CDS Exam 2021: The Union Public Service Commission is all set to organise the Combined Defence Services (CDS) II exam on the scheduled date, i.e. 14th November 2021. All those applicants who had earlier forwarded their application for CDS-II should now get ready to take part in the examination. Before conducting the exam, the UPSC shall also release the link to download the CDS Admit Card, which is mandatory for entering the exam centre. The admit card has already been released on 22nd October 2021. If anyone has not downloaded the hall ticket, they can proceed for the same on the official website, upsc.gov.in.
Those applicants who want to get accepted into the Indian Army, Air Force, as Commissioned Officers and for the post had already submitted the application before the last date. Now is the time for these aspirants to get ready for the test because it is about to happen soon. Post conducting the CDS-II on 14th November, the UPSC shall gauge the performance of aspirants and will declare the result that will decide whether or not the candidates shall be entertained for the next steps included in the selection process. After appearing for the test, applicants should also prepare for the interview round.
Candidates are advised to visit this page on a regular basis so that they don’t miss any latest updates regarding their respective examinations.
Candidates can check this page for Sarkari Naukri latest updates which will help them to know which are the ongoing and upcoming Sarkari Exam. Based on the Sarkari exams information they can check their eligibility related to age and academic qualification before they apply for the various government jobs posts. Moreover, candidates can also check the Sarkari Result to know their status of qualifying the exam in which they have appeared.
Table of Contents
UPSC CDS 2021: An Overview
Before getting into the details of the CDS exam, let’s have an overview of the CDS exam:
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Frequency of Exam | Twice in a Year |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Qualification | Graduate |
| Selection Process | Written Exam, SSB Interview |
| After Selection | Training at IMA/ OTA/ INA/ AFA |
| 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 in the range of Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500.
CDS Important Dates 2021
The conducting body has already released the CDS 2 Exam Date on its official website. Candidates must go through the table given below to know more about the same:
UPSC CDS (2) 2021 Exam Dates
| Events | Important Dates |
| Release of CDS 2 Notification | August 4, 2021 |
| Beginning of Online Application | August 4, 2021 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 24, 2021 |
| Application Withdrawal Dates | August 31, 2021, to September 06, 2021 |
| Release of CDS Admit Card | October 22 to November 14, 2021 |
| CDS 2 Written Exam | November 14, 2021 |
| Declaration of CDS 2 Result | To Be Announced |
| Final Result | July 2021 (Expected) |
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 07, 2021 |
| CDS (1) 2021 Exam Date | February 07, 2021 |
| CDS (1) 2021 Result | June 4, 2021 |
CDS 2 Vacancy Details 2021
As per the CDS 2 notification, a total of 339 vacancies have been published for admission in the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy. Check the below table to know more about the same.
CDS 2 2021
| Academy | Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 22 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (SSC Men) | 169 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (SSC Women) | 16 |
| Total | 339 |
CDS 1 2021
| 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 Structure 2021
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 Eligibility Criteria 2021
Before applying online for the CDS, candidates must diligently check the CDS eligibility criteria 2021 for a better understanding. The officials of the conducting body will not accept the application invites from those candidates who are not eligible for the said examination. Here, we have enlisted the eligibility norms as per the UPSC’s guidelines. Candidates are advised to go through the same to be careful while filling the application form via online mode.
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.
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 2021
CDS 2021 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 Application Fee 2021
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 2021
Combined Defence Services Exam is conducted in various exam centres across the nation. CDS exam centres 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 centres is done on the basis of a first come first basis. Change of exam centre is not possible once allocated and provided on the admit card.
CDS Selection Process 2021
Here is the selection procedure for CDS Exam:
- – 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 2021
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 2021
Candidates who pass the CDS Written Test are called 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 about 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 2021 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 2021
Candidates can download the CDS 2021 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 printout. The allocated CDS exam centres will be mentioned on the CDS Admit card.
Details on CDS Admit Card 2021
Verify the following details from the admit card:
- Name of the Candidate
- Parent’s Name
- Correspondence and Permanent Address
- Contact Information
- Registration Number
- Roll Number
- Date of Birth
- Passport Size Picture
- Signature Image
- Important Instructions
- Subject and Subject Codes
- Exam Date and Timing
- Exam Venue Address
- Signature of the Controller of Examination
CDS 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 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 2021 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 CDS I Elementary Mathematics 2020 Question Paper PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download CDS I General Knowledge 2020 Question Paper PDF |
| English | Download CDS I English 2020 Question Paper PDF |
| CDS Exam II 2019 | Question Papers |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download CDS II Elementary Mathematics 2019 Question Paper PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download CDS II General Knowledge 2019 Question Paper PDF |
| English | Download CDS II English 2019 Question Paper PDF |
| CDS Exam I 2019 | Question Papers |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download CDS I Elementary Mathematics 2019 Question Paper PDF |
| General Knowledge | Download CDS I General Knowledge 2019 Question Paper PDF |
| English | Download CDS I English 2019 Question Paper PDF |
CDS Exam Sample Papers
The Combined Defence Services Examination Samples Papers are usually released by various authentic coaching centres on their official websites. Those who are preparing for the CDS exam must also practice these CDS sample papers to improve their preparation level vigorously. Referring to CDS question papers and practising 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 2021 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 2021
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 2021 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 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 2021: Frequently Asked Questions
Here, we have enlisted some of the significant frequently asked questions related to the CDS Exam 2021. Candidates must go through the questions and answers diligently to clear out their doubts regarding the same subject.
| Q. What is the qualification required for the CDS exam? 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. |
| Q. What is the age limit required for the CDS exam? A. For AFA, the upper age limit is 24 years while for IMA, OTA, and INA, the age limit is 23 years. |
| Q. Are women candidates eligible for the CDS exam? A. Yes, unmarried female candidates are eligible to appear for the CDS exam. They will be joining OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course). |
| Q. What is the salary that will be offered after the CDS exam? 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. |
| Q. When the CDS 2 2021 Exam will be conducted? A. The CDS (II) exam is scheduled to be conducted on November 14, 2021. |
| Q. When can I apply for CDS Exam? A. The UPSC had started the online registration for the CDS II exam from August 4, 2021, on the official website. The last date to apply for the same was August 24, 2021. |
Now that you have a clear idea about the CDS 2021, make the best use of the remaining time. Prepare well and score as high as possible. Take CDS Mock Tests and work on improving on your weak areas. Rectify your mistakes and do not make the same mistakes in the actual exam.
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We hope that this detailed article on CDS Exam 2021 helps you. If you have any queries regarding the CDS exam in general, feel free to ask in the comment section below. We will get back to you at the earliest.
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