CDS 2020-21 Notification: Union Public service Commission (UPSC) has released the CDS (1) 2021 notification on the official website. All the eligible candidates can apply online from October 28 to November 17. A total of around 345 vacancies are released as per the CDS (1) 2021 notification. Besides that, UPSC has scheduled the CDS (2) 2020 examination on November 08.
The Combined Defence Services exam is conducted twice a year to recruit candidates as commissioned officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Candidates selected through the CDS exam need to undergo the training in Indian Military Academy/Officers Training Academy/Indian Naval Academy/Indian Air Force Academy. In this article, we have provided all the relevant information on CDS 2020-21 recruitment. Check dates, eligibility, how to fill the application form, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, salary, admit card, and more.
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UPSC CDS 2020-21
Before getting into the details of the CDS exam, let’s have an overview of CDS exam:
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam – 1 & 2 |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Frequency of Exam | Twice a year, February and November |
| Total Vacancies | 345 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Qualification | Graduate |
| Selection Process | Written Exam and SSB Interview |
| After Selection | Training at IMA/OTA/INA/AFA |
| Written Exam Duration | One day |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
- – CDS Exam is a national-level entrance exam for aspirants who want to join the defence forces as an officer.
- – After the exam and completion of the SSB Interview, the shortlisted candidates need to undergo training at:
- > Indian Military Academy (IMA),
- > Officers Training Academy (OTA) (male & female),
- > Indian Naval Academy (INA),
- > Air Force Academy (AFA).
- – If you want to become an officer serving under the Indian Army/ Navy/Air Force, then this is one of the exams that will pave the way towards your dream.
- – Female candidates can also apply for the CDS exam to join the Officer Training Academy (OTA).
- – The selection of candidates will be based on the Written Exam and SSB Interview.
- – Throughout the interview, recruiters will shortlist the candidates as per their capability and preference.
- – During the training period, cadets will be paid a stipend of around Rs. 21000/-. After the completion of the training period, candidates can expect a pay of Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500.
CDS 2020 Exam Dates
Check UPSC CDS (1) 2021 and CDS (2) 2020 exam dates from the table below:
UPSC CDS (1) 2021 Exam Dates
| Events | Important Dates |
| Release of CDS (1) 2021 Notification | October 28, 2020 |
| Start of CDS 2021 Online Application | October 28, 2020 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | November 17, 2020 |
| CDS (1) 2021 Admit Card | January 2nd Week, 2021 (Tentative) |
| CDS (1) 2021 Exam Date | February 07, 2021 |
UPSC CDS (1) 2020 Exam Dates
| Events | Important Dates |
| Release of CDS 2 Notification | August 5, 2020 |
| Beginning of Online Application | August 5, 2020 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 25, 2020 |
| Application Withdrawal Dates | September 01 to 07, 2020 |
| Release of CDS Admit Card | October 15, 2020 |
| CDS 2 Written Exam | November 8, 2020 |
| Declaration of CDS 2 Result | Last week of December 2020 (Tentative) |
| Final Result | Expected in August 2021 |
CDS (I) 2021 Vacancy
As per CDS (1) 2021 Notification, a total of 345 vacancies are available. Check vacancies from the table below:
| Academy | Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 26 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai | 170 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (SSC Women) | 17 |
| Total | 345 |
CDS Salary
Here is the salary for different posts after becoming an officer through the CDS exam:
| Post | Salary |
| Lieutenant Level 10 | Rs 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain Level 10 B | Rs 6,13,00 – 1,93,900 |
| Major Level 11 | Rs 6,94,00 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Level 12A | Rs 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Colonel Level 13 | Rs 1,30,600 – 2,15,900 |
| Brigadier Level 13A | Rs 1,39,600 – 2,17,600 |
| Major General Level 14 | Rs 1,44,200 – 2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General HAG Scale Level 15 | Rs 1,82,200 – 2,24,100 |
| HAG + Scale Level 16 | Rs 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/ Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) Level 17 | Rs 2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS Level 18 | Rs 2,50,000 (fixed) |
Note that Miltary Service Pay (MSP) of Rs. 15,500/- is also paid to the officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier.
