CDS 2025 Overview, Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

1.      What is CDS?

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is held twice a year (CDS‑1 in April, CDS‑2 in September) by the UPSC. It recruits officer-trainees for the:

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

Conducted in an offline, pen-and-paper format, it assesses graduates aiming to serve as Commissioned Officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

2.      Fresh for 2025: Latest Notification & Key Dates

• CDS‑2 2025 notification: Released May 28, 2025
• Application window: May 28 – June 17, 2025.
• Exam date: September 14, 2025
• Available posts (CDS‑2):
• IMA: 100
• INA: 26
• AFA: 32
• OTA (Men): 276; OTA (Women): 19
  (total 453 vacancies)

3.      Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria

• Age:
• IMA & INA: 19–24 years
• AFA: 20–24 years
• OTA: 19–25 years
• Nationality: Indian citizen or equivalent (Nepali, Bhutanese, Tibetan refugees before January 1962)
• Educational Qualifications:
• IMA & OTA: Any graduate degree
• INA: Engineering graduate
• AFA: Degree with Physics & Maths at 10+2 or BE/BTech
• Marital status:
• IMA & INA: Unmarried males only
• AFA: Unmarried and married males (no marriage during training)
• OTA: Unmarried males and females

4.      Exam Format & Pattern

4.1 Written Exam Structure

• Mode: Offline objective-type, bilingual (Hindi & English)
• IMA, INA & AFA:
• English – 120 questions, 2 hrs, 100 marks
• General Knowledge – 120 questions, 2 hrs, 100 marks
• Elementary Mathematics – 100 questions, 2 hrs, 100 marks
• Total: 300 marks; Total time: 6 hrs
• OTA:
• English – 120 questions, 2 hrs, 100 marks
• General Knowledge – 120 questions, 2 hrs, 100 marks
• Total: 200 marks; Total time: 4 hrs

Consistent across sources: 1 mark per correct response, 1/3 mark per incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted.

5.      Marking Scheme at a Glance

• Right answer: +1 mark
• Wrong answer: –0.33 marks
• Unanswered: 0 marks

There is no negative marking for unattempted questions.

6.      Detailed Syllabus Breakdown

6.1 English

Focuses on graduate-level comprehension and usage skills:

• Cloze tests, comprehension passages
• Vocabulary: synonyms/antonyms, one-word substitutions
• Grammar and usage: error detection, sentence improvement
• Sentence/paragraph jumbling

6.2 General Knowledge

Questions will reflect graduate-level awareness:

• Current affairs, politics, defence
• History (Indian & World), geography
• Science & technology (basic concepts)
• Economy, environment, culture

6.3 Elementary Mathematics

Matriculation-level quantitative aptitude:

• Arithmetic: percentages, ratios, averages
• Algebra, geometry, trigonometry
• Mensuration, statistics, mensuration, number systems

7.      Stage 2: SSB Interview Process

After clearing the written exam, candidates face a rigorous SSB interview lasting 5–6 days, which evaluates personality, aptitude, leadership, and officer-like qualities

Stage I (Screening, Day 1)

• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) – Verbal & non-verbal tests
• Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT)

Candidates clearing Stage I advance to Stage II.

Stage II (Multi-day)

1. Personal Interview
2. Psychological Tests:
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
• Word Association Test (WAT)
• Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
• Self-Description Test
3. Group Testing Officer Tasks:
• Group discussions, obstacle tasks, lecturette, command task, etc.
4. Conference: Final officer panel evaluation

Max marks:

• IMA/INA/AFA: 300
• OTA: 200

8.      Medical Standards & Final Merit

After SSB clearing, candidates undergo:

• Medical Examination: strict vision, cardiovascular, and physical fitness tests
• Document Verification
• Final Merit List: Based on written + SSB + medical clearance

9.      Scoring & Cutoffs

Expected qualifying marks (CDS‑2 2025 estimations):

10.  How CDS Scoring Works

• Total written marks: 300 (or 200)
• Total SSB marks: 300 (or 200)
• Written & SSB are added to determine the final merit
• Medical clearance and reservation categories are applied before issuing training academy lists
• Focus: both consistency and sectional qualifying marks

