defenceTwice a year (CDS I in February, CDS II in September)
CDS
Combined Defence Services Examination
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
The CDS examination is conducted by UPSC to recruit officers into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). It is the gateway to a commissioned officer career in the Indian Armed Forces for graduate candidates.
2
Stages
600
Total Marks
19–25
Age Range
Exam Pattern
1Written Examination
2SSB Interview (Service Selection Board)
1
Written Examination
2 hours per paperOMR-based objective test
Total: 300 marks1/3rd mark per wrong answer
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 120 | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics (not for OTA) | 100 | 100 |
2
SSB Interview (Service Selection Board)
5 days5-day in-person assessment at SSB Centre
Total: 300 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Tests (Day 1–2: OIR, PP&DT, TAT, WAT, SRT, SD) | — | 150 |
| Group Tasks (GTO) + Interview + Conference | — | 150 |
Syllabus
English: Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Ordering Sentences, VocabularyGeneral Knowledge: History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science & Technology, Current AffairsElementary Mathematics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics (not for OTA)
Eligibility
Education
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university (IMA/INA/AFA); 12th pass for OTA (women entry)
Age Limit
19–25 years
No age relaxation for any category
Attempts
No official restriction (within age limit)
Nationality
Indian
Cutoff Trends
2024
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written (IMA) | 108 |
| General | Written (OTA) | 94 |
2023
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written (IMA) | 112 |
| General | Written (OTA) | 97 |
2022
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Written (IMA) | 105 |
| General | Written (OTA) | 91 |
Important Notes
- ●OTA (Officers Training Academy) does NOT have a Mathematics paper — only English + GK (200 marks total); OTA is for Short Service Commission.
- ●SSB Interview has an extremely high filter rate — only about 1 in 30 candidates recommended; mental robustness and leadership qualities are key.
- ●Women candidates can apply only for OTA (SSC) entry; IMA, INA, and AFA are currently open to male candidates only.