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 announcedExam date

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CDS/CAPF Polity Sprint Workbook

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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

CDS current affairs

EXERCISE KONKAN-26 CONCLUDES OFF PLYMOUTH, UK

KONKAN-26, the India-UK bilateral maritime exercise, concluded off Plymouth, UK, on 15 Oct 2026. Conducted from 08-15 Oct 2026, the exercise enabled the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy to engage across a wide range of pr…

Yemen accuses Houthis of targeting Aden International Airport with two missiles

Yemen’s government has accused the Houthis of targeting Aden International Airport with two missiles, which reportedly landed near a Yemenia Airlines aircraft preparing for takeoff to Cairo.

Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan Commissions Indian Navy’s First Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel INS Samarthak at Karwar

The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today commissioned INS Samarthak, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel, at Karwar, Karnataka. The commissioning marks a significant milestone in…

Vice President commissions indigenously built INS Samarthak into Indian Navy in Karnataka

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan today commissioned the indigenously built multi-purpose vessel INS Samarthak into the Indian Navy at INS Kadamba Naval Base in Karwar, Karnataka. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krish…

India, Mongolia review ongoing bilateral defence cooperation and progress of existing initiatives

The 14th meeting of the Joint Working Group between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia was held in Ulaanbaatar today.

14th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group meeting reaffirms commitment to strengthening bilateral defence partnership

The 14th Joint Working Group meeting between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia took place in Ulaanbaatar on October 16, 2026.

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).