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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · DEFENSE

CDS

Combined Defence Services Examination

Officer entry after graduation — IMA, INA, AFA, Officers Training Academy.

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What do you want to do today?

Lably's shared practice surfaces, scoped to your class rather than to CDS. Use the syllabus and prep plan below for CDS-specific work.

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What you'll be tested on

Syllabus

  • Grammar
  • Vocabulary
  • RC
  • Sentence Improvement
  • Synonyms & Antonyms
  • Idioms
Question types · marks · duration

Exam pattern

Paper I — English
2h 0m · 120 Qs
100 marks
Objective. -1/3 negative.
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
English120100+0.83 / -0.28
Paper II — General Knowledge
2h 0m · 120 Qs
100 marks
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
GK120100+0.83 / -0.28
Paper III — Elementary Maths (IMA/INA/AFA only)
2h 0m · 100 Qs
100 marks
OTA candidates SKIP this paper.
SectionQuestionsMarksMarkingNotes
Maths100100+1 / -0.33
Yearly windows

Important dates

  1. 01
    CDS I — Notification
    Mid Dec
  2. 02
    CDS I — Exam
    Mid Apr
  3. 03
    CDS II — Notification
    Mid May
  4. 04
    CDS II — Exam
    First Sun of Sep
From start to D-day

Recommended prep plan

Phase 1
Months 1–4

NCERT Class 10 Maths + Lucent's GK + Wren & Martin.

Phase 2
Months 5–6

Sectional tests + PYQ analysis. Pick weak GK domains (3 of 6) and double down.

Phase 3
Months 7–8

Full mocks (2/week). Time-discipline more than depth — short paper, fast scoring.

Phase 4
Post-written (SSB)

Same playbook as NDA SSB. The board's 5-day process is identical.

What clearing it unlocks

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