Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted Combined Defence Services (CDS). CDS exam is held twice a year. CDS (I) held in starting of the year, and CDS (II) is conducting at year-end. Combined Defence Services is a national level examination. Lakhs of candidates appear for this examination from all over the country. Candidates who get selected for the examination are further called for Interview for Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB). Those who qualify all the stages are recruited to Army, Naval and Air Headquarters.
UPSC CDS(1)2018 UPSC CDS(2) 2018
UPSC CDS
The CDS entrance examination comprises a written examination. Candidates who qualify the written examination will be selected for the interview and personality test conducted by Services Selection Board (SSB) commonly known as SSB. To be selected for Defence services candidate must obtain minimum qualifying marks that are fixed by the Union Public Service Commission both in written as well as in the SSB Interview/ Personality Test.
UPSC CDS Exam Dates are given below.
| UPSC CDS Exam | Dates |
| UPSC CDS (2) 2018 | 18 Nov 2018 |
UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for the examination is as follows:
Nationality
- Indian.
Age limit, Gender, and Marital Status
- For Indian Military Academy– Candidate should be an unmarried male, 19-24 year old on 1 Jan for CDS 1 and 1 July for CDS 2.
- For Indian Naval Academy– Unmarried male candidates, 19-24 year old on 1 Jan for CDS 1 and 1 July for CDS 2.
- For Air Force Academy– Candidates from age 20-24 as on Jan 01 for CDS 1 and July 01 for CDS 2.
Educational Qualifications
- For Indian Military Academy- For IMA candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- For Indian Naval Academy- Candidate should have a degree in Engineering from a recognized university or institution.
- For Air Force Academy- For AFA candidate must have a degree from a recognized university with mathematics and Physics as main subjects in 10+2 level. or Bachelor of Engineering.
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern
The scheme for the examination is given below in the table.
For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
The papers in all the subject will be of MCQ type (objective questions). Candidates are not allowed to use the calculators during the examination.
UPSC Recruitment Defense Services