CDS 2020-21 Eligibility Criteria
Here are the eligibility criteria for Combined Defence Services Examination:
Nationality: A candidate must be an unmarried Indian citizen or one among the following categories
- – a subject of Nepal, or
- – a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
provided the candidates in the above-mentioned categories (except Indians) have a certificate of eligibility which has been issued by the Government of India.
Age Limit:
| Academy | Age Limit |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2002 |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for Men) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1997 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1997 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
Gender and Marital Status Requirements:
| Department | Gender | Status |
| Indian Military Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Indian Naval Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Officer Training Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Officer Training Academy | Female | Unmarried/Issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) |
Educational Qualification:
| Academy | Educational Qualification Required |
| IMA | Graduate Degree from a Recognized University |
| INA | Engineering Degree from a Recognized University |
| AFA | Graduate Degree with Physics & Maths at 10+2 or BE from a Recognized University |
| OTA | Graduate Degree from a Recognized University |
Note: If a candidate is not found to be eligible, he/she can be rejected at any moment irrespective of whether or not he has cleared the CDS examination.
Also, graduates with the first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB.
CDS Application Form 2020-21
CDS 2020-21 Application Form has to be filled online at the official website. All aspirants are required to fill the CDS Application Form before the last date. Candidates can follow the steps as under to successfully register for CDS Exam:
- – 1st Step: Visit the official website of the UPSC – upsconline.nic.in.
- – 2nd Step: Click on the notification “ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF UPSC”.
- – 3rd Sep: Against the CDS exam, click on ‘Part-I Registration‘
- – 4th Step: Fill in the basic details such as the candidate’s name, date of birth, parents’ name, address, category, mobile number, email address, etc.
- – 5th Step: After finishing Part-I, a registration ID will be generated.
- – 6th Step: Now go to Part-II and enter your registration ID to pay the application fee.
- – 7th Step: Once the fee is paid, continue to fill the application form. Enter the personal, educational details, and select the exam center preference,
- – 8th Step: Upload the scanned copy of Photo, Signature, Photo ID, and mark sheet.
- – 9th Step: After finishing Part-II, Click on “I Agree to the Declaration” and submit the application form.
Note: Photo ID Card means Aadhaar Card/Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving Licence/Any other Photo ID Card issued by the State/Central Government.
CDS 2020-21 Application Fee
Candidates, except for Female/SC/ST candidates, are required to pay a fee of Rs 200/-. The CDS Application Fee can be paid through online or offline mode.
| Category | CDS Application Fee |
| Female/ SC/ ST Candidates | Not Required to Pay |
| All Others | Rs 200 |
CDS Exam Centres 2020
Combined Defence Services Exam is conducted in various exam centers across the nation. CDS Exam centers are present in the following cities:
Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Bareilly, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharwad, Dispur, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Port Blair, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, and, Visakhapatnam
Note that the allocation of exam centers is done on the basis of a first come first basis. Change of exam center is not possible once allocated and provided on the admit card.
CDS Selection Process 2020
Here is the selection procedure for CDS Exam 2020:
- – A candidate first needs to appear for the Written Exam i.e. CDS exam.
- – Candidates who pass the CDS Exam will then be called for SSB (Service Selection Board) Interview.
- – The selected candidates’ names will be present in the CDS Merit List.
- – Then they need to report to the venue (reporting date and time will be mentioned in the SSB Call Letter).
- – At the SSB center, the candidates’ Psychological and Intelligence Test will be conducted.
- – Once the candidate has cleared all the tests of the SSB Interview, they will be called for a medical check-up.
- – Selected candidates will then have to undergo various medical tests where they have to meet the physical requirements as set by the board.
- – After the medical test and submission of documents, the selected candidates will be given 18 months of training at the:
- — Indian Military Academy (IMA),
- — Officers Training Academy (OTA),
- — Indian Naval Academy (INA), or
- — Air Force Academy (AFA).
- – The selection of the academy will be done on the basis of the priorities chosen by the candidates in the application form.
