UPSC's Combined Defence Services Examination is the officer-entry route for graduates — leading to permanent commissions via IMA, INA and AFA, or short-service commissions via OTA.
8 subjects · 166 topics · Twice a year · UPSC conducted · 2 entry pathways
CDS candidates for IMA, INA and AFA write three papers (English + General Knowledge + Elementary Maths). OTA candidates write only the first two — no maths paper.
The written exam is the gate. The destination is one of the country's officer-training academies, each with its own commissioning parade.
Photos: PIB India / Government of India · Used under Government Open Data Licence (GODL-India).
8 subjects across English, General Knowledge and Maths. Click any subject for chapter-wise notes, PYQs and practice.
Arithmetic · Algebra · Trigonometry
Reading Comprehension · Grammar · Vocabulary
Physics · Chemistry · Biology
Physical · Indian · World Geography
Constitution · Parliament · Rights
Modern India · Freedom Struggle · World
Indian Economy · Budget · Banking
National · International
Out of 300 written (60%). Clears the academy cut-off in most cycles.
Out of 300 written (67%). Comfortable margin for IMA / INA preference.
Out of 300 written (75%). AFA flying branch · top of merit list.
OTA scale (out of 200 written): Safe ~130 · Competitive ~145 · Top-ranker ~165. Confirm against latest official cut-off.
19–24 years · Any graduate degree · Unmarried male.
19–24 years · Engineering degree (B.E./B.Tech) · Unmarried male.
20–24 years · Graduate with Maths & Physics in 10+2, OR engineering degree · Unmarried.
19–25 years · Graduate · Unmarried male.
19–25 years · Graduate · Unmarried, divorced or widowed without dependent children.
Indian citizen, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or eligible migrant per UPSC notification.
Decade-long PYQ archive across English, GK and Maths — tagged by topic so you drill the patterns that actually recur.
Browse CDS/OTA PYQs →Vision, dental, height/weight and general fitness standards published by SSB for CDS/OTA candidates across services.
View medical standards →Full-length CDS and OTA mocks under exam timing and 1/3 negative marking. Diagnostic surfaces your weak topics.
Start Free DiagnosticFree diagnostic surfaces your weakest topics across English, GK and Maths.
Subject-wise notes and PYQ-tagged practice. Maths is the highest-yield section for CDS candidates.
Weekly full-length mocks under exam timing (2 hours per paper) and 1/3 negative marking.
Daily current affairs + start SSB prep early + maintain English reading fluency.
| Cycle | IMA | INA | AFA | OTA Men | OTA Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDS II 2024 | 165 / 300 | 162 / 300 | 175 / 300 | 120 / 200 | 128 / 200 |
| CDS I 2024 | 158 / 300 | 152 / 300 | 170 / 300 | 115 / 200 | 122 / 200 |
| CDS II 2023 | 152 / 300 | 148 / 300 | 162 / 300 | 108 / 200 | 115 / 200 |
| CDS I 2023 | 145 / 300 | 142 / 300 | 155 / 300 | 105 / 200 | 112 / 200 |
Indicative — see official UPSC notification and final result PDF for confirmed cut-offs.
The SSB Interview is conducted at Services Selection Boards over five days — Stage I screening, Stage II psychology + GTO + interview + conference. The framework is identical to NDA: officer-like qualities are the evaluation rubric. The interview carries 300 marks for CDS academies (IMA/INA/AFA) and 200 marks for OTA. A typical SSB call letter goes out 6–8 weeks after the written result.
Both are part of the same UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination. CDS leads to permanent commissions via IMA (Army), INA (Navy) or AFA (Air Force) — candidates write three papers including Mathematics. OTA leads to a short-service commission via the Officers Training Academy and requires only two papers (English and General Knowledge), with no Mathematics.
CDS is for graduates. IMA requires any graduate degree (unmarried male, 19–24). INA requires an engineering degree (unmarried male, 19–24). AFA requires a graduate with Maths and Physics at 10+2 level, or an engineering degree (20–24). OTA accepts any graduate, with separate slots for men (19–25, unmarried) and women (19–25, unmarried/divorced/widowed without children).
CDS (IMA/INA/AFA) has three papers — English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100 marks) and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks). OTA has only two papers — English (100 marks) and General Knowledge (100 marks). Each paper is two hours long. Negative marking is one-third of the marks per wrong answer.
Yes. UPSC deducts one-third of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Be selective when guessing without elimination.
There is no cap on the number of attempts. As long as a candidate satisfies the age limit (19–25 depending on academy), they can appear in every CDS cycle held during their eligible window.
Yes — through the OTA route as Short Service Commission officers. Women candidates must be 19–25 years old, graduate, and unmarried (or divorced/widowed without dependent children). IMA, INA and AFA entries via CDS remain male-only for now.
UPSC conducts the CDS exam twice a year — typically CDS I in February and CDS II in September. The exact dates and notification timeline are published on the UPSC calendar each November.
Candidates who clear the academy-specific written cut-off are called for the SSB interview — five days covering screening, psychology, GTO tasks, personal interview and conference. Recommended candidates then undergo medical examination before final merit listing per service.