CDS Full Form: CDS stands for Combined Defence Services examination. The CDS examination is a competitive test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment into the Indian Armed Forces. The exam aims to select candidates for entry into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Indian Air Force Academy (IAF), and Officers Training Academy (OTA) (both men and women). It is held twice a year, offering aspiring candidates an opportunity to serve their country in prestigious positions.
Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria such as nationality, age limit, marital status, educational qualifications, and physical standards as per the guidelines laid down by the Commission for admission to the Combined Defence Services Examination. The exam consists of a written test followed by an interview, including psychological and physical assessments, conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
The CDS exam is composed of three main papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, followed by an interview for intelligence and personality assessment. The English paper tests candidates' proficiency in language skills, while the General Knowledge paper evaluates their awareness of current affairs and general knowledge. The Mathematics paper assesses their quantitative aptitude.
Note: CDS of the Indian Armed Forces stands for the Chief of Defence Staff who is the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Indian Military. CDS of the Indian Armed Forces is the Chief Military Adviser to the Ministry of Defence. Candidates should not confuse the CDS Full Form of Combined Defence Services with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
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What is CDS Full Form?
CDS exam is held two times a year. It is one of the top most defence exams for which candidates who have graduated apply. On the other hand, the NDA exam can be applied by those who have passed/appearing class 12th. Check out the table below to get a complete idea regarding the CDS full-form overview.
| Exam Name | UPSC CDS: Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Frequency | Twice a year |
| Profiles | Officer in Indian Military Academy (IMA) Officer in Indian Naval Academy (INA) Officer in Air Force Academy (AFA) Officer in Officers Training Academy (OTA) |
| Selection Process | Written Exam SSB Interview Medical Examination |
CDS Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for the CDS exam ensure that they meet the CDS eligibility criteria such as nationality, age limit, marital status, educational qualifications, and physical standards as per the guidelines laid down by the Commission for admission to the Combined Defence Services Examination. Verification of eligibility conditions with reference to original documents will be taken up only after the candidate has qualified for SSB Interview/Personality Test.
CDS Nationality
Candidates appearing for the CDS exam must be Unmarried and must either be:
(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, and East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Candidates in the category (ii) and (iii) shall be required to produce their certificate of eligibility as issued by the Government of India. Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
CDS Age Limit
The CDS age limit along with the cut-off date for age is announced only on the official notification. Check out the table below to know about the school-wise age limit.
| CDS Schools | Age Limit | Marital Status |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried male candidates |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20 to 24 years | Unmarried male candidates |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 19 to 24 years | Unmarried male candidates |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) (Men & Women) | 19 to 25 years | Unmarried male candidates Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried |
CDS Educational Qualification
| Academy | Educational Qualification |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Degree from a recognized university |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) (Men & Women) | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent |
CDS Physical Standards
Candidates applying for the Combined Defence Services exam must be free from any disease/syndrome/disability to be deemed medically fit. Candidate should be able to showcase efficient performance during the military duties in any climate, terrain, season, routes including sea, air, remote areas, etc. Candidates should be free from use of any drugs or aid.
Below we have shared the minimum height and weight criteria for meeting CDS Physical Standards:
Army
(i) Body Mass Index should be below 25.
(ii) Minimum height required for male candidates is 157 cm.
(iii) Minimum height required for male candidates is 152 cm.
Navy
(i) Body Mass Index should not be more than 25
(ii) Waist to Hip Ratio should be less than 0.9
(iii) The minimum height requirement is 147 cm
Air Force
(i) Minimum height for Flying Branch is 162.5 cm
(ii) Minimum height for Ground Duty branches is 157.5 cm
(iii) Minimum and Maximum measurements of sitting height, leg length, and thigh length for induction in the Aircrew is as below:
| Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
| Sitting Height | 81.5 cm | 96 cm |
| Leg Length | 99 cm | 120 cm |
| Thigh Length | - | 64 cm |
(iv) Body Mass Index should be below 27.
(v) Waist to Hip ratio should be below 0.9 (Males) and 0.8 (Females).
(vi) Waist circumference should be less than 94 cm (Males) and 89 cm (Females).
What is the Selection Process for CDS?
Candidates go through the CDS Selection Process which includes an online Written Test followed by SSB Interview. Candidates who qualify for both rounds will be considered for the final merit list.
CDS Exam Pattern
For Admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) the candidates have to appear for a written test. The test is held in offline mode across India and consists of multiple choice questions. Check the table below to know mode details about the CDS exam pattern. Candidates are also advised to check the CDS syllabus to learn about the important topics in the exam.
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
| English Language | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 300 | 6 hours |
For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
| English Language | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 200 | 2 hours |
CDS SSB Interview
The candidates who qualify for the CDS written exam will be called to appear in the SSB interview round. The CDS SSB Interview will comprise a two-stage process and only candidates who qualify in the Stage 1 shall be called for Stage 2.
Stage 1
There will be Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests which are Picture Perception* Description Test (PP&DT). Performance in both the OIR and PP&DT tests will be considered for shortlisting for Stage 2.
Stage 2
There will be Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference, usually over a period of 4 days.
CDS Salary Structure
The candidates post qualifying for the examination will be eligible to draw CDS salary as per the rules of the 7th pay commission. The initial pay scale for the candidates is going to be in level 10 of the pay scale of Rs 56,100 -1,77,500.
| Rank | Level | Salary (In INR) |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 -1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10 B | 61,300- 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400-2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | 1,21,200-2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | 1,30,600-2, 15,900 |
| Brigadier | Level 13A | 1,39,600-2,17,600 |
| Major General | Level 14 | 1,44,200-2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General HAG Scale | Level 15 | 1, 82, 200-2,24,100 |
| HAG+Scale | Level 16 | 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) | Level 17 | 2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS | Level 18 | 2,50,000 (fixed) |
CDS is a very competitive examination and therefore the candidates have to resort to the preparation tips suggested by experts. Here are some of the popular preparation hacks followed by students.
- Go through the syllabus suggested by the UPSC for the concerned post. The commission has listed different subjects and exam pattern for various military schools. The candidates are advised to stick to the official exam pattern as prescribed by the commission.
- Always resort to the UPSC CDS books that help in clearing the basics for the examination. These books are helpful to strengthen the foundational basics before the examination.
- Prepare a study plan that complements the preparation for the UPSC CDS examination. It should be such that helps in preparing for the examination in the best way.
- Be very vigilant when it comes to physical fitness. The CDS offers officers profiles in the Indian Airforce, Indian Army and Navy. Hence, one is advised to do light exercises to be physically fit before the examinatio.
- Attempt the UPSC CDS examination regularly. It helps in testing the overall preparation level from time to time. Make a habit of writing at least two to three mock tests regularly to be ready for the examination.