CDS Exam Pattern 2020
The exam pattern is different for Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and for Officers Training Academy. The important details of CDS Exam Pattern are as follows:
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Duration of Exam | 6 hours (for IMA, INA & AFA) 4 hours ( for OTA) |
| Type of Questions | MCQs/Objective type |
| Sections | Elementary Math, English Language, and General Knowledge |
CDS Exam Pattern For IMA, INA & AFA
Here is the CDS Exam Pattern for admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy:
| Subjects | Number of Questions/Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| English | 120/100 | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100/100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 120/100 | 2 hours |
| Total | 340/300 | 6 hours |
CDS Exam Pattern For OTA
Here is the CDS Exam Pattern for admission to Officers’ Training Academy:
| Subjects | Number of Questions/Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| English | 120/100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 120/100 | 2 hours |
| Total | 240/200 | 4 hours |
Note that there will be negative marking for every wrong attempt. A total of one-third marks, i.e., 0.33 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
CDS Exam SSB Interview 2020
Candidates who pass the CDS Written Test will be sent for SSB Interview. So, what is SSB Interview? SSB Interview is a psychological and intelligence test conducted by Service Selection Board (SSB) in order to determine whether a candidate is fit for the service or not. It consists of two stages and is usually conducted for 5 days.
SSB is responsible for conducting various tests in order to test the psychology of candidates and find out who the potential candidates fit for becoming an officer are. After clearing the SSB Interview, candidates need to go for a medical check-up and document submission. Then the candidate’s journey of becoming an officer will begin in the academy.
CDS 2020-21 Syllabus
The officials have prescribed the CDS syllabus that every aspirant needs to follow for the exam. The subjects that every candidate has to cover are:
- English,
- General Knowledge,
- Mathematics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics.
Note that only the Class 11 and 12 syllabi are being followed. For subjects other than General Knowledge, candidates need to follow the Class 11 and 12 NCERT Textbooks.
CDS Admit Card 2020
Candidates can download the CDS 2020-21 Admit Card from the official website of UPSC i.e. upsc.gov.in. The CDS Admit Card is usually released 3 weeks before the exam date. Candidates can download it from the official website by logging in with their Registration ID and Date of Birth.
CDS Admit Card will have details like Name, Registration ID, Date of Birth, Exam Venue, etc. Please check the details and take the print out. The allocated CDS exam centers will be mentioned on the CDS Admit card.
CDS 2020-21 Exam Day Guidelines
There are some items that are banned inside the exam premises. Electronic items like Calculator, Mobile phones, Digital Watch, etc. are not allowed. If carried, the candidate must leave them outside the exam hall. Such items have to be kept outside and no one would be responsible for their safety.
Candidates must also bring a photo ID card like Aadhaar Card/Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving Licence. It has to be issued by the State/Central Government.
CDS 2020 Preparation Tips
The CDS preparation plan may vary from one candidate to another. Go through the CDS Preparation Tips which will help you build the CDS exam preparation strategy:
- Start your CDS preparation early and make sure that you are well aware of the CDS Syllabus and CDS Exam Pattern.
- Prepare a time table for your preparation. Distribute and prioritize the topics which are to be covered as per the syllabus.
- Follow standard books to learn the concepts and practice well to increase your accuracy.
- Go through the daily current affairs and newspapers. You have to be very consistent as memorizing the current affairs before the day of the exam will not be very effective.
- Practice and apply the concepts which you have learned. Solve the previous papers and sample papers without fail.
- Take mock tests and learn from your mistakes. Improve your speed and accuracy by analyzing your mistakes.
