UPSC CDS

About UPSC CDS 1 Exam

Exam Brief

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has conducted the UPSC Combined Defence Service exam on April 10, 2022. The UPSC CDS Paper 1 results are announced on May 18, 2022.  Authorities released the admit card for CDS 1 2022 exam on March 14, 2022. Candidates who wish to download their results can check the official website. 

UPSC conducts the CDS exam twice a year. The purpose of the UPSC CDS 1exam is to select candidates for various posts within the Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. Read through the article to find out more about CDS Question papers, CDS Exam date, CDS exam eligibility and much more! 

UPSC CDS Brochure

Download UPSC CDS Notification PDF

UPSC CDS 1 Exam Summary

Check out a few important details about the UPSC CDS examination before commencing your preparation:

Official Website Link

Embibe Notice Board/Notification

UPSC CDS 1 Latest Updates

Here are some recent updates released by UPSC regarding Combined Defence Service Examination 2022.

• Candidates can withdraw their CDS (I) applications until January 24, 2022.
• UPSC released the CDS 1 2022 admit card on March 14, 2022.
• UPSC will conduct the CDS (I) 2022 exam on April 10, 2022.

UPSC CDS 1 Exam Pattern

UPSC CDS Exam Selection Process

Mentioned below are the details of the CDS Exam Pattern. You can also check the marking scheme for the written test and the SSB interview. CDS II examination will be conducted in two phases:

Phase I – Written Examination

Phase II – SSB Interview

Phase II will be conducted to assess the intelligence and personality of the candidate. Let us now have a look at the detailed CDS exam pattern for each of the two phases.

UPSC CDS Exam Stages 

CDS Exam Pattern for SSB Interview - Stage 1

The Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) is held on the day of the SSB interview. The selection process involves a Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT) wherein candidates are shown a picture for 30 seconds. After this, the candidates will be given exactly 4 minutes to write about the picture. 

Several groups with 15 members each, will be formed to discuss and reach a conclusion related to the picture. On the basis of the discussion and conclusion, the authority will rate the candidate’s intelligence skills. Only those candidates who qualify for this round of Stage 1 will be considered eligible to appear for SSB Stage 2 interview.

CDS Exam Pattern for SSB Interview - Stage 2

SSB Interview stage 2 will be conducted over a period of four days after your selection in the the Stage 1 interview. Stage II includes an interview, group testing officer tasks, psychology tests, and a conference. A variety of tests and activities are conducted in this round through which the personality of a candidate is judged. 

Three different authorities - the Interviewing Officer (IO), the Group Testing Officer (GTO), and a Psychologist will be rating you according to your performance in the test. Furthermore, marks for the conference are given based on your initial performance in the three tasks and the decision of the Board. The ‘Psychological Test’ will be based on:

1. Situation Reaction Test
2. Word Association Test
3. Thematic Apperception Test
4. Self Description Test. Various ‘Group Activities’ include 1. Group Discussion 2. Individual Obstacles 3. Group Planning Exercise 4. Half Group Task
5. Group Obstacle Race
6. Progressive Group Task
7. Lecturette
8. Command Task
9. Final Group Task

Once the exam is conducted successfully, aspirants whose names are shortlisted for the merit list will be offered the SSB call letter in which the reporting date and time for the interview will be mentioned. Selected candidates are then supposed to report at the SSB centre and qualify for all the tests with good scores.

The duration of the SSB interview is generally 5 days and will consist of intelligence and psychological tests. Once the candidate has qualified for the SSB interview, they will then be called for a medical check-up and upon successful clearance (being proven medically fit) candidates will be sent to the respective academies. 

As mentioned in the official CDS notification, candidates are required to submit only the original copies of their documents before joining the academy. Candidates will be selected as per their performance in the SSB Interview Stage 2. The psychological and group activity tests are specially designed to assess the officer qualities and trainability of a candidate.

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern - Scoring Pattern (+/- Marking)

Each correct answer attracts 1 mark in the UPSC CDS exam.

Negative Marking: For every wrong answer given by the candidate, there is a negative marking of 1/3.

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern for Written Test

CDS exam pattern for the written test for admission to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) includes three subjects - Elementary Mathematics, English and General Knowledge. However, admission to Officers Training Academy (OTA) will only have two subjects in their written test - English and General Knowledge.

CDS exam marking scheme for INA, IMA, AFA is listed below:

UPSC CDS 1 exam pattern for OTA is mentioned below:

Time duration: The total time duration for each section is 2 hours.

