CDS

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the "Combined Defence Services" (CDS) Examination twice a year for recruiting candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. The CDS 1 Exam is to be held on 21st April 2024. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB). To clear the examination, first, you need the complete information on the pattern, syllabus and previous year's exam analysis so that it would become easy for you to analyse the examination and prepare a strategy further.

CDS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2024

CDS Exam will be conducted in offline mode and there will be Multiple Choice Questions asked in the examination. Check an overview glimpse of the UPSC CDS exam pattern and syllabus from the below table.

CDS Syllabus 2024- Overview
Exam Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services (CDS)
Mode of exam	Offline
Number of sections	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) – Three Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Two
Total marks of the test	IMA, INA and AFA – 300 OTA - 200
Nature of questions	Objective type
CDS 1 Exam Date	21st April 2024
Language of question paper	Hindi and English
Duration of the test	2 hours for each section of test

CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA

Subject	Duration	Maximum marks
English	2 hours	100
General Knowledge	2 hours	100
Elementary Mathematics	2 hours	100

CDS Exam Pattern for OTA

Subject	Duration	Maximum marks
English	2 hours	100
General Knowledge	2 hours	100

CDS Syllabus 2024 Marking Scheme

Negative marking is applicable for every wrong-marked answer. In the CDS 2024 paper, each question carries 4 options and out of which only 1 option is correct. For each incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. More than one option marked is treated as incorrect. However, if a question is left unanswered there will be no negative marking.

CDS Syllabus 2024- Subject-Wise Syllabus

Candidates can check the UPSC CDS Syllabus in the table given below.

Sections		Topics
English		* Spotting Errors Questions * Sentence Arrangement Questions * Synonyms & Antonyms * Selecting Words * Ordering of Sentence * Comprehension Questions * Ordering of words in a sentence * Fill in the blanks questions * Idioms and Phrases
General Awareness (GK)		* Economics * Physics * Current Affairs * Politics * Chemistry * Sociology * History * Defence related Award * Geography * Environment * Sport * Biology * Cultural * Book * Statement * true/false
Elementary Mathematics	Algebra	* Basic Operations * simple factors * Remainder Theorem * H.C.F. * L.C.M. * Theory of polynomials * solutions of quadratic equations * relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered) * Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—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 & their solutions * Set language and set notation * Rational expressions and conditional identities * Laws of indices
	Arithematic	* Number System: Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. * Fundamental operations: addition, substraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions * Unitary method * time and distance * time and work * percentages * applications to simple and compound interest * profit and loss * ratio and proportion * variation * Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm * Prime and composite numbers * Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11 * Multiples and factors. Factorisation Theorem * H.C.F. and L.C.M. * Euclidean algorithm * Logarithms to base 10 * laws of logarithms * use of logarithmic tables
	Trigonometry	* Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° * Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for ×= 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° * Simple trigonometric identities * Use of trigonometric tables * Simple cases of heights and distances
	Geometry	* Lines and angles * Plane and plane figures * Theorems on Properties of angles at a point * Parallel lines * Sides and angles of a triangle * Congruency of triangles * Similar triangles * 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
	Mensuration	* Areas of squares * rectangles * parallelograms * triangle and circle * Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book) * Surface area and volume of cuboids * lateral surface 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

Important Instructions for the CDS Exam

Write only in Black ballpoint pen, your Centre and subject followed by the CDS 2024 test booklet series (in bracket), subject code and the exam roll number at the appropriate space provided on the answer sheet at the top.
Encode your CDS 2024 booklet series (A, B, C, or D as the case may be), subject code and roll number in the circles provided for the purpose in the answer sheet.
In case the CDS booklet series is not printed on the test booklet or the answer sheet is un-numbered then candidates should report immediately to the invigilator and get the test booklet/answer sheet replaced.
Candidates should note that any omission/mistakes/discrepancy in encoding/filling of details in the CDS 2024 OMR answer sheet, especially with regard to the Roll Number and Test Booklet Series Code, will render the answer sheet liable for rejection.
Immediately after the commencement of the CDS 2024 please check that the test booklet supplied to you does not have any unprinted or torn or missing pages or items etc., if so, get it replaced by a complete test booklet of the same series and subject.
Do not write your name or anything other than the specific items of information asked for, on the CDS answer sheet/test booklet/sheet for rough work.
Do not fold or damage or put any extraneous marking over the CDS Answer Sheet. Do not write anything on the reverse of the answer sheet.