The CDS exam is conducted by UPSC for candidates who want to join the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. Every year, thousands of aspirants prepare seriously, but only those who follow a structured plan move ahead to the SSB stage.
This page consists of the latest notification, eligibility rules, syllabus, exam pattern, previous year question paper PDF downloads, and preparation strategy in one place. If you want to start your preparation, this is the page that you require to read.
You can also start CDS preparation online from here with guided practice tests and structured study support.
Candidates can download CDS question paper PDF after the exam to evaluate performance and prepare for the next attempt.
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The CDS exam 2026 notification was/is to be released by UPSC in two cycles:
The notification usually includes:
Remember, always complete CDS registration 2026 as soon as the notification is released to avoid last-minute errors.
The CDS exam date 2026 schedule is expected as follows:
|
Exam Stage |
Date |
|
CDS I Exam 2026 |
12 April 2026 |
|
CDS II Exam 2026 |
September 2026 |
|
Admit Card Release |
Approximately 3 weeks before the exam |
Candidates should regularly check updates after the official CDS exam 2026 notification is released to confirm final dates.
Understanding the CDS eligibility criteria is essential before filling out the CDS application form 2026. Eligibility varies depending on the academy you are applying for.
|
Academy |
Required Qualification |
|
IMA (Indian Military Academy) |
Graduation from a recognised university |
|
INA (Indian Naval Academy) |
Engineering degree |
|
AFA (Air Force Academy) |
Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or Engineering degree |
|
OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) |
Graduation in any discipline |
The CDS application form 2026 will be available online on the UPSC portal after the notification release.
The steps included in the application:
Remember, registering early for CDS registration 2026 increases the chances of getting your preferred exam centres.
The CDS exam pattern depends on the academy selection.
For IMA, INA and AFA:
For OTA:
Each paper lasts two hours.
|
Subject |
Topics Included |
|
English |
Reading Comprehension; Spotting Errors; Fill in the Blanks; Synonyms and Antonyms; Idioms and Phrases; Sentence Arrangement; Ordering of Words in Sentences; Sentence Improvement; Sentence Correction |
|
Arithmetic |
Number System (natural numbers, integers, rational and real numbers); Fundamental Operations; Decimal Fractions; Square Roots; Percentages; Ratio and Proportion; Profit and Loss; Simple and Compound Interest; Time and Work; Time and Distance; Variation |
|
Elementary Number Theory |
Division Algorithm; Prime and Composite Numbers; Tests of Divisibility; Multiples and Factors; Factorisation Theorem; HCF and LCM; Euclidean Algorithm; Logarithms (base 10); Laws of Logarithms |
|
Algebra |
Basic Algebraic Operations; Remainder Theorem; HCF and LCM of Polynomials; Quadratic Equations; Simultaneous Linear Equations; Linear Inequalities; Set Notation; Rational Expressions; Laws of Indices |
|
Trigonometry |
Trigonometric Ratios (sin, cos, tan); Standard Angle Values (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°); Trigonometric Identities; Use of Trigonometric Tables; Heights and Distances |
|
Geometry |
Lines and Angles; Properties of Triangles; Congruence and Similarity of Triangles; Medians and Altitudes; Rectangle, Square and Parallelogram Properties; Circles and Tangents; Loci |
|
Mensuration |
Areas of Triangle, Rectangle, Square, Parallelogram and Circle; Composite Figures; Surface Area and Volume of Cone and Cylinder; Surface Area and Volume of Cuboid; Surface Area and Volume of Sphere |
|
Statistics |
Collection and Tabulation of Data; Frequency Polygons; Bar Charts; Histograms; Pie Charts; Measures of Central Tendency |
|
Indian History |
Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian History |
|
Political Science |
Constitution of India; Governance Structure |
|
Economy |
Basic Economy Concepts and Terminology |
|
Geography |
Physical Geography; Indian Geography |
|
Environment |
Ecology; Biodiversity; Conservation |
|
General Science |
Physics; Chemistry; Biology |
|
Current Affairs |
National and International Events; Awards; Books and Authors; Sports; Conferences; Summits |
|
Defence Awareness |
Army; Navy; Air Force-related topics |
Note: Candidates applying for OTA are required to prepare only English and General Knowledge, as the Mathematics paper is not included in the OTA written examination.
The complete CDS selection process includes:
Candidates who clear the written stage move to the SSB assessment round.
The CDS admit card 2026 is usually released online approximately three weeks before the exam. Candidates must download it using their registration details.
Entry to the examination centre is not allowed without the admit card.
The CDS result 2026 will be declared in two stages:
Candidates shortlisted in the written stage become eligible for the interview process. Thus, after the interview, the final merit list is declared.
The CDS answer key 2026 helps candidates estimate their performance immediately after the exam.
Checking the answer key allows you to:
Hence, candidates wait for the answer key to be released. Though Unacademy has released the unofficial answer key for CDS 2026, students can refer to it.
The CDS exam analysis 2026 will help candidates understand:
Typically, English remains scoring, Mathematics moderate, and General Knowledge slightly unpredictable.
The CDS cut off 2026 will depend on:
The CDS expected cut off 2026 can be estimated using previous year trends and answer key analysis after the exam.
Most of the candidates ask how to prepare for CDS exam effectively within limited time.
A good plan for preparing CDS exam includes:
If you are starting fresh, begin with:
A practical CDS study plan 3 months strategy:
Understanding CDS salary and job profile helps candidates stay motivated during preparation.
Selected candidates receive:
Academy-wise entry includes:
Salary increases with rank progression after commissioning.
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