11.  Exam-Day & Answer-Sheet Tips

• Use only a black ball pen on OMR sheets
• Fill in details (roll no, subject code, booklet series) clearly in bubbles
• No calculators, mobile phones, or other materials allowed
• Accurate marking is essential to avoid penalization by machine evaluation

12.  Preparation Strategy

12.1 Build a Consistent Study Plan

• Divide daily sessions into English, GK/current affairs, and Math practice
• Weekly mock tests to simulate the 4/6-hour paper
• Analyze: accuracy, speed, weak topics

12.2 Focus on Section-wise Strength

• English: grammar work, vocabulary lists, newspaper editorials, test books
• GK: daily news reading, static revision, themed recall charts
• Math: concept clarity, rigorous problem sets, time-bound practice

12.3 SSB Prep

• Practice OIR-type puzzles and PPDT stories
• Build personality: grooming, communication, confidence exercises
• Group tasks: build leadership, clarity, teamwork under mock conditions

13.  Resources

CDS 2025: Solved Papers of 2018 to 2024 | Combined Defence Services Previous Year Solved Papers

This comprehensive volume is tailored for candidates aiming for recruitment in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force via the CDS route. The book includes all previous year solved papers from 2018 to 2024, covering both the April and September attempts.

Key Features:

·         Includes solved papers from 2018 to 2024 (both cycles), offering rich exposure to real exam questions.

·         Detailed solutions and explanations provided for every question to aid understanding.

·         Follows the latest UPSC CDS exam pattern, ensuring relevance to the current format.

·         Offers a diverse set of practice questions, allowing aspirants to assess and improve their preparation level.

·         Perfectly suited for aspirants targeting officer positions in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

This book serves as an excellent revision tool, helping candidates familiarize themselves with the types of questions expected in the actual exam while boosting their confidence for the big day.

CDS 2025: Exam Study Guide – Includes Combined Defence Services Solved Papers 2019–2024

This is a comprehensive, all-in-one study guide, ideal for serious CDS aspirants. The book covers all key sections of the examination—English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics—with well-explained theory and abundant chapter-wise practice questions. It’s also equipped with a Current Affairs section to keep candidates updated with the latest developments—a crucial component for scoring well in the General Knowledge paper.

Key Features:

·         Detailed theory coverage of all major sections—English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.

·         Chapter-wise practice questions to reinforce concepts and build problem-solving skills.

·         Current Affairs segment included for staying updated with recent national and international events.

·         Solved CDS papers from 2019 to 2024, giving aspirants exposure to real exam formats and difficulty levels.

·         Completely aligned with the latest UPSC CDS syllabus and exam structure, ensuring full preparation without missing any important topics.

This book is particularly useful for self-study candidates who require structured content for concept clarity, revision, and practice in one single source.

Why Choose GKP CDS Books?

Latest & Updated Content (2024–2025 exam pattern)
Expertly Solved Past Papers to understand UPSC’s questioning style
In-depth Theory + Practice Questions for each subject
Relevant Current Affairs to cover evolving GK topics
Trusted by CDS toppers & leading defence academies across India

14. FAQs at a Glance

Q: Will CDS 2025 have negative marking?
A: Yes – 0.33 marks deducted per wrong answer. No penalty for blanks

Q: Subjects for OTA and AFA?
A: OTA – only English & GK; IMA/INA/AFA – adds Mathematics

Q: What is the SSB process?
A: Two-stage (OIR & PPDT, then interviews, psych tests, group tasks, conference)

The CDS 2025 exam is a multi-tiered gateway to a prestigious career in the Armed Forces. It's written papers test academic competence, while the SSB stage evaluates leadership and personality. Since the notification is live, aspirants must prepare with focus, referring to the latest syllabus and timelines.

Final Takeaway

1. Know the dates and the academy-wise pattern.
2. Understand negative marking—accuracy over guesswork.
3. Master concepts through consistent practice and mock tests.
4. Build personality and leadership for the SSB.
5. Stay up-to-date through trusted sources like UPSC’s official site and recognized portals.