CDS Syllabus 2026

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