The "Combined Defence Services" (CDS) Examination is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy.

The Notification for the examination is usually released in the months of October and June, and the examinations are conducted in February and November respectively. Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

 

Age Limit

Indian Military Academy- 19–24years 

Air Force Academy- 19–24 years 

Naval Academy- 19–24 years 

Officers’ Training Academy-19–25 years 

 

Scheme of Examination

Indian Military Academy / Air Force Academy / Naval Academy
All the papers are of objective type.

SubjectMarks

English-                       100

General Knowledge- 100

Elementary maths-    100

Total=                           300

 

Officers' Training Academy
Each paper contains objective type questions.

SubjectMarks

English-                       100

General Knowledge- 100

Total=                          200

 

Exam Pattern: 

PAPER - I (ENGLISH)   
1. Synonyms    
2. Antonyms    
3. Ordering of Words    
4. Ordering of Sentences    
5. Comprehension    
6. Spotting Errors    
         
PAPER-II (GENERAL KNOWLEDGE)     

1. History    
2. Civics    
3. Geography    
4. Physics    

5. Chemistry    

6. Biology

7. Current Affairs     
8. Economics    

PAPER -III (ELEMENTARY MATHS) 
1. Algebra
2. Trigonometry
3. Statistics
4. Arithmetic
5. Mensuration
6. Geometry