UPSC CDS 1 Exam Syllabus

Exam Syllabus

The UPSC CDS Syllabus is mainly based on three subjects - Elementary Mathematics, General Knowledge, and English language. Candidates who wish to score well in the examination must be well aware of the syllabus and prepare for it thoroughly. Here is the detailed information on the latest syllabus of CDS subject-wise:

UPSC CDS Syllabus for Elementary Maths

Elementary Maths consists of basic topics from high school Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, Statistics, and Mensuration. Check the detailed topic-wise syllabus below:

Arithmetic

The Arithmetic section basically tests your knowledge of Number systems, Elementary Number Theory, and other basic concepts as follows:

• Basic Operations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division)
• Ratio and Proportion
• Variation
• Number Series (Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers)
• Time and Distance
• Time and Work
• Tests of Divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11
• Multiples and Factors
• Percentage
• Laws of Logarithms
• Use of Logarithmic Tables
• Square Roots, Decimal Fractions
• Unitary Method
• Applications to Simple and Compound Interest
• Profit and Loss
• Division Algorithm
• Prime and Composite Numbers
• Factorization
• Theorems
• Highest Common Factor (HCF)
• Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)
• Euclidean Algorithm
• Logarithms to Base 10

Algebra

• Simple Factors
• Remainder Theorem
• Highest Common Factor
• Lowest Common Multiple
• Theory of Polynomials
• Solutions of Quadratic Equations
• The Relation between Quadratic Equation Roots and Coefficients
• Simultaneous Linear Equations- Analytical and Graphical Solutions
• Simultaneous Linear Inequations in Two Variables and their Solutions
• Practical Problems Leading to two Simultaneous Linear Equations or Inequations in two variables or Quadratic Equations in one Variable and their solutions
• Set Language and Set Notation
• Rational Expressions
• Conditional Identities
• Laws of Indices

Geometry

• Lines and Angles, Plane and Plane Figures, Theorems on Properties of Angles at a Point
• Parallel Lines
• Sides and Angles of a Triangle
• Congruence of Triangles
• Similar Triangles
• The concurrence of Medians and Altitudes
• Properties of Angles, Sides, and Diagonals of a Parallelogram, Rectangle, and Square
• Circles and its Properties Including Tangents and Normals
• Loci

Statistics

• Collection and Tabulation of Statistical Data
• Graphical Representation
• Frequency Polygons
• Histograms
• Bar Charts
• Pie Charts
• Measures of Central Tendency

Trigonometry

• Sin x, Cosine x, Tangent x when 0 degree < x< 90 degree values of sin x cos x and tan x for x= degree 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90
• Simple Trigonometric Identities
• Use of Trigonometric Tables
• Simple Cases of Heights and Distance

Mensuration

• Area of Square
• Rectangle
• Parallelograms
• Triangle
• Circle
• Area of Figures which can be split up into Figures (field book)
• Surface Area and Volume of Cuboids
• Lateral Surface
• Volume of Right Circular Cones and Cylinders
• Surface Area and Volume of Spheres

UPSC CDS English Syllabus 

This section tests your vocabulary and English grammar. Along with this, it also analyses your sentence formation skills.

1. Spotting Errors
2. Ordering of Words in a Sentence
3. Synonyms and Antonyms
4. Selecting Words
5. Sentence Arrangement
6. Ordering of Sentences
7. Comprehension
8. Fill in the Blanks

UPSC CDS General Knowledge Syllabus

The General Knowledge section of the CDS Syllabus includes Static GK and Current Affairs. The General Knowledge sections include questions on various topics such as:

1. History
2. Geography
3. Books & Authors
4. Politics
5. Economics
6. Environment
7. Sports
8. Awards & Recognition
9. Sociology
10. Physics, Chemistry, Biology
11. Culture and Traditions

To prepare for this section of General Knowledge and current affairs, candidates are supposed to catch up with the daily news. They should also read newspapers and several current affairs books to prepare for this section.

