CDS Syllabus 2026
Combined Defence Services Examination
Conducted By
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Eligibility
Graduate (IMA/INA/AFA); 12th Pass PCM (for OTA); Age 19-24 years
Age Limit
19-24 years (IMA/INA/AFA); 19-25 years (OTA Women)
Exam Pattern
Written Exam (English, GK, Elementary Mathematics) + SSB Interview
The Combined Defence Services exam is the gateway to becoming a commissioned officer in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Conducted twice a year by UPSC, it is open to graduates. The selection is based on a written test followed by the SSB interview. For IMA, INA, and AFA, you must clear papers in English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. For OTA, you only need to clear English and General Knowledge. The SSB interview tests your psychology, group skills, and leadership over five days. Preparing for CDS requires good physical health and strong conceptual clarity in GK and Maths. Most serious aspirants spend six to twelve months of regular study to clear the cut-offs. You can use our tracker below to tick off topics as you finish them.
Detailed Topic-wise Syllabus (37 topics)
Written Examination
3 Papers for IMA/INA/AFA | 2 Papers for OTA | Each paper 100 marks | 2 hours each | 0.33 negative marking
Paper I: English 100 Marks
- Spotting Errors in Sentences
- Sentence Arrangement - Ordering Jumbled Sentences
- Synonyms and Vocabulary
- Antonyms
- Selecting the Correct Word - Fill in the Blanks
- Ordering of Words in a Sentence
- Comprehension of Passages
- Idioms and Phrases
- One Word Substitution
Paper II: General Knowledge 100 Marks
- Current Events - National and International
- History of India - Ancient, Medieval, Modern
- Indian National Movement and Freedom Struggle
- Geography - Physical, Economic, Social
- Indian Polity - Constitution, Parliament, Judiciary
- Indian Economy - Budget, Planning, Banking
- Physics - Optics, Sound, Mechanics, Electricity
- Chemistry - Elements, Compounds, Reactions
- Biology - Human Body, Diseases, Ecology
- Defence - Indian Army, Navy, Air Force Structure
- Sports, Awards and Achievements
- World Geography - Continents, Capitals, Borders
Paper III: Elementary Mathematics (IMA/INA/AFA only) 100 Marks
- Number System - Natural Numbers, Integers, Rationals
- Fundamental Operations - Decimals, Fractions, LCM, HCF
- Percentage and Ratio-Proportion
- Square Roots, Cube Roots and Indices
- Algebra - Polynomials, Equations, Set Theory
- Basic Operations on Matrices and Determinants
- Trigonometry - Ratios, Heights and Distances
- Geometry - Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals
- Mensuration - Areas of 2D and Volumes of 3D figures
- Statistics - Frequency Distribution, Graphs, Mean, Median, Mode
SSB Interview
300 marks | 5-day process | Psychological Tests + GTO + Personal Interview
SSB Selection Process
- Stage I Screening - OIR Test and PPDT
- Psychological Tests - TAT, WAT, SRT, SD
- Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks - GD, GPE, PGT, HGT, IO, CT, FGT
- Personal Interview - PIQ, Background, Service Knowledge
- Final Conference
- Medical Examination - After SSB Recommendation
Recommended Reference Books
| Subject | Book Title | Author / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| English | Objective General English | S.P. Bakshi |
| General Knowledge | Lucent's General Knowledge | Lucent |
| Mathematics | Mathematics for CDS Entrance Examination | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Current Affairs | Monthly Current Affairs Magazine | Vision IAS / GKToday |
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