CDS Exam

The Combined Defense Services Exam, commonly known as CDS Exam, is an exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to recruit officers in the Indian Armed Forces – the Army, Navy and Air Force. It is one of the most competitive exams in India, and aspirants must have a good academic record and physical fitness to be eligible for the exam. The exam consists of three stages – the written exam, the SSB Interview, and the medical examination.

CDS Notification

The notifications for the CDS Exam are released twice a year, usually in the months of February and August. The notification contains all the important details such as the exam date, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, application form and other details.

CDS Exam
Must Read CDS Exam book

CDS Important Dates

The following are the important dates related to the Combined Defense Services (CDS) exam:
1. Apply Online Start Date: Usually the application process starts 1-2 months before the exam date.
2. Apply Online Last Date: The last date to apply for the CDS exam is usually 2 weeks before the exam.
3. Apply Online Link: The link to apply for the CDS exam can be found on the UPSC website.
4. Download Admit Card Date: The admit card for the CDS exam can be downloaded one week before the exam.
5. Written Exam Dates: The CDS exam is usually conducted twice a year, in the months of February and August.
6. Official Website Link: The official website of the UPSC is www.upsc.gov.in.

CDS Exam Pattern

The CDS Exam is conducted in three stages, with the written exam being the first stage. The written exam consists of three papers – English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The duration of the written exam is two hours for each paper, and the total marks are 200 for each paper. The marking scheme for the exam is as follows: +1 mark for every correct answer, and -⅓ marks for every incorrect answer.

SubjectDurationMarks
English2 Hours200
General Knowledge2 Hours200
Elementary Mathematics2 Hours200

CDS Syllabus

The syllabus for the CDS Exam consists of the following topics:
1. English: Grammar, Synonyms, Antonyms, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Fill in the blanks, Jumbled Sentences, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Cloze Test, Para Completion.
2. General Knowledge: History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, General Science, Current Affairs.
3. Elementary Mathematics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Statistics.

CDS What to read for exam

Below are study material like Notes, Books, Guides and papers to prepare for CDS Exam.

CDS Previous Papers

Previous year papers of the CDS Exam can be found on the UPSC website. These papers are important to practice in order to understand the exam pattern and get an idea of the type of questions asked.

CDS Books

The following books are recommended for the CDS Exam:
1. English: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.
2. General Knowledge: Manorama Yearbook 2020.
3. Elementary Mathematics: Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal.

CDS Selection Process

The selection process for the CDS Exam consists of the following stages:
1. Written Exam: The written exam is the first stage of the selection process. Candidates must qualify in all the three papers of the exam in order to be eligible for the SSB Interview.
2. SSB Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the SSB Interview. The SSB Interview is a five-day process and consists of a series of tests such as the Officer Intelligence Rating Test, Picture Perception and Discussion Test, Psychological Tests, Group Tests, and Personal Interview.
3. Medical Examination: Candidates who qualify the SSB Interview are called for the medical examination. The medical examination is conducted to assess the candidate’s medical fitness as per the standards of the Indian Armed Forces.

CDS Exam Preparation Tips

The following tips can be followed for the preparation of the CDS Exam:
1. Read the UPSC syllabus thoroughly and practice as many questions as possible.
2. Stay up to date with current affairs and read books on general knowledge and English.
3. Make sure to practice mock tests and analyze your performance.
4. Time management is an important factor in the CDS exam, so practice time management techniques.
5. Prepare notes for quick revision.
6. Take short breaks between study sessions to keep your mind fresh.
7. Have a positive attitude and stay motivated.

CDS Exam Analysis

The CDS Exam is one of the most competitive exams in India and requires a lot of hard work and dedication to ace it. The exam is divided into three papers – English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics – and the total marks are 600. The question paper is of medium difficulty and the topics covered in the exam are from the UPSC syllabus. The exam has a time limit of two hours for each paper, so time management is an important factor for the exam.

CDS Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the CDS Exam are as follows:
1. Age: The minimum age limit is 19 years and the maximum age limit is 25 years.
2. Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

CDS How to apply Online?

The following steps can be followed to apply online for the CDS Exam:
1. Visit the official website of UPSC.
2. Click on the link “Apply Online”.
3. Fill in all the necessary details such as name, date of birth, educational qualifications, etc.
4. Upload the necessary documents such as photograph and signature.
5. Make the payment for the application fee.
6. Click on “Submit”.

CDS Application Fees

The application fee for the CDS Exam is Rs. 200/- for General/OBC/EWS category candidates and Rs. 0/- for SC/ST/PWD category candidates. The application fee can be paid through online mode using a credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI.

CDS Admit Card

The admit card for the CDS Exam can be downloaded from the UPSC website one week before the exam. The admit card contains details such as the exam date, time and venue.

CDS Answer Key

The answer key for the CDS Exam is released by the UPSC after the exam is conducted. The answer key contains the correct answers to all the questions asked in the exam. Candidates can use the answer key to check their performance in the exam.

CDS Result

The result of the CDS Exam is declared by the UPSC after the exam is conducted. The result can be checked on the UPSC website. Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the SSB Interview and the final selection is based on the performance in the SSB Interview.

CDS Cutoff

The cutoff for the CDS Exam is based on the performance of the candidates in the written exam, SSB Interview, and medical examination. The cutoff marks for the written exam are usually released by the UPSC along with the result.

CDS Salary?

The salary of a CDS officer depends on the rank of the officer. The salary of a Lieutenant in the Indian Armed Forces is approximately Rs. 56,100 per month. The salary increases with the rank of the officer and the highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces is the rank of a General, which has a salary of approximately Rs. 1,44,200 per month.

CDS Exam FAQs

Q1. What is the CDS Exam?
Answer: The Combined Defense Services Exam, commonly known as CDS, is an exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to recruit officers in the Indian Armed Forces – the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Q2. What is the eligibility criteria for the CDS Exam?
Answer: The eligibility criteria for the CDS Exam are as follows: Age: The minimum age limit is 19 years and the maximum age limit is 25 years. Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

Q3. What is the selection process for the CDS Exam?
Answer: The selection process for the CDS Exam consists of the following stages: Written Exam, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination.

Q4. How to apply for the CDS Exam?
Answer: The application for the CDS Exam can be done online through the UPSC website. Candidates must fill in all the necessary details such as name, date of birth, educational qualifications, etc. and upload the necessary documents such as photograph and signature.

Q5. When is the CDS Exam conducted?
Answer: The CDS Exam is usually conducted twice a year, in the months of February and August.

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