UPSC CDS 1 Study Plan to Maximise Score

UPSC CDS Preparation Tips

It is important that you follow a few preparation tips in order to score high marks in the examination. Here are some of the preparation tips created by the experts at Embibe:

• Study from NCERT Textbooks: NCERT books are specifically designed to help you prepare for competitive examinations. The books have simple and basic concepts that you can easily understand. NCERT books also have a few exercises at the end of the chapters to help you practice.
• Reference Books: Reference books come with a plenty of exercises and questions for you to solve. There are easy as well as difficult questions in the book. By solving the exercises, you can easily answer the questions quickly in the final exam question paper. 
• Categorise Topics (Difficulty-level wise): Dividing the topics based on their difficulty level will help you strategise your study. We recommend you to first prepare for the easy ones and then move to the ones you find difficult. Doing this will help you cover the syllabus quickly. 
• Read Concepts Thoroughly: It is always important to first understand and then learn. Knowing the concept and then reading and understanding it thoroughly will help you in your final examination. If you are able to understand the basic concept, you do not have to mug it up.
• Practice Mock Tests: Practicing mock test series will help you improve your problem-solving skills and writing skills. Embibe’s mock test series will give you an exact idea of the final exam paper. It is designed in accordance with the latest exam pattern.
• Solve Previous Years’ Question Papers: Solving the previous year question papers will help you get a better idea of the exam and also the type of questions that are asked in the exam. It will be like a practice test for you to analyse your preparation so that you can improve on the topics that needs more practice. 
• Revise Every Day: It is important that you revise what you study every day. A habit of revision every day will help you study efficiently for your examination. This way, you will memorise quickly. 

UPSC CDS Exam Strategy

The important strategy behind taking a competitive exam is to study all the topics related to general knowledge and current affairs. It will help you score good marks in the examination.

A few more effective strategies are listed below:

• Gather information/ news from different newspapers in order to score well in the general knowledge and current affairs section in the exam.
• Another useful strategy is to first solve the questions that you find easy and then move on to solving the ones you find difficult/tricky. 
• Now, before finally appearing for the exam, make sure you have understood the pattern and syllabus of the exam well.
• Read each and every topic from the syllabus.
• Try to thoroughly read all the questions in the paper before starting to attempt them.
• Try not to attempt the questions whose answers you are not sure of. If your answer is wrong, it will result in negative marking. Note that un-attempted questions are not considered for negative marking.

Exam Taking Strategy

The main strategy behind taking a competitive exam is to study all the topics related to general knowledge and current affairs. It will help you score good marks in the examination.

A few more effective strategies are listed below:

• Gather information/ news from different newspapers in order to score well in the general knowledge and current affairs section in the exam.
• Another useful strategy is to first solve the questions that you find easy and then move on to solving the ones you find difficult/tricky. 
• Now, before finally appearing for the exam, make sure you have understood the pattern and syllabus of the exam well.
• Read each and every topic from the syllabus.
• Try to thoroughly read all the questions in the paper before starting to attempt them.
• Try not to attempt the questions whose answers you are not sure of. If your answer is wrong, it will result in negative marking. Unattempted questions are not considered for negative marking.

Detailed Study plan

A study plan is always a good idea before you actually start prepping for your examination. With a well-structured study plan, you can easily complete your syllabus on time, along with having spare time for revision. The easiest way to plan your studies is:

• Schedule time for each subject: Scheduling time for each subject will help you give attention to all subjects equally. We advise you to not focus all your strength on just one subject but instead try to divide the time and study all the subjects. 
• Create a timetable: When you make a timetable, you know exactly what to follow during preparation, instead of studying in a haphazard way. A timetable allows you to keep a track of your preparedness, and also take out time for leisure activities.
• Do not skip difficult topics: Often times, students usually keep the difficult topics for the end, or skip them altogether. This is not an ideal way to prepare for any exam. Instead of avoiding those topics, make it a point to master them.
• Keep some time for revision: Your preparation is complete without proper revision. Hence, ensure the last few days of preparation are left for that. 

Recommended Chapters

Here is a list of some important topics for each section:

Mathematics: Important Topics

• Natural numbers
• Quadratic equation
• Square Roots
• Simultaneous linear equation
• Percentage
• Theory of polynomials
• Prime and composite numbers
• Trigonometry
• Factorisation
• Theorems
• Logarithms
• Mensuration
• Laws of indices
• Statistics

English Language: Important Topics

• Spotting errors
• Sentence arrangement
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Selecting words
• Ordering of sentences
• Comprehension
• Ordering of words in a sentence
• Fill in the blanks
• Composition

General Knowledge: Important Topics

Indian Polity

• Constitution of India
• President of India
• Judiciary
• Indian Geography
• Ores & minerals
• Oil mills
• Lakes of India
• Rivers, tributaries and their directions
• Clouds
• Longitude and latitude
• Islands of India
• States comparison by population and area
• Indian History
• Military knowledge

Current Affairs

• Awards
• Government welfare schemes
• International trades of India
• FDI

Applied Science

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology

UPSC CDS Previous Year Analysis

CDS Previous Year Topper List

Here is a list of CDS toppers from the last five years:

UPSC CDS 2022 Important Dates

Exam Notification Date

Go through the important dates from the below section on UPSC CDS 2022 exam: 

CDS Notification Date

UPSC has released the CDS 1 2022 notification for 371 posts on December 22, 2021. 

