Table of Contents

  1. CDS Exam Syllabus 2022: Overview
  2. CDS Exam Syllabus 2022: Subject-wise Syllabus
  3. CDS Examination Pattern
  4. CDS Important Instructions
  5. FAQs

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services exams to induct promising aspirants into the INA (Indian Naval Academy), IMA (Indian Military Academy), AFA (Indian Air Force Academy), and OTA (Officer’s Training Academy). These examinations are conducted twice a year. The official notification for the CDS 2023 will be released on 21st December 2022, and the examination will be held on 6th April 2023. The admit card will be made available 3 weeks before the examination.

CDS Exam Syllabus 2022: Overview

Below given are crucial details about CDS Exam 2022

FeaturesDetails
Name of the examination Combined Defence Services Examination
Name of the Examination conducting authorityUnion Public Service Commission
Official website of the Commissionwww.upsc.gov.in
Level of examinationNational level
Frequency of the examinationTwice a year
Duration of the examination2 Hours (120 minutes)
Fees
  • Unreserved Categories – Rs.200/-
  • SC/ ST / Women candidates/ Sons of JCOs/ NCOs/ ORs-No fees

CDS Exam Syllabus 2022: Subject-Wise Syllabus

The topics for each subject/ section are mentioned below: 

SubjectTopics
General Knowledge
  • Economics
  • Physics
  • Current Affairs
  • Politics
  • Chemistry
  • Sociology
  • History
  • Defence-related Award
  • Geography
  • Environment
  • Sport
  • Biology
  • Cultural
  • Books
  • Statement
  • True/False
English
  • Basic Grammar
  • Error Spotting
  • Idioms & Phrases
  • Para Jumbles
  • Reading Comprehension Solving
  • Substitution of Words
  • Synonyms and Antonyms
Arithmetics
  • Number System: 
  • Natural numbers
  • Rational & Real numbers
  • Integers
  • Fundamental operations, multiplication, subtraction, addition, and division
  • Square roots
  • Decimal fractions
  • Unitary method
  • time and work
  • percentages
  • time and distance
  • simple & compound interest
  • ratio and proportion
  • profit and loss
  • variation.
  • Elementary NumberTheory 
  • Prime & composite numbers
  • Division algorithm
  • Tests divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 11
  • Factorisation Theorem
  • Multiples and factors
  • L.C.M. & H.C.F
  • Euclidean algorithm
  • Logarithms to base 10
  • laws of logarithms
  • use of the logarithmic tables
Algebra
  • Basic Operations
  • simple factors
  • L.C.M.
  • H.C.F. 
  • Remainder Theorem
  • Theory of polynomials
  • solutions of quadratic equations’ relation between its roots and coefficients 
  • Simultaneous linear inequations in 2 variables and their solutions
  • Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical & graphical solutions
  • Practical problems leading to 2 simultaneous linear equations/ inequations in 2 variables or quadratic equations in 1 variable and their solutions
  • Rational expressions and conditional identities
  • Set language and set notation
  • Laws of indices
Trignometry
  • Simple trigonometric identities
  • Trigonometric tables
  • Simple cases of height & distance
Geometry
  • Plane and plane figures, Lines and angles, Theorems on
  • Properties of angles at a point
  • Parallel lines
  • Sides & angles of a triangle
  • Congruency of triangles
  • Similar triangles
  • Concurrence of medians and altitudes
  • Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, square and rectangle
  • Circles and its properties including tangents and normals
  • Loci
Mensuration
  • Areas of squares, parallelograms, rectangles, triangles, and circles.
  • 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, bar charts, histograms, pie charts, and others
  • Measures of central tendency
  • CDS OTA Syllabus 

The syllabus for CDA OTA examination is as follows:

SubjectTopics
English
  • Sentence arrangement
  • Spotting Error
  • Selecting words
  • Synonyms and Antonyms
  • Comprehension
  • Ordering of Sentence
  • Ordering of words
  • Idioms and Phrases
  • Fill up the blanks
General Knowledge
  • Current Affairs
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Geography
  • History
  • Politics
  • Sociology
  • Economics
  • Defence Related Awards
  • Sports and culture
  • Environmental Science

CDS Examination Pattern

  • UPSC CDS Exam Pattern For IMA, INA & AFA

For Indian Military Academy, Indian Navy Academy & Indian Air Force Academy, the examination consists of three sections: General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics. Each section is of 100 marks and the total time allotted is 2 hours.

Subjects/ SectionsTotal Duration of the examMaximum Marks
English2 hours (120 minutes)100 marks
General Knowledge2 hours (120 minutes)100 marks
Elementary Mathematics2 hours (120 minutes)100 marks
  • UPSC CDS Exam Pattern for Officers’ Training Academy

The Elementary Mathematics section is not included in this exam. All other aspects like total marks and the exam duration remain the same as discussed above.

Subject/ SectionsDuration of the examMaximum Marks
English2 hours (120 minutes)100 marks
General Knowledge2 hours (120 minutes)100 marks

Marking Scheme

  • Each answer carries 1 mark
  • Negative marking is applicable. 
  • 0.33 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer or multiple answers to one question
  • For answered questions, no marks will be deducted

CDS Important Instructions:

Here are a few exam preparation tips that will help aspiring students to score well in exams:

  • Preparing for the test from the subject books is recommended, but going through other study materials is also imperative. 
  • Besides the books, the candidate should follow the sample and previous years’ question papers, as they are a good source of what to expect in the exam. 
  • The question papers provide a clear idea of the marking scheme and the exam pattern. 
  • Solving them will make the candidate proficiently solve question papers on a similar pattern, giving them an edge over others taking the exam. 
  • If the previous year’s question papers are unavailable, the candidates can opt for the sample paper and mock test series available online.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the CDS exam syllabus and the topics to be covered, you can systematically start your preparation. Refer to relevant books and prepare a schedule. Study the topics thoroughly. Since it is a Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) test, you must retain all the relevant matter you are studying. Study diligently, stay focused and think positively. You will certainly succeed.