CDS 2026 — Combined Defence Services Exam Guide
Complete CDS 2026 preparation guide covering exam pattern, syllabus for IMA, AFA, NA, OTA entries, best books, and SSB interview tips.
The CDS (Combined Defence Services) examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year to recruit officers for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). This guide from ExamHub covers the complete preparation strategy.
CDS 2026 Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA & AFA
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper III | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| Total | 300 | 6 hours |
For OTA
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Total | 200 | 4 hours |
Eligibility
| Academy | Education | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | Graduation (any discipline) | 19-24 years |
| AFA | Graduation (with Physics & Math at 12th) | 19-24 years |
| INA | Engineering degree | 19-25 years |
| OTA | Graduation (any discipline) | 19-25 years |
Subject-wise Strategy
English (100 Marks)
- Comprehension passages — 2-3 passages with inference and vocabulary questions
- Grammar — Spotting errors, sentence correction, fill in the blanks
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions
- Ordering of sentences — Para jumbles and sentence arrangement
- Cloze test — Contextual vocabulary usage
General Knowledge (100 Marks)
| Topic | Weightage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| History | 20-25% | NCERT Class 6-12 |
| Geography | 15-20% | NCERT Class 6-12 |
| Polity | 10-15% | Indian Polity (Laxmikanth) |
| Economics | 5-10% | NCERT Class 11-12 |
| Science | 15-20% | NCERT Class 6-10 |
| Current Affairs | 15-20% | Last 6 months events |
| Defence & Security | 5-10% | Defence publications |
Elementary Mathematics (100 Marks — IMA/INA/AFA only)
The syllabus covers up to Class 10 level mathematics:
- Arithmetic — Number system, HCF/LCM, percentage, profit/loss, SI/CI, ratio
- Algebra — Basic operations, factorization, linear equations, quadratic equations
- Geometry — Lines, angles, triangles, circles, parallelograms
- Mensuration — Areas and volumes of basic shapes
- Trigonometry — Basic ratios, heights and distances, identities
- Statistics — Mean, median, mode, frequency distributions
Best Books
| Subject | Book |
|---|---|
| English | Wren & Martin (Grammar) + Newspaper editorials |
| GK | Lucent's GK + NCERT Class 6-12 |
| Mathematics | R.S. Aggarwal (Quantitative Aptitude) |
| Current Affairs | Monthly compilations + PIB |
| Practice | CDS Previous Year Papers (Arihant/Pathfinder) |
SSB Interview Preparation
The SSB interview is a 5-day assessment. Start preparing from Day 1 of your CDS preparation:
Day 1 — Screening
- Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test
- Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)
Days 2-5 — Detailed Assessment
- Psychological Tests — TAT, WAT, SRT, Self-Description
- Group Testing — GD, GPE, PGT, HGT, Command Task, FGT
- Personal Interview — 30-45 minute individual interview
Tips for SSB
- Be genuine — Assessors can detect pretense
- Develop Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs) — Initiative, courage, determination, cooperation
- Stay updated on current affairs — Especially defence and national security
- Practice group discussions — Join online forums or local groups
- Physical fitness — Start running, pull-ups, and team sports
3-Month Preparation Plan
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | NCERTs (all subjects) + Math basics + English grammar + Daily newspaper |
| 2 | Practice papers + GK notes + Current affairs + Math problem solving |
| 3 | Full mock tests + Revision + SSB preparation + Physical fitness |
CDS vs NDA
| Factor | CDS | NDA |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Graduation (19-25) | 12th Pass (16.5-19.5) |
| Math Level | Up to Class 10 | Class 11-12 |
| Training | 1-1.5 years | 3 years + 1 year |
| SSB | Same 5-day process | Same 5-day process |
Free Resources
- NCERT textbooks — ncert.nic.in
- UPSC official website — upsc.gov.in
- Indian Defence Review — For defence-related knowledge
- YouTube — SSB interview preparation channels
- Previous year papers — Download from MyPDF
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CDS exam difficult?
CDS written exam is considered moderate in difficulty — easier than UPSC CSE but requires solid fundamentals. The real challenge is the SSB interview, where the selection rate is typically 5-10%. Thorough preparation for both stages is essential.
Can women appear for CDS?
Yes, women can appear for CDS through the OTA (Officers Training Academy) entry. The OTA entry grants Short Service Commission. Women candidates do not need to take the Mathematics paper.
What is the CDS salary after training?
After completing training, CDS officers start as Lieutenants with a basic pay of Rs 56,100 per month. With Military Service Pay, DA, and other allowances, the in-hand salary is approximately Rs 80,000-90,000 per month, along with free accommodation, medical facilities, and other perks.