UPSC CDS (I) Exam Result Date 2022

It is necessary for you to be aware of the important dates of the CDS exam, and we have provided the table below for the students to refer to a few important details to keep in mind regarding the CDS I exam results.

UPSC CDS 1 Eligibility Criteria

CDS Age Criteria

As an aspirant of a government exam like UPSC CDS, it is crucial for you to check the UPSC CDS eligibility criteria before applying for the examination. Make sure you meet the criteria of educational qualification, age, nationality, marital status, etc. to be eligible for the exam. Here are the full details of the CDS Eligibility Criteria:

UPSC CDS 1 Nationality

Candidates should be unmarried and either be:

• An Indian citizen, or
• A subject of Nepal, Bhutan, Refugee of Tibet, who migrated to India before 1962, or
• A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who migrated from Uganda, Burma, Pakistan, the United Republic of Tanzania, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with an intention of permanent settlement in India.

Note: Candidates who belong to (b) and (c) must provide a certificate of eligibility issued by the Indian government with an exception for the Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

UPSC CDS 1 Age Limit & Sex

Here are the UPSC CDS eligibility criteria with respect to age limit and sex for different defence academies.

UPSC CDS 1 Marital Status

The eligibility criteria based on marital status varies with the academy and are given below.

UPSC CDS 1 Physical Standards

The UPSC medical board will conduct the physical examination of all candidates to see if they are fit to work under military deployment. Hence, it is compulsory for candidates to check if they comply with the medical guidelines prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

1. Only those candidates who are physically and mentally fit as per the UPSC guidelines will be eligible for admission.
2. Candidates with permanent body tattoos on their inner side of the elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of the palm/back (dorsal) side of the hand will only be eligible. Tattoos on any other part of the body will lead to ineligibility.
3. Candidates must not have any chronic disease or disability for the effective performance of CDS duties.
4. Candidates must meet visual and hearing standards that are set by UPSC. (The standards may also vary depending on the role you are applying for).
5. Male candidates with a minimum height of 157.5 cms (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force) and women with a minimum height of 152 cms will only be eligible for the CDS (II) examination.
6. Impairment of bone and joint functions or mal-development will lead to disqualification of the candidate.
7. Any previous history of mental breakdowns will also lead to candidature disqualification.
8. Candidates must be medically fit to take training and military duties of the Armed Forces.
9. Any abnormalities or deformities in the candidate’s body will lead to the ineligibility of the candidate.

UPSC CDS 1 Education Qualification

The candidate has to fulfil any one of the following requirements:

Passed/Appeared/Appearing:

1. Final year degree or equivalent examination (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level).
2. Final year of Engineering degree examination.
3. Final year degree or equivalent examination with other subjects (i.e. other than those mentioned).
4. Indian Military Academy (IMA) - Graduate Degree (Recognised University)
5. Indian Naval Academy (INA) - B. Tech or B.E. Degree (Recognised University)
6. Air Force Academy (AFA) - B. Tech / B.E. degree or Degree (with Physics and Maths in 10+2 level)

UPSC CDS 1 Application Process

How To Fill UPSC CDS 1 Application Process

The Union Public Service Commission had released the CDS Application Form online. Here, you can find the details on how to apply online for the CDS exam.

The application process of CDS involves two parts:

Part I - This part involves the registration process where candidates are supposed to enter their personal details and other information required on the form. After the registration, a Registration ID will be generated which they will be needing to proceed further. 

1st Step: Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission. 

2nd Step: Go to the ‘ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF UPSC’ tab. 

3rd Step: You will see the examination code ‘CDS II’. Tap on the ‘Click Here for Part I’ link. 

4th Step: Read the instructions carefully which is available both in Hindi and in English. Then click on “Yes”.

