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CDS (I) and (II) Exam
Combined Defence Services (I) and (II) Exam
Combined Defence Services Examination (I) and (II) Syllabus 2025 Main Syllabus
UPSC Combined Defence Service Examination (I) and (II) Syllabus 2025.
The Union Public Service Commission has released the Combined Defence Services (CDS) (I) & (II) 2025 Syllabus on the official notification on 11 December, 2024. Candidates can download the CDS Syllabus 2025 PDF for exam preparation. The UPCS CDS (I) Exam 2025 will take place on 13 April, 2025.
Aspirants may also download the CDS OTA Syllabus PDF as a PDF File. Candidates should review the UPSC CDS 2025 Syllabus to determine which chapters and topics will be included in the exam. Following the publication of the official notification, the exact link to download the UPSC CDS Syllabus and exam pattern was added on this page.
CDS (I) & (II) Syllabus 2025
The UPSC CDS (I) & (II) 2025 syllabus is structured to evaluate candidates' aptitude for the Indian Military Academcy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA). The syllabus includes English General Knowledge, and Mathematics for IMA, INA, and AFA, while OTA candidates are tested only on English and General Knowledge. The OTA course has two written examinations and the other courses have three written papers in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam. The syllabus includes English, General Knowledge.
The English section focuses on grammar, vocabulary, sentence management, error spotting and comprehension to assess candidates' understanding and usage of the language. The General Knowledge section includes topics from current affairs, history, geography, economy, science and defence-related issues, emphasizing awareness of national and international events.
Both the CDS OTA and CDS IMA / NA / AFA courses include English and General Knowledge Questions. The CDS IMA / INA / AFA Course includes one additional topic, Mathematics. The CDS Exam includes questions from the 10th & 12th Grades.
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 & workman like use of words |
| CDS General Knowledge Syllabus | General Knowledge Including knowledge of current events and such matters of everyday observation & experience in their Scientific aspects as may be expected of a educated person who has not made a special study of any specific 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 UPCS CDS 2025 Exam pattern was specified in the official notification by the Union Public Service Commission. The written test will be objective in nature, in the form of MCQs, according to the CDS exam format. According to the CDS OTA Syllabus, the OTA test will consist of two papers, whereas the CDS IMA / INA / AFA Exam would consist of three papers. In addition to the exam format, students should review the CDS Exam syllabus for better preparation. Every incorrect response is marked negatively.
CDS OTA Exam Pattern 2025
| Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General knowledge | 100 | 2 Hrs |
| Paper 2 | English | 100 | 2 Hrs |
CDS IMA / INA / AFA Exam Pattern 2025
| 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 method is divided into two stages: Stage 1 & Stage 3. Candidates who pass Stage 1 are eligible to take Stage 2. Three different assessors evaluate a candidate's personality: The Interviewing Officer (IO), the Group Testing Officer (GTO), and the Psychologist. There is no individual weightage for each test. Assessors only award marks after carefull considering the candidate's performance.
SSB Interview: Stage I consists of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) examinations such as Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT). Candidates will be shortlisted based on their performance in the OIR Test and the PP & DT.
SSB Interview: Stage II Consists of interviews, group testing officer tasks, psychology tests, and the conference. All of these tests are carried out over the course of four days.
The syllabus emphasizes problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, and quick calcuations. Candidates should practice past papers, focus on time management and maintain clarity in fundamental concepts to succeed in UPSC CDS (I) & (II) 2025 exams.
Click on the attached file to download the CDS (I) & (II) Syllabus 2025 in PDF Form.