Latest Updates About CDS Exam: Important Exam Date; Application Form; Eligibility Criteria; Exam Pattern

cds exam

UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) the central agency of India is entrusted with responsibility to conduct various exams on All India level. The CDS (Combined Defense Services) is one such exam which is organized by UPSC to recruit unmarried male candidates for all the three spheres of Indian defense service i.e. Indian Military, Naval and Air Force. The selected candidates are placed to undergo a rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officer’s Training Academy. The CDS Exam is held twice in a year in the months of February and November, for which the official notification is published in the months of October and June. Candidates who qualify the written test are required to face the SSB (Service Selection Board) interview to get selected.

Eligibility for CDS Exam

The applicants must have the following criteria to become eligible for the exam –

Nationality –

The candidate should be a citizen of India.
It should be noted that candidates from other nationality like Nepal; Bhutan; Refugee of Tibet who have migrated to India before 1962; and People of Indian origin who have migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and East African countries are also eligible to apply for the exam if they have been issued certificate from the government of India. This certificate is not required in case of Gorkha subjects.

Educational Qualification

Educational qualifications for different academies of CDS is different.

Educational qualification for Air Force Academy – The candidate should have done the 12th standard in science subject with Physics and Mathematics or should have done Engineering from any recognized University or Institution.
Educational qualification for Naval Academy- The candidate should have done the Engineering from any recognized University or Institution.
Educational qualification for Indian Military Academy – The candidate should have obtained a degree from any recognized University or Institution.

Those candidates who are appearing in the final year of their exam, are also eligible to apply for the exam. However at the time of SSB interview candidate will be asked to submit the proof of passing the 12th standard.

Marital Status, Age Limit and Sex criteria

The candidate should fulfill the following criteria to become eligible for the exam –

Eligibility for Air Force Academy –

The candidate should be between the age of 20-24 years by 1st January 2018. The upper age limit is relaxed for candidates possessing valid and current Commercial Pilot License from DGCA for 2 years. It means they should not be born earlier than 2nd January 1992 and must not be born later than 1st January, 1998.
Married candidates can apply for the exam but those candidates who are below 25 years of age should not be married. Further candidates are not allowed to marry during their training period.

Eligibility for Naval Force Academy-

The candidate should not be born earlier than 2nd January, 1994 and should not be born later than 1st January, 1999.
Only Unmarried male candidates are eligible to apply.

Eligibility for Indian Military Academy –

The candidate should not be born earlier than 2nd January, 1994 and should not be born later than 1st January, 1999.
Only Unmarried male candidates are eligible to apply.

Eligibility for Officers Training Academy (SSC for Men)-

The candidate should not be born earlier than 2nd January, 1993 and should not be born later than 1st January, 1999.
Both Married/ Unmarried male candidates are eligible to apply.

Eligibility for Officers Training Academy (SSC Women, Non-Technical) –

The woman candidate should not be born earlier than 2nd January, 1993 and not later than 1st January, 1999.
Unmarried women, issueless widows, not being remarried and issueless divorcees (with divorce document), not remarried are eligible.

Physical Fitness

The candidate should be physically fit as per the given guidelines of the academy.

CDS Exam Admission Process

Application Form

Candidate can get the application form from the official website of the www.upsconline.nic.in . The application can be sent only through the online mode. There is no any other mode to submit the application form.
By clicking on the above mentioned link candidate will be directed to the application form. Candidate should fill the application form with all their necessary details like name, address, educational qualifications, centre of examination, date of birth etc.
Along with the application form candidates should submit their photograph and signature.
They are not required to upload any supporting document along with the application form like age certificate, reserved category status, educational qualification certificate etc.
Candidate should submit only one application form for the exam. However, if due to any reason a candidate submits another application form, then he must know that the application with higher Registration id will be accepted. The application fee paid for one application form will not be adjusted for another application form. It should be paid additionally by the candidate.
The working candidates in government sector or Public sector enterprise should inform their head of department about the exam. Similarly, if candidate is working in the armed force, then he should inform his commanding officer about the exam and also obtain permission about it in writing. During the SSB interview the candidate will be asked to give the proof.

Application Fee

Category of Candidate	Application fee
General category	Rs. 200/.
SC/ST/ and Female	No application fee.

Mode of Payment

Candidate can pay their application fee both through the online mode as well as through the offline mode.
Candidate can pay online by using Net Banking.
They can also pay offline by depositing the application fee in cash at any SBI bank branch.

Admit Card

Candidate can get admit card or e-admit card online from the official website of www.upsc.gov.in, three weeks before the date of exam. Candidate can download their admit card from the given website. It will not be sent to candidates through post. It is important to carry their admit card at the centre of the examination.

Result Declaration

A final merit list is prepared on the basis of candidate’s score in the two stages of the exam and the medical fitness.

CDS Exam Pattern (Syllabus)

The CDS Exam is taken in three stages. In the first stage written exam is conducted and thereafter Personal Interview and medical test for assessing Physical fitness of candidate is taken. After the written test candidate is required to take the SSB interview. The SSB interview is conducted for 3-4 days. During the test Psychological test, Group Discussion, Intelligence Test and group activities skills are assessed. There is a scheme of negative marking in the exam.

The exam pattern for Officer Training Academy and for Indian Navy, Military and Air Force are different.

CDS 2017 Exam, question pattern for Indian Navy, Military and Air Force –

Subject	Marks	Duration	Nature of question
General Awareness	100.	2 hours.	Objective type questions
English	100.	2 hours.	Objective type questions
Mathematics	100.	2 hours.	Objective type questions
Total	300.

CDS 2017 Exam, question pattern for Officer Training Academy –

Subject	Marks	Duration	Nature of question
General Awareness	100.	2 hours.	Objective type questions
English	100.	2 hours.	Objective type questions
Total	200.

CDS Exam Important Dates

About the Exam	Details
Date of Exam	February 5th, 2017.
Date of Release of CDS Exam Notification	November 9th, 2017.
Avail Application form from	November 9th, 2017.
Closing date of submission of Application form	December 02, 2017 till 6pm.
Admit Card Issuance	3 weeks before the exam.

Vacancy Details across various CDS academies –

Name of Academy	Number of Seats
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, 144th (DE) (19 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Army Wing) holders). Course commencing in January, 2018	150.
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. Executive (General Service); 6 vacancies Reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders (Naval Wing). Course 45 commencing in January, 2018	45.
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. (Pre-Flying) I.e. No. 203 F (P) Course. Training Course commencing in February, 2018.	32.
Officer’s Training Academy (for men), Chennai. 107th SSC (Men) (NT); Course commencing in April, 2018.	225.
Officer’s Training Academy (for women), Chennai. 21st SSC Women (Non-Technical); Course Commencing in April, 2018.	11.

FAQ.

Q. What is the date of CDS 2017 Exam?

The exam will be conducted on Feb.5th, 2017.

Q. What is the criteria of eligibility of for the exam?

The candidate should have done the 12th standard or equivalent or Engineering from any recognized University or Institution.

Q. For how many times in a year the CDS Exam is conducted?

The CDS Exam is conducted twice in a year. It is conducted in the month of November and February.

Q. What is the application fee for the exam?

The application fee for general candidate is Rs. 200 and for reserved category candidate and female candidate no application fee is charged.

Q. How many question papers are there for the CDS Exam?

There are three question papers in the exam of following subjects – General awareness, English and Mathematics.

Q. Is there any scheme of negative marking in the exam?

Yes there is a scheme of negative marking in the exam.

Q. What is the marks for each question paper in the exam?

Each question paper contains 100 marks.