Combined Defence Services Exam : Overview
The Combined Defence Services Exam CDS is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- Indian Citizenship: Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- Subject to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet: Certain conditions apply for candidates who are subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees.
Age Limit
- For IMA and INA: Unmarried male candidates between 19 to 24 years.
- For AFA: Unmarried male candidates between 19 to 23 years.
- For OTA: Male candidates (married or unmarried) and female candidates between 19 to 25 years.
Educational Qualifications for Combined Defence Services Exam
- For IMA, INA, AFA:
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
- For OTA (Men):
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
- For OTA (Women):
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
Exam Pattern for Combined Defence Services Exam
Written Examination – CDS Exam Syllabus
- For IMA, INA, AFA:
- Subjects: English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics.
- Duration: Each paper is of 2 hours duration.
- Total Marks: 300 marks for each paper.
- For OTA:
- Subjects: English, General Knowledge Question, GK Quiz
- Duration: Each paper is of 2 hours duration.
- Total Marks: 200 marks for each paper.
SSB Interview
- Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PP&DT).
- Stage II: Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks, and Interview.
Selection Procedure
- Written Examination: Candidates who qualify the written exam are shortlisted for the SSB interview based on their performance and preferences.
- SSB Interview: Candidates undergo a comprehensive selection process conducted over several days to assess their officer-like qualities.
Final Selection
Final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the written examination and the SSB interview. Merit lists are prepared based on the combined marks obtained in both stages, and candidates are allotted to the respective academies based on their preferences and merit.
Conclusion
The Combined Defence Services exam is a prestigious gateway for aspiring candidates to join the armed forces as officers. It requires thorough preparation and dedication to excel in both the written exam and the SSB interview stages. Candidates are advised to stay updated with the official UPSC notifications and syllabus for effective preparation.
