CDS

Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a gateway through which young men and women can join any of the
three wings of the Indian Defence Services- Indian Army, Indian Air Force or Indian Navy. The exam is conducted
twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The two phases of the exam are known as CDS I and
CDS II. However, CDS 2019 exam will be conducted in February and September as per the official calendar
released on UPSC website.

Vacancies:

Total Vacancies 417 (Approximately)

CDS 2019 Exam Dates: UPSC has released the official examination calendar for the year 2019 on its official
website. As per the calendar, here are the important dates related to CDS I and CDS II:

Exam Events For CDS I For CDS II

Release of the official notice 31st October 2018 12th June 2019
Online application process begins 31st October 2018 12th June 2019
Last date for the receipt of application form 26th November 2018 8th July 2019
Issuance of CDS admit card 3 weeks before the exam 3 weeks before the exam
Date of written examination 3rd February 2019 (Sunday) 8th September 2019 (Sunday)
Announcement of result March 2019 October 2019

CDS Exam 2019 Syllabus: English, Elementary Mathematics, General Knowledge.

Written Exam pattern: The written exam will be held through offline mode. For Indian Military Academy, Air
Force Academy and Indian Naval Academy, the exam pattern is as follows:

Subject Duration Max. Marks

English 2 hours 100
Elementary Mathematics 2 hours 100
General Knowledge 2 hours 100

For Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), the exam pattern is as follows:

Subject Duration Max. Marks

English 2 hours 100
General Knowledge 2 hours 100

 1 marks for each correct answer.

 One third marks deducted for every incorrect answer.
 Medium of Exam: Bilingual in Hindi as well as English.

CDS Eligibility Criteria

 Candidates should be an Indian citizen.
 Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, Refugee of Tibet (who migrated to India before 1962), and People of
Indian Origin (PIO) who migrated from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, and East African countries are also
eligible.
 Academies Education Qualification
Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers Training Graduation degree from any recognized
Academy (OTA) University/Institution
Graduation degree (with Physics and Mathematics at
Air Force Academy (AFA) 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Tech.)
Indian Naval Academy (INA) Engineering degree from a recognized
University/Institution

Age Limit (Tentative): The CDS I and CDS II age limit provided here are tentative. They are provided on the basis
of CDS 2018 exam and will be updated as soon as the notification for CDS 2019 is released.

Academies CDS I CDS II

Not born earlier than Not born later than Not born earlier than Not born