CDS Syllabus | 5 Things you must know for the 2022 exam

The ‘Combined Defence Services’ or CDS examination happens twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who clear the exam are recruited to different defense academies, such as military, naval, and air force. Approximately 2,00,000 candidates attempt the exam every year. 

Clearing the paper qualifies candidates for the next stage of recruitment to the following academies-

• (IMA) Indian Military Academy 
• Indian Officers Training Academy 
• (INA) Indian Naval Academy 
• Indian Air Force Academy 

If you aim to be a part of the defense forces that serve the nation, applying for the CDS exam is the first step to making your dream a reality. Preparing for this paper will require months of dedication and effort, along with an understanding of the syllabus and exam structure. 

Keep reading to discover 5 things about the CDS syllabus and exam!

1. What is the CDS exam? 

• The CDS exam is a paper conducted for the recruitment of commissioned officers to the defense academies of India. 
• The exam is scheduled twice a year [CDS (I) and CDS (II)] and candidates have to meet a list of eligibility requirements to qualify for the exam. 
• Candidates who successfully clear the CDS exam are shortlisted for personal intelligence and personality tests (conducted as interviews). 
• The combined performance on the exam and interview grants candidates admission to their respective academies. 

2. What is the CDS exam pattern? 

• The CDS exam is divided into two parts – the written exam and the intelligence & personality test. 
• The written paper consists of objective questions and candidates need to complete the paper in 2 hours. 
• Each subject is scored out of a total of 100 marks. 
• The subjects in the written paper for admission to the military, naval, and air force academies are-
  • English (2 hours, 100 marks) 
  • General Knowledge (2 hours, 100 marks) 
  • Mathematics (2 hours, 100 marks) 
• The subjects tested in the written exam for admission to the Officers’ Training Academy are English and General Knowledge. 
• The paper is set bilingually, in English as well as Hindi. 
• The intelligence & personality test is conducted via an interview that is divided into a 2-stage selection process. 
• Only candidates who clear the first stage of the interview are qualified to appear for the second stage. 
• Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests, which include-
  • Picture Perception
  • Description Test  
• Stage II is comprised of the following-
  • Personal Interview 
  • Group Testing Officer Tasks 
  • Psychology Tests 
  • Final Conference 
• The personality of the candidates is assessed by 3 primary assessors – a psychologist, a Group Testing Officer (GTO), and an Interviewing Officer (IO).

3. What is the CDS syllabus? 

Understanding the CDS syllabus can help candidates plan a structured study schedule to prepare for the exam. 

The different topics within each subject of the syllabus are as follows-

• English- 
  • Idioms & Phrases 
  • Fill-in-the-Blanks Questions 
  • Sentence Structure 
  • Ordering of Sentences 
  • Selection of Appropriate Words 
  • Synonyms & Antonyms 
  • Sentence Arrangement 
  • Spot-the-Error Questions 
• General Awareness-
  • True/False Questions 
  • Economics 
  • Physics 
  • Current Affairs 
  • History 
  • Geography 
  • Chemistry 
  • Sociology 
  • Defense Awards 
  • Environment 
  • Sports 
  • Biology 
  • Culture 
• Mathematics- 
  • Algebra – Laws of indices, rational expressions, conditional identities, theories of polynomials, remainder theorem, basic operations, etc. 
  • Arithmetic – Tests of divisibility, Euclidean algorithms, prime & composite numbers, percentages, unitary methods, etc. 
  • Trigonometry – Calculation of heights & distances, trigonometric tablets, trigonometric identities, values of sin x, cos x, and tan x. 
  • Geometry – Loci, circles & their properties, properties of angles, similar triangles, parallel lines, theorems of angels, plane figures, etc.
  • Statistics – Measures of central tendency, graphical representations of frequency polygons, tabulation of statistical data, etc. 

4. What are the eligibility criteria for this exam? 

• Candidates seeking admission to the defense services of India need to meet a strict set of criteria with regards to-
  • Age 
  • Marital Status 
  • Educational Qualifications 
  • Physicality 
• Military Academy 
  • Age – 19 to 24 years 
  • Marital Status – Unmarried 
  • Educational Qualification – Graduation
• Air Force Academy 
  • Age – 19 to 23 years 
  • Marital Status – Married or Unmarried 
  • Education Qualification – Bachelor of Engineering or 10+2 graduation 
• Naval Academy 
  • Age – 19 to 22 years 
  • Marital Status – Unmarried 
  • Educational Qualification – Engineering degree from a recognized institute 
• Officers’ Training Academy for Women 
  • Age – 19 to 25 years 
  • Marital Status – Unmarried women, issueless widows, and issueless divorcees. 
  • Educational Qualification – Graduation 
• Officers’ Training Academy for Men 
  • Age – 19 to 25 years 
  • Marital Status – Unmarried 
  • Educational Qualification – Graduation 
• Candidates are also required to complete rigorous physical tests conducted by medical professionals.

5. How do I prepare for the CDS exam? 

• You can prepare for the CDS exam with the following tips- 
  • Make a regular study plan.
  • Divide the CDS syllabus throughout your preparation period.
  • Regularly update your General Knowledge by reading newspapers.
  • Attempt papers from previous years to manage your time better.
  • Prepare for one subject at a time, instead of simultaneously preparing for all.
  • Don’t forget to practice! 

Key Takeaways 

• Multiple candidates attempt the CDS exam across India for admission to the defense academies of the country. 
• Understanding the exam pattern, syllabus, and eligibility criteria can help aspirants prepare for the paper. 
• Creating a regular study schedule and dividing the syllabus over the preparation period can help aspirants revise each subject thoroughly. 

We hope you found this blog informative. Don’t forget to comment below and share your thoughts! You can also get in touch with us if you have any doubts. 

Liked this blog? Read: IAS Syllabus | All you need to know about the 2022 syllabus

FAQs 

Q1. Are male widowers or divorcees eligible to write the CDS exam? 

Answer – No, male widowers and divorcees are not eligible for the CDS exam. 

Q2. What are the maximum marks allotted in the interview? 

Answer – The maximum marks allotted in the interview are as follows-

• Military academy (total marks – 300)
• Naval academy (total marks – 300)
• Air force academy (total marks – 300)
• Officers’ training academy (total marks – 200)

Q3. Can I use a blue ballpoint pen to write on the CDS paper? 

Answer – No, candidates need to strictly use a black ballpoint pen to answer the CDS paper.