can prepare for and give the CDS exam after completing further studies, tailored to your background:
-
Understand CDS Eligibility
: The CDS exam, conducted by UPSC twice a year, recruits for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
-
Educational Requirement
:
- IMA and OTA: Any bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- INA: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
-
AFA: Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at 12th level or Bachelor of Engineering.
-
For PCB Students
: Since you don’t have Mathematics in 12th, you’re eligible for
IMA and OTA
after completing a bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.Sc., B.A.). INA and AFA are not an option unless you pursue an engineering degree or have Mathematics at the graduation level.
-
Age Limit
: 19–25 years (varies by academy; check upsc.gov.in for 2025 details).
-
Educational Requirement
:
-
Steps to Prepare After 12th
:
-
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree
: Enroll in a degree program (e.g., B.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry, or related fields, or even B.A.) to meet CDS eligibility. This takes 3–4 years.
-
Apply for CDS During Final Year
: You can apply for CDS in the final year of your degree, provided you complete graduation before the training starts.
-
Application Process
:
-
Visit upsconline.nic.in when notifications are released (typically
December 2024
for CDS I 2025 and
May 2025
for CDS II 2025).
-
Fill out the form, pay the fee (Rs. 200; exemptions for SC/ST/females), and select IMA/OTA as your preference.
-
Visit upsconline.nic.in when notifications are released (typically
December 2024
for CDS I 2025 and
May 2025
for CDS II 2025).
-
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree
: Enroll in a degree program (e.g., B.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry, or related fields, or even B.A.) to meet CDS eligibility. This takes 3–4 years.
-
CDS Exam Structure
:
-
For IMA/OTA
: Written exam includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Maths is optional for OTA).
-
PCB Advantage
: Your Biology and Chemistry background helps with General Knowledge (science sections). English preparation is manageable with practice.
-
Challenge
: If you’re weak in Mathematics, focus on OTA, where Maths is not required, or practice basic 10th-level Maths for IMA.
- Next Steps : Clear the written exam, then pass the SSB interview and medical test.
-
For IMA/OTA
: Written exam includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Maths is optional for OTA).
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
kumardurgesh1802 20 May 2025
To prepare for CDS, CGL, and CAT during graduation, create a clear study schedule focusing on basics, reasoning, and aptitude. Practice daily mocks, improve time management, and stay consistent. Balance college and preparation with discipline and regular revision.
Sujal Singh 20 May 2025
Your date of birth is 24th February 2006, and you will complete graduation in July 2028. For the CDS exam, the maximum number of attempts depends on your age limit and category, but generally, candidates have around 4 to 6 attempts before reaching the age limit.
Sujal Singh 20 May 2025
For CDS 2 2025, with a date of birth of 6th October 2001, you are eligible for both IMA and OTA. The age limits for IMA are 19-24 years and for OTA are 19-25 years as of 1st January 2025, making you eligible for both academies.
Sujal Singh 25 April 2025
Hello Gunal,
As a student born on 05-11-2001 you will have many opportunities to take the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam conducted by UPSC. Age Limits will vary depending on the courses:
- Indian Military Academy - 19-24 years
- Indian Naval Academy - 19-24 years
- Air Force Academy - 20-24 years
- Officers' Training Academy - 19-25 years
You are eligible, based on your DOB for:
- IMA/INA/AFA until 2025 (final attempts depending on month of notification and course start) and OTA until 2026.
Best Books for CDS Preparation:
- English: Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi (Arihant) and Previous year question papers (UPSC website)
- General Knowledge: Lucent's General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook and follow the daily The Hindu or Indian Express regularly
- Mathematics: Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant, NCERT Maths (Class 6-10) and Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
Required Documents for CDS SSB/Verification:
- CDS Admit Card
- 10th & 12th mark sheets and certificates (original & photocopy)
- Graduation mark sheets and degree certificate (or provisional degree if final year)
- Proof of identity (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, etc. )
- Passport size photos
- NCC 'C' Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile/Category Certificate (if applicable)
-
Declaration/affidavit for final year candidates( if results are awaited)
gopi 30 April 2025
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