CDS exam date and pattern in 2024
CDS Stands for combined defense services examination.
The Combined Defense Services Examination is released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The official website is = upsc.gov.in. The Union Public Service Commission offers various courses on the Indian Military Forces through the examination. All the male and female candidates are eligible to take this exam.
CDS full form is the name of an examination which is called the Combined Defense Services Examination. This examination encourages individuals to be admitted to various national training academies like the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Officer Training Academy, and Air Force Wings Academy. Interested candidates need to fill out the application form which is to be submitted to the UPSC CDS. The UPSC CDS application form dates are from 15 May 2024 to 4 June 2024.
CDS full form details
The table below contains all the major information about the exam:
Particulars | Details |
Examination conducting body | Union Public Service Commission |
Exam Name | Combined Defense Service Examination (II) 2024 |
Total Vacancies | 456 |
Last date to apply | 4 June 2024 |
Application mode | Online |
Location | India |
Official website | upsc.gov.in |
CDS exam pattern 2024
Exam pattern for admission into Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy:
Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
English | 2 hours | 100 |
General knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 |
SSB test/ interview | 5 days | 300 |
CDS exam for OTA
Exam pattern for admission into the Officer’s training academy:
Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
English | 2 hours | 100 |
General knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
SSB test/ interview | 5 days | 300 |
Eligibility for CDS Exam 2024:
To effectively prepare for the CDS exam one must learn the CDS syllabus thoroughly. There are certain requirements for the CDS exam male/ female aspirants should go through the pointers given below:
- Candidates must have completed their studies or be in their final year or semester.
- The minimum age requirement for the CDS Exam is 19 years.
- Women candidates are eligible to apply for OTA only.
- Candidates must have a permanent residence in India.
- Candidates must be in a suitable physical condition.
Age limit for CDS exam :
The following table given below is the age limit criteria for the CDS exam:
Particular | Age limit | Marital status |
Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 18 years to 23 years | Unmarried |
Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 18 years to 23 years | Unmarried |
Air force academy | 20 years to 24 years | Unmarried |
Officer training academy (For SSC women non-technical course) | 19 years to 25 years | Unmarried |
Officer training academy (SSC course for men ) | 19 years to 25 years | Unmarried |
CDS Eligibility 2024 education qualification
The table below talks about the qualifications needed to appear for the CDS examination:
Academy | Qualification |
Indian Military academy (IMA) | Bachelor's degree from a recognized university |
Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Bachelors in engineering from a recognized university |
Air Force Academy | Graduate with physics & mathematics in class 12 or bachelor’s in engineering. |
Officer Training Academy OTA | Bachelor's degree from a recognized university |
CDS eligibility 2024 medical standard
These are the following medical requirements:
- Overweight/ Underweight situation.
- Under-sized chest
- Piles
- Wax accumulation in the ear
- Deviated nasal septum
- Tonsiliths
- hydrocele/phimosis
- Varicocele
- Gynaecomastia.
CDS eligibility 2024 nationality
CDS eligibility for nationality in 2024:
- Any person who was an Indian citizen
- A subject of Nepal
- A subject of Bhutan
- Or a Tibetan refugee who has made a permanent abode in India before 1 January 1962.
CDS full form and syllabus
The CDS syllabus is given below in the table:
Subject | Topic |
English | Antonyms , Sentence introversion, Comprehension, Synonyms , Spotting errors |
General Knowledge | Economics, current affairs, Defence, biology, physics, chemistry, etc. |
Elementary Math | Arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, measurement, and statistics, etc. |
CDS full-form salary
- The table below talks about all the rank-wise CDS salaries:
Rank | Level | Salary |
Lieutenant | Level 10 | INR 56,100 to INR 1,77,500 |
Captain | Level 10 B | INR 61,300- INR 1,93,900 |
Major | Level 11 | INR 69,400- INR 2,07,200 |
Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12 A | INR 1,21,200- INR 2,12,400 |
Colonel | Level 13 | INR 1,30,600- INR 2, 15,900 |
Brigadier | Level 13A | INR 1,39,600- INR 2,17,600 |
Major General | Level 14 | INR 1,44,200- INR 2,18,200 |
Lieutenant General HAG Scale | Level 15 | INR 1, 82, 200- INR 2,24,100 |
HAG Scale | Level 16 | INR 2,05,400 – INR 2,24,400 |
VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General | Level 17 | INR 2,25,000 (fixed) |
COAS | Level 18 | INR 2,25,000 (fixed) |
The average salary of an CDS in India is between INR 56,100 to INR 1,77,500 per month with additional allowance
- like house rent , transportation allowance and medical facilities.