CDS Exam 2026: Dates, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation Guide

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is the gateway to an officer's commission in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Conducted twice every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), it selects candidates for the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Officers' Training Academy.

This guide covers everything you need before you fill the form — dates, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, selection stages and a preparation strategy that actually works.

CDS 2026: Key Highlights

Upcoming Exam: CDS II 2026

As per the UPSC annual calendar, CDS II 2026 is scheduled for September 2026. The notification is released about three months before the exam, and the application window stays open for roughly three weeks.

Always confirm the exact dates from the official UPSC calendar at upsc.gov.in before applying. Candidates preparing for the next cycle (CDS I 2027) can expect the notification in December 2026 and the written exam in April 2027.

Who Can Apply: CDS Eligibility

Nationality

You must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Age Limits and Marital Status

Age is calculated academy-wise, so check which academies your date of birth allows.

OTA is the only entry through CDS that is open to women candidates.

Educational Qualification

Final-year students can also apply, provided they submit proof of graduation before the deadline mentioned in the notification.

CDS Exam Pattern

The written exam differs slightly depending on the academy you are targeting.

For IMA, INA and AFA

For OTA

Every wrong answer costs one-third of the marks assigned to that question, so accuracy matters as much as attempts.

Syllabus at a Glance

English

Reading comprehension, spotting errors, sentence arrangement and improvement, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, fill in the blanks and ordering of words in a sentence.

General Knowledge

Current affairs, Indian history, geography, Indian polity, economics, physics, chemistry and biology. Questions test everyday observation and awareness rather than specialised study.

Elementary Mathematics

Arithmetic (number system, percentages, profit and loss, time and work, time and distance), algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration and statistics — set at the Class 10 level.

Selection Process: Three Stages

1. Written Examination — qualifying the UPSC cut-off in each paper and overall.
2. SSB Interview — a five-day assessment at a Services Selection Board covering psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview, worth 300 marks (200 for OTA).
3. Medical Examination and Merit List — recommended candidates undergo a detailed medical, and the final merit list combines written and SSB marks.

Training and Salary

Selected candidates train at their respective academies — 18 months at IMA, roughly 4 years at INA (including engineering), 74 weeks at AFA and 49 weeks at OTA. Cadets receive a stipend of ₹56,100 per month during training.

On commissioning as Lieutenant (or equivalent), officers draw pay at Level 10 — ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 — plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month and allowances.

How to Apply

1. Visit upsconline.gov.in during the application window.
2. Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) if you have not already.
3. Fill the CDS application, choose your academy preferences carefully — this order matters at the merit-list stage.
4. Upload documents, pay the fee (₹200; exempted for women and SC/ST candidates) and submit.

How to Prepare: Make PYQs Your Foundation

The most reliable pattern in CDS preparation is this: previous year questions repeat their concepts relentlessly. The maths paper recycles the same fifteen-odd topics, English tests the same grammar rules and GK rewards those who studied the static portions through past papers.

A preparation plan that works:

• Start with PYQs, not textbooks. Solve one full past paper to know where you stand, then rebuild topic by topic.
• Practice chapter-wise. Attacking one topic at a time — percentages today, trigonometry tomorrow — builds mastery faster than random full papers.
• Respect negative marking. Skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two options. A disciplined 85 attempts beat a reckless 110.
• Revise current affairs monthly, not the night before.
• In the last month, simulate the real exam — three papers, timed, no breaks.

You can practice CDS previous year questions chapter-wise on Padhify — every paper from recent years, organised by topic, with explanations for every answer.

Frequently Asked Questions