CDS

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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

CDS (Combined Defence Services Examination) is conducted twice a year by UPSC for graduate entry into the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

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GraduationEligibility

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Trusted Information

Facts are checked against linked official sources.

Last verified 2026-07-04

About Exam

CDS (Combined Defence Services Examination) is conducted twice a year by UPSC for graduate entry into the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy.

Conducting body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Eligibility: Graduation
Current cycle: CDS (per UPSC's published annual calendar)
Official source: UPSC official portal

Highlights

Vacancies: Not announced
Application deadline: Not announced
Exam schedule: Not announced
Selection stages: 3 stages in the current guide
Negative marking: Check the current official notification

Important Dates

View full lifecycle

UPSC's Annual Calendar 2027 was uploaded to upsc.gov.in on 20 May 2026 — check it for exact CDS I/II 2027 dates.Notification
Not announcedApplications open
Not announcedLast date to apply
Not announcedTier 1 exam date
Not announcedTier 2 exam date

Prepare for CDS

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CDS (per UPSC's published annual calendar)

Apply onlineNot yet announced

Eligibility summary

Qualification: Bachelor's degree (specific streams required for AFA/technical entries)
Age: Varies by academy — typically 19-24/25 years, check the current notification's academy-wise age chart

Process

Selection process

Written exam — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (IMA/INA/AFA); OTA has no Mathematics paper.
SSB interview for written-qualified candidates.
Medical examination, followed by the final merit list and academy allotment.

Exam pattern

Written exam: Objective, papers vary slightly by academy applied for

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Latest

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Source

Official links

UPSC official portalNotifications, admit card and result links UPSC exam calendarPublished notification/exam dates for the year

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CDS stage guides

CutoffApply onlineAdmit cardResultAnswer keySalaryDefence exam prepCDS preparationCDS previous year papersCDS syllabusDefence: CDS, AFCAT, CAPF & Agniveer

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Common questions

CDS FAQ

Is Mathematics compulsory for CDS?

It's compulsory for IMA, INA and AFA entries but not for OTA (Officers Training Academy, which offers a Short Service Commission).