What is the official website of UPSC CDS syllabus?

The CDS syllabus is available on Official website of UPSC which is upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in and also available in the above article.

How many papers are there in the UPSC CDS exam?

There are 3 Papers for IMA/INA/AFA i.e. General Knowledge, English and Mathematics. There is no Mathematics paper for OTA category.

In which language UPSC CDS exam will be taken?

UPSC CDS will be taken in both Hindi as well as English. Candidates can choose any of the language for giving CDS exam.

Is there negative marking in the CDS exam?

Yes, there is negative marking in the CDS exam. For each incorrect answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to that question will be deducted.

How can I prepare for the CDS exam?

To prepare for the CDS exam, it is important to understand the exam pattern and syllabus. It is also recommended to practice time management and develop test-taking strategies

What is the CDS Syllabus 2024 for English?

The CDS Syllabus 2024 for english consists of topics like : Comprehension passages, Synonyms and antonyms, Fill in the blanks, Error spotting, Sentence improvement etc. Read the above article for all the topics.

What is the CDS Syllabus 2024 for GA?

The CDS Syllabus 2024 for GA consists of topics like Current Affairs, History, Geography etc.

CDS exam is online or offline?

The CDS exam is held in pen-and-paper (offline) mode. It lasts for 6 hours for those applying to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy. For the Officers Training Academy (OTA), candidates only need to take two papers: English and General Knowledge.

is there time limit for each subject in cds exam?

The UPSC CDS exam pattern for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy consists of three sections: English, General Knowledge (GK), and Elementary Mathematics. Each section is worth 100 marks and has a duration of 2 hours.

Does CDS Syllabus change every year?

The UPSC CDS syllabus and exam questions remain consistent over the years. The CDS syllabus does not usually change annually, but the General Awareness section may vary to test candidates knowledge of current events and affairs. Therefore, questions in this section are adjusted based on current happenings.

CDS Syllabus 2024 and Exam Pattern For OTA, IMA, INA, AFA

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) includes the CDS syllabus in their notification. The CDS syllabus is divided into two parts: one for IMA, INA, and AFA, and another for OTA. IMA, INA, and AFA have three subjects in their syllabus, while OTA has two subjects. The Mathematics syllabus is at the Class 10 level, and other subjects are at the graduation level.

Knowing the CDS syllabus is important for planning your study. Candidates preparing for the CDS 2024 exam can find the detailed syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, preparation tips, and FAQs on this page. Reviewing the syllabus and pattern is essential for effective preparation.

CDS 2 Syllabus 2024: Highlights

The CDS Exam will take place offline, featuring Multiple Choice Questions. Familiarizing yourself with the CDS Syllabus 2024 assists candidates in devising a structured study plan, allocating suitable time to each section based on its importance in the exam. Here’s a quick overview of the CDS Syllabus 2024 and Exam Pattern:

CDS Syllabus 2024
Exam Name	Combined Defence Forces (CDS)
Mode of Examination	Offline
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Medium	Hindi or English
Number of Sections	For Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) – Three For Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Two
Number of Questions	IMA/INA/AFA – 300 OTA – 200
Time Duration	2 hours for each paper
Negative Marking	Yes (1/3rd deducted for every wrong answer)

CDS Exam Pattern 2024

The CDS exam is the entry point for institutions such as the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. The selection process uses a pen-and-paper format.

Candidates are tested in English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics, each for two hours and 100 marks, depending on the academy entry. This pattern evaluates candidates on core subjects and is a key step in becoming officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

The SSB Test/Interview, lasting five days and worth 300 marks, is crucial for all academies. This process assesses candidates’ language skills, general awareness, math skills, overall personality, and suitability for the armed forces, ensuring a thorough evaluation of their potential as future officers.

CDS IMA, INA and AFA Exam Pattern

The CDS Exam pattern for the IMA, INA and AFA consists of three subjects and the duration for each subject is 2 hours and the marks allocated to each section is 100. The detailed exam pattern is given below.

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Mathematics	2 Hours	100
SSB Test/Interview	5 Days	300

CDS Exam Pattern for OTA

The CDS Exam pattern for the OTA consists of the two subjects English and General Knowledge along with the SSB. The duration of the exam is 2 hours each and SSB takes up to 5 days to complete. The complete CDS exam pattern is given below.

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
SSB Test/Interview	5 days	300

Revised CDS Syllabus

Understanding the CDS syllabus for the exam is important for candidates because it helps them plan their exam preparation effectively. Passing the written test is necessary to qualify for the SSB Interview stage.

English Syllabus For CDS Exam 2024

To improve their performance in the English section, candidates should read newspapers daily. They should note difficult words and learn their meanings to enhance their vocabulary and comprehension skills. This section tests candidates proficiency in English and their ability to use the language effectively and professionally.

Section	Topics	Description
Vocabulary	Basic Grammar Idioms & Phrases Synonyms & Antonyms Sentence Completion, etc.	This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English vocabulary.
Reading Passage	Reading Comprehension Solving Para Jumbles Understanding the main idea and supporting details Answering questions based on the passage, etc.	This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written English.
Grammar	Error Spotting Sentence Improvement Cloze test Active and passive voice Direct and indirect speech Transformation of sentences, etc.	This section tests the candidate’s knowledge of English grammar.

To prepare for the English section, we have provided you with the best Test series prepared by professionals. You should solve the practice sets that are available. It will also help you to know where you stand in your preparation.

Maths Syllabus For CDS 2024

The CDS Mathematics Syllabus includes topics like arithmetic, trigonometry, geometry, measurements, and statistics. Consistent practice and dedicated efforts are essential for good performance in this paper. Applicants need to balance accuracy and speed to complete the questions within the given time. For a detailed understanding of the syllabus, refer to the provided table for the CDS 2 2024 exam.