Best Books For CDS Preparation
It is extremely important to refer to the right books that can save you time and help you prepare well. Here are some recommended CDS Books that candidates need to follow for CDS exam preparation:
CDS Books – English Language
- – Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition (S. Chand)
- – Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis(goyal Publishers)
- – Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi(Arihant Publishers
CDS Books – General Language
- – General Knowledge (Latest Edition) by Manohar Pandey( Arihant Publication)
- – Manorama Yearbook (Malayala Manorama Publishers)
CDS Books – Mathematics
- – Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination by Dr R. S. Aggarwal
- – Mathematics for CDS Examination by Dr R. S. Aggarwal
CDS 2020-21 Cutoff Marks
The CDS cutoff is the minimum marks required to clear the CDS Written Exam. UPSC is responsible for releasing the CDS cutoff 2020. Aspirants can also refer to the previous year cutoff of the CDS exam:
CDS Cutoff I 2019
| Academy | Written | Final |
| IMA | 116 | 242 |
| INA | 105 | 233 |
| AFA | 129 | 264 |
| OTA (Men) | 78 | 160 |
| OTA (Women) | 78 | 162 |
CDS Cutoff II 2018
| Academy | Written | Final |
| IMA | 116 | 242 |
| INA | 102 | 228 |
| AFA | 131 | 253 |
| OTA (Men) | 80 | 162 |
| OTA(Women) | 80 | 163 |
CDS Previous Year Question Papers
Here are the previous year question papers for CDS Exam for different subjects:
| CDS Exam I 2020 | Question Papers |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download PDF |
| English | Download PDF |
| CDS Exam II 2019 | Question Papers |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download PDF |
| English | Download PDF |
| CDS Exam I 2019 | Question Papers |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download PDF |
| English | Download PDF |
CDS Exam Sample Papers
CDS sample papers and previous year papers are made available by the official authorities (UPSC). Those who are preparing for the CDS exam must also practice these CDS question papers. Referring to CDS question papers and practicing regularly will help a lot in the CDS exam preparation. Besides solving the sample papers and previous year papers also improve your General Awareness (Current Affairs).
CDS 2020-21 Answer Keys
UPSC releases the CDS answer key for CDS 1 and 2 exams on the official website. The CDS answer key is released after the successful conduction of the exam. The answer key will be released for all four sets of question papers. Candidates will have to check the respective answer key from Series A, B, C, and D. Using the answer key, candidates can find their correct and wrong attempts and calculate the score.
CDS Exam Result 2020-21
CDS Answer Key 2020-21 will be released before the results. It will be made available as PDF on the official website of UPSC i.e. upsc.gov.in. The website has answer keys for all the previous year CDS question papers.
CDS Result for the Written Test will be made available 3 months after the conclusion of the Written Exam. It will be released as a merit list where the name of the candidates who have qualified in the Written Exam will be mentioned.
CDS Merit List 2020 will consist of the roll number and name of the candidates. It will be declared on the official website of UPSC – upsc.gov.in. Test takers can search for their names by typing “Ctrl+F” and entering their names in order to check whether they have qualified or not. If the candidate has qualified then he/she is eligible to appear for the next round i.e. SSB Interview.
CDS 2020-21: Career Growth & Opportunities
There is a vast growth opportunity for candidates who are commissioned as officers in IMA, AFA, INA, or OTA. Check the career growth details from below:
| Ranks | Promotion ( years of service) |
|---|---|
| Lieutenant | On completion of training |
| Captain | 2 years |
| Major | 6 years |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 13 years |
| Colonel(TS) | 16 years |
| Colonel | 15 years |
| Brigadier | 23 years |
| Major General | 25 years |
| Lieutenant General | 28 years |
| General | No restrictions |
CDS Exam 2020 FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and their respective answers:
A. A candidate must have Engineering Degree for INA, Graduate degree with Physics and Maths at 10+2 for AFA, and a graduate degree in any discipline for IMA and OTA from a recognized university.
A. For AFA, the upper age limit is 24 years while for IMA, OTA, and INA, the age limit is 23 years.
A. Yes, unmarried female candidates are eligible to appear for the CDS exam. They will be joining OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course).
A. After the CDS exam, candidates will be given training at the respective academies during which they will be given a certain stipend. Once they have completed their course, their position will be Lieutenant for which the starting salary is Rs 56,100.
A. The CDS II 2020 exam is scheduled to be conducted on November 8, 2020.
A. UPSC has released the CDS (1) 2020-21 notification and eligible candidates can apply online from October 28 to November 17, 2020.
Now you have all the necessary information on CDS 2020-21. It is recommended that start your CDS Preparation at the earliest as the Combined Defence Services exam is not far away. Begin your preparation right away to avoid last-minute confusion.
You can also take CDS Mock Tests on Embibe’s Online Tyari platform. These tests are available for free. Taking these tests will help you improve your overall performance.
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We hope this detailed article on CDS Exam 2020 helps you. If you have any queries then you can ask in the comment section below. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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