5th Step: Now enter the following details: 

• Personal Details
• Name
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Father’s Name
• Mother’s Name
• Nationality – India/Others
• Marital Status – Unmarried/Married/Widow/Widower/Divorcee
• Community – EWS/General/OBC/SC/ST
• Do You Belong to Minority – Yes or No
• Fee Remission Allowed – Yes or No
• Address/Residential Address Details:
• Postal Address
• District / City District
• State / UT States
• PIN Code
• Phone no. with Area Code
• Email ID
• Phone Number
• 6th Step: Click on “Continue”. 

Part II - In this part, candidates need to enter information such as examination centre, payment details, and upload a photograph, signature, a photo Identity card etc. 

7th Step: Enter the following:

Photo Identity Card details

Whether or not you hold Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India),

Preferences among IMA, NA, AFA, and OTA, and other details.

8th Step: Click on “Continue”. 

9th Step: Validate all the information that you have provided, enter the Captcha and click on “I Agree”. 

10th Step: Your Registration ID will be generated. Note it down.

Once your Registration ID is created, you can go to the ‘Click Here for Part-II Registration’. You will then see the option to continue by entering your Registration ID, Date of Birth, and Captcha. Also, if you want to complete the Part-II registration process later, you can leave and come back later and continue by following the steps as under:

1st Step: Log in to upsconline.nic.in.

2nd Step: Click on ‘Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC’.

3rd Step: You will see the Examination code ‘CDS II’. Click on the ‘Click Here for Part II’ link.

4th Step: Now enter your Registration ID, Date of Birth, and Captcha.

5th Step: Click on the ‘Submit’ button.

6th Step: Choose your mode of payment and make the fee payment. However, if you choose offline payment, then you have to create an e-challan and make the payment in one of the branches of SBI.

7th Step: Once the application fee has been paid, you are supposed to choose your exam centre preferences.

8th Step: Upload your photograph, signature, and photo ID proof.

9th Step: Now submit the application form.

CDS Application Fee

Here the applicants can check the CDS 2022 application fee and submit the application form.

UPSC CDS 1 Admit Card

UPSC released the CDS 1 Hall Ticket online on the official website on March 14, 2022. Below you can find the procedure to download the UPSC CDS admit card, the details mentioned on the admit card, and the required documents candidates need to carry.

• Direct Link to Download CDS 1 Admit Card 2022

Steps to Download CDS 1 Hall Ticket

Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to download the UPSC CDS Admit Card 2022:

• Go to the official website of UPSC.
• Go to the “Examination” tab and click on “Active Examinations” from the drop-down menu box.
• Now click on “Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2022”.
• Then click on “Click Here” against “e-Admit Card”.
• Now, click on “Click Here” under the column “To Download e-Admit Card”
• Read the instructions properly and then click on the “Yes” button.
• Select “By Registration ID” or “By Roll Number”.
• Enter your Registration ID/CDS Roll Number and Date of Birth
• Now enter the captcha code and click on the “Submit” button.
• Your CDS admit card will appear on a new screen. Download it and print a few copies of the same. Also, save the PDF file in a safe folder on your device.

Details Mentioned on CDS Admit Card

The CDS Admit Card has a lot of important information about the candidate, as mentioned below.

1. Name of the Candidate
2. Father’s Name
3. Category
4. Roll Number
5. Photograph
6. Registration ID
7. Candidate's Signature
8. Time of CDS Exam
9. Date of CDS Exam
10. Exam Center/Venue and its Address
11. Reporting Time at the Exam Center
12. General Instructions for the Candidate

Candidates must be aware of the fact that UPSC does not change exam centres after being selected and submitted by you.

UPSC CDS 1 Cut-off

CDS 1 Expected Cut-off

Mentioned below is the cut-off list of last year's UPSC CDS exam. Let us take a look:

UPSC CDS 1 Previous Year Cut-off

CDS (II) 2020 - Previous Year Cut-off Marks

CDS (II) 2019 - Previous Year Cut-off Marks

CDS (II) 2018 - Previous Year Cut-off Marks

UPSC CDS 1 Result

The UPSC CDS result for the year 2022 is released on May 18, 2022. You can check out the previous year results on the UPSC official website or Embibe.com.

Steps To Check the UPSC CDS Results:

1st Step: UPSC's official website is upsc.gov.in and students should visit the site at first. 

2nd Step: Click on the accessible 'UPSC CDS 1 Result 2022' link on the homepage.