Topic	Description
Number System	Natural numbers Integers Rational and real numbers. Fundamental operations (addition, subtraction, 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 Factorization theorem H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms Use of logarithmic tables
Algebra	Basic operations Simple factors Remainder theorem HCF & LCM Theory of polynomials Solutions of quadratic equations Relations between roots and coefficients Simultaneous linear equations (analytical and graphical solutions) Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions Practical problems involving equations and inequalities inequalities in two variables, or quadratic equations in one variable. Set notation and set language. Rational expressions and conditional identities. Laws of indices.
Trigonometry	Sine x, cosine x, Tan x when 0° < x < 90° , Values of sin x, cos x & tan x, for x = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° & 90°. Simple trigonometric identities. Use of trigonometric tables. Simple cases of heights and distances.
Geometry	Lines and angles Plane and plane figures Theorems on properties of angles at a point Parallel lines Sides and angles of a triangle Congruency of triangles Similar triangles Concurrence of medians and altitudes Properties of angles Sides and diagonals of parallelograms, rectangles, and squares, circles and their properties including tangents, normals, and loci
Mensuration	Areas of parallelograms, squares, rectangles, triangles and circles. Areas of figures can be split up into these figures (Field Book), lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, Surface area and volume of cuboids, and surface area and volume of spheres.
Statistics	Collection and tabulation of statistical data Graphical representation frequency polygons Histograms Bar charts Pie charts etc Measures of central tendency

Maths Question Weightage

This table provides an overview of the topics covered in the CDS syllabus 2024 for Maths and their approximate weightage in terms of the number of questions asked in the exam.

Topic	Weightage in CDS Maths Section (Approximate Number of Questions)
Number System	20-22 questions
Mensuration	14-16 questions
Geometry	10-12 questions
Trigonometry	10-12 questions
Algebra	10-11 questions

CDS General Knowledge Syllabus 2024

General knowledge covers current affairs and a broad understanding of everyday observations and experiences, including basic scientific concepts expected from an educated person without specialized scientific training. Additionally, the exam will include questions on geography and Indian history, which a competent candidate should be able to answer without extra study.

CDS Syllabus for GK
Current Affairs	Events of national and international importance Sports, awards and honours Books and authors Major developments in the fields of politics, economics, and social issues.
History	Ancient Medieval and modern Indian history Indian national movement Growth of nationalism.
Geography	Physical, Social and economic aspects of geography Indian geography and world geography.
Indian Polity and Governance	Constitution of India Political system Panchayati Raj Public Policy Rights Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development	Sustainable Development Poverty Inclusion Demographics Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
Science and Technology	Developments in the field of science and technology Space technology Biotechnology Computer technology.
Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity	Conservation Environmental pollution and degradation Environmental impact assessment Climate change.
Defence and Security Issues	Current events related to national security Internal and external threats Role of Armed Forces.

Apart from self preparation, you can also take online course from Adda247 for the same. This helps in clearing doubts. Professional guidance will boost your Josh for the exam preparation. Be true to yourself and give your best efforts for the exam as the competition is tough.

CDS Syllabus 2024 For OTA

The CDS Syllabus 2024 OTA is the same as the syllabus for the other two academies, namely Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA) except for one Mathematics paper. CDS Official Training Academy(OTA) syllabus has only two papers English and General knowledge. Check CDS OTA Subject-wise Syllabus below.

OTA English Syllabus For CDS Exam

To crack the English section you just need to learn some basic grammar rules and practice as many previous year questions as possible of various types. The topics which includes in the CDS OTA English Syllabus are tabulated below:

OTA English Syllabus For CDS

Sentence arrangement

Spotting Error

Selecting words

Synonyms and Antonyms

Comprehension

Ordering of Sentence

Ordering of words

Idioms and Phrases

Fill in the blanks

CDS Syllabus 2024 OTA General Ability Test

General Awareness consists of a lot more than we can study so the best can we do is to have the right approach. Team of DefenceAdda helps you to target that quality-based content.

CDS Syllabus 2024 OTA General Ability Test

Current Affairs

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Geography

History

Politics

Sociology

Economics

Defence Related Awards

Sports and Culture

Environmental Science

CDS SSB Syllabus 2024

The SSB selection process involves two stages: I and II. Those who clear stage I proceed to stage II. Three assessors – Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist – evaluate candidates’ personalities. There is no individual test weightage; marks depend on overall performance, including the Conference. The IO, GTO, and Psych tests aim to identify Officer Like Qualities and trainability. Recommendations are made based on candidates’ SSB performance.

Stage	Test
Stage 1	Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)
Stage 1	Picture Prescription and Descriptive Test
Stage 2	Interview
	Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
	Psychology Test
	Conference
Stage 3	Group Discussion

CDS Intelligence and Personality Test

The SSB process has two stages: stage I and stage II. Only candidates who clear stage I can move on to stage II. Here are the details:

Stage	Description
Stage I	Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests: Evaluates intelligence through various tests.
	Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT): Assesses candidate’s perception and expression.
	Candidates shortlisted based on combined performance in these tests.
Stage II	Interview: Assesses candidate’s personality and suitability for the role.
	Group Testing Officer Tasks: Involves group activities to evaluate teamwork and leadership skills.
	Psychology Tests: Assesses mental attributes and psychological suitability.
	Conference: Final assessment based on candidate’s performance in all previous tests.

The tests conducted by IO, GTO, and Psych aim to determine if the candidate possesses Officer Like Qualities and if they are trainable. Based on these assessments, candidates are either Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.