The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination to recruit candidates for prestigious academies such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Indian Air Force Academy (AFA).
The CDS Exam tests candidates in three subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. Aspirants planning to appear for the UPSC CDS 2025 Exam must familiarize themselves with the exam syllabus and pattern for effective preparation.
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025
The UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam 2025 will be conducted in offline mode, featuring multiple-choice questions. The CDS 1 Exam is scheduled for 13th April 2025, while the CDS 2 Exam will take place on 14th September 2025. Familiarity with the CDS Syllabus 2025 is crucial for candidates to design an effective study plan, ensuring proper time allocation to each section based on its importance. Below is an overview of the UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025 and exam pattern.
Overview of the CDS Syllabus 2025
| Exam Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS 1 2025) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| CDS 1 Exam Date | 13th April 2025 |
| Number of Sections | – IMA, INA, AFA: Three – OTA: Two |
| Total Marks | – IMA, INA, AFA: 300 marks – OTA: 200 marks |
| Nature of Questions | Objective type |
| Language of Question Paper | Hindi and English |
| Duration | 2 hours per section |
CDS Exam Pattern for Written Exam: Detailed Overview
The CDS Written Exam Pattern for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) is outlined below to help candidates prepare effectively.
Key Highlights of the CDS Written Exam
- The exam includes three subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
- All questions will be of the objective type.
- The General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics question papers will be provided in bilingual format (Hindi and English).
- Each subject has a time duration of 2 hours.
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern Details
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 |
CDS Exam Pattern for Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)
The CDS exam for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) consists of objective-type questions. The question papers for the General Knowledge section are available in both Hindi and English.
The exam includes two subjects: English and General Knowledge, with each subject carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The duration for each subject is 2 hours.
| Subjects | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
Marking Scheme for UPSC CDS Exam
The exam follows a negative marking scheme. Each question has four options, with only one correct answer. For each incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks allocated to that question will be deducted. If more than one option is selected, the answer is considered incorrect. However, there is no penalty for unanswered questions.
CDS Syllabus 2025 Subject-Wise
Here is a detailed breakdown of the syllabus for the CDS exam, covering the three main subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
CDS English Syllabus
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Arrangement
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Word Selection
- Sentence Ordering
- Reading Comprehension
- Word Ordering in a Sentence
- Fill in the Blanks
- Idioms and Phrases
- Sentence Improvement / Corrections
CDS General Knowledge (GK) Syllabus
- Economics
- Physics
- Current Affairs
- Politics
- Chemistry
- Sociology
- History
- Defence-related Awards
- Geography
- Environment
- Sports
- Biology
- Culture
- Books
CDS Mathematics Syllabus
Algebra
- Basic operations and simple factors
- Remainder Theorem
- Highest Common Factor (H.C.F.)
- Least Common Multiple (L.C.M.)
- Theory of polynomials
- Solutions of quadratic equations
- Relationship between roots and coefficients (considering only real roots)
- Analytical and graphical solutions of simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns
- Solutions to simultaneous linear inequalities in two variables
- Practical problems leading to simultaneous linear equations or inequalities in two variables, or quadratic equations in one variable
- Set theory and notation
- Rational expressions and conditional identities
- Laws of indices
Arithmetic
- Number system: Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers
- Fundamental operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square roots, and decimal fractions
- Unitary method
- Time and distance
- Time and work
- Percentages and applications to simple and compound interest
- Profit and loss
- Ratio and proportion
- Variation
- Elementary number theory: Division algorithm
- Prime and composite numbers
- Divisibility tests for 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 11
- Multiples, factors, and factorization theorem
- H.C.F. and L.C.M.
- Euclidean algorithm
- Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, and use of logarithmic tables
Trigonometry
- Sine, cosine, and tangent for angles between 0° and 90°
- Values of sin, cos, and tan for 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°
- Simple trigonometric identities
- Use of trigonometric tables
- Simple applications to heights and distances
Geometry
- Lines and angles
- Plane figures and their properties
- Theorems on angles at a point
- Parallel lines
- Properties of triangles: sides and angles
- Congruency of triangles
- Similar triangles
- Concurrency of medians and altitudes
- Properties of angles, sides, and diagonals in parallelograms, rectangles, and squares
- Circles and their properties, including tangents and normals
- Loci
Mensuration
- Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles
- Areas of composite figures (Field Book)
- Surface area and volume of cuboids
- Lateral surface area and volume of right circular cones and cylinders
- Surface area and volume of spheres
Statistics
- Collection and tabulation of statistical data
- Graphical representation: frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts, etc.
- Measures of central tendency