3rd Step: A new PDF file will appear on the screen. It is possible for candidates to check their names in it.

4th Step: Candidates can access the PDF online and print a copy for future reference.

FAQs on UPSC CDS 1 Exam

Here are a list of frequently asked questions and answers about UPSC CDS exam that candidates would want to know about.

Q.1: What is the difficulty level of the CDS exam syllabus?
Ans: The questions asked in the CDS Maths section will be of Class 10 level whereas, for the rest of the subjects, the questions will be of graduation level.

Q.2: Who prescribes the syllabus for UPSC CDS exam? 
Ans: Every year, the Union Public Service Commission prescribes the syllabus for the CDS examination.

Q.3: Is the UPSC CDS syllabus changed every year?
Ans: No. The syllabus remains the same until some major changes in the test pattern are announced by the official authorities.

Q.4: Is there a negative marking scheme in the CDS exam? 
Ans: Yes. A marking of 1/3 will be deducted for every wrong answer provided by the candidate.

Q.5: Who is the conducting authority for the CDS Exam? 
Ans: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the CDS Exam every year.

Q.6: Are the subjects and syllabus the same for the IMA academy and OTA academy exam? 
Ans: No. The curriculum of IMA academy has 3 subjects while OTA academy has only 2 subjects.

Q.7: How many times is the CDS exam conducted in a year? 
Ans: The CDS examination is held twice a year. The exam is conducted once in February and then again in the month of November.

Q.8: How many attempts are allowed for the CDS exam? 
Ans: There are no such restrictions on the number of attempts you can make for the CDS exam.

Q.9: In what mode is the CDS examination conducted?
Ans: The CDS exam is conducted in offline mode (Pen & Paper Based). 

Q.10: How to choose good CDS books for exam preparation? 
Ans: Candidates must choose the books that have the latest syllabus of the CDS exam. Also, you can visit the ‘best books for CDS preparation’ in embibe for some recommendations.

Q.11: Is it important to take a mock test or will reading the CDS books be enough? 
Ans: CDS books will help you with the concepts while mock tests will help improve your problem-solving skills, writing speed and more.

Q.12: Which CDS books are the best for English subjects? 
Ans: For the subject of English, candidates can refer to the High School Grammar and Composition book by Wren and Martin, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, Objective General English by SP Bakshi etc.

Q.13: How do I prepare well for the GK section of the CDS exam? 
Ans: In order to prepare for the GK section of the exam effectively, the candidates need to not only study from the books but also read newspapers. It will help them improve their general knowledge and current affairs.

Q.14: What are the important topics for the General Knowledge section? 
Ans: The important topics for the GK section are Economics, Politics, Current Affairs, Geography, Awards & Recognitions, Sports, Physics, Chemistry, etc.

Q.15: Is UPSC CDS 1 Admit Card released? 
Ans:  Yes, UPSC CDS 1 Admit Card 2022 has been released on March 14, 2022.

Dos And Donts

Students must do these steps before their UPSC CDS Exam:

• Make a note of important dates and events in your calendar.
• Make Smart Study Goals.
• Exam Pattern and Syllabus should be checked.
• Gather books and study materials.
• Apps that help you study more effectively.
• Make a Revision Schedule That Is Realistic.
• Get Ready for the SSB Round.
• Keep an eye on your preparation.

However, there are certain points students must not do during the exam. Here are a few don'ts students should take care of:

• Carry no electrical or wireless devices, such as Bluetooth devices, smartphones, or pen drives.
• At the exam centre, avoid wearing anything valuable, such as jewellery.
• Cheating, copying, or passing on notes at the exam centre are all prohibited acts that may result in disqualification from the exam.

UPSC CDS Job Profile & Salary

The information provided below gives a detailed overview of the salary of UPSC CDS:

Perks, Allowances and Benefits

Candidates serving in the defence sector are eligible for a number of benefits and allowances depending on their posting and ranking, such as:

• Highly Active Field Area Allowance
• Compensatory Modified Field Area Allowance
• Compensatory Field Area Allowance
• Transport Allowance
• High Altitude Allowance
• Dearness Allowances(DA)
• Kit Maintenance Allowance
• Siachen Allowance
• Uniform Allowance

UPSC CDS Similar Exams

Apart from UPSC CDS, here is a list of other similar competitive exams that candidates can appear in:

• Combined Medical Services Examination
• Engineering Services Examinations
• National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examinations
• Staff Selection Commission