WHAT IS COMBINED DEFENSE SERVICES (CDS)

The Combined Defence Services Examination (abbreviated as CDS Exam) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. 

NOTIFICATION

The Notification for the examination is usually released in the months of December and May, and the examinations are conducted in April and September respectively.

Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam.

Examination is conducted twice a year.

Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

ELIGIBILITY

He/she should be citizen of India

AGE:

Indian Military Academy	19–24 years
Air Force Academy	19–24 years
Naval Academy	19–24 years
Officers Training Academy	19–25 years

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy	Degree from a recognized University or equivalent
For Indian Naval Academy	Degree in Engineering from a recognized University or equivalent
For Indian Naval Academy	Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering

 

CDS Exam Pattern

 

 

Stages of exam	Written exam and SSB Interview
Mode of exam	Offline / Pen and paper based
Subjects	1- English 120 questions 2- General Knowledge 120 questions 3- Elementary Mathematics 100 questions
Exam duration	2 hours for each paper
Number of questions	340 MCQs for – IMA, INA and AFA 240 MCQs for – OTA
Language of paper	English & Hindi

 

 

Subject	Marks
English	100
General Knowledge	100
Elementary maths	100
Total	300

 

WHAT IS OFICERS TRANING ACADEMY

OTA stands for Officers’ Training Academy. It is a training establishment of the Indian Army that provides training to candidates who want to become officers in the Army but do not have an engineering or technical background.

OTA in CDS is applicable for both men and women.

The service through OTA is called a short service commission since the candidates are allowed to stay in service for only up to 10-14 years

 If the candidate wishes to have more than 14 years of commission they will have to apply for a permanent commission. The request for the permanent commission will be granted if the candidate is worthy of a longer period of service.

Why Should You Join OTA?

Candidates can develop multiple skills during their CDS OTA training such as analytical thinking, organization and administrative skills, and planning skills, which are essential life skills a person must be aware of.

Besides CDS OTA offers promotion at various stages of the service, as discussed below:

1. The rank of Captain after two years of service.
2. The rank of Major after six years of service.
3. The rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 13 years of service.

EXAM PATTERN OTA

Subject	Marks
English	100
General Knowledge	100
Total	200

 

 

 

STANDARD AND SYLLABUS OF THE EXAMINATION

STANDARD

The standard of the papers in Elementary Mathematics will be of Matriculation level. The standard of papers in other subjects will approximately be such as may be expected of a graduate of an Indian University.

SYLLABUS

ENGLISH

 The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

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 the candidate should be able to answer without special study.

ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS

ARITHMETIC

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. Factorisation 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, 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 & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions and conditional identities, Laws of indices

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

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, (vii)  Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normal, (ix) Loci

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.

STATISTICS

Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc. Measures of central tendency

FAQS

Q1. Who conducts CDS exam and what is its purpose?

Ans. CDS exam is conducted by UPSC to recruit candidates in Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Officer’s Training Academy

Q2. Can A final year student apply for CDS?

Ans.Yes, final year candidates can apply for CDS, but you should complete your degree before the date of joining

Q3. what is the fees of CDS application form?

Ans.Fee for CDS exam is 200/-, SC/ST/ females are exempted from fee

Q.4 Can female/girl candidates apply for CDS exam?
Ans:  Yes, Female (unmarried) candidates can apply for CDS only for the post of Officers Training Academy (OTA)

Q.5 What is CDS SSB Interview Process?
Ans: After clearing the written test in CDSE, the candidates have to go through a series of personality tests, which is called the Service Selection Board. This interview commonly known as SSB has different types of tests to judge a person's personality. SSB consists of three types of tests.

·         The Screening Test

·         The Psychological Tests

·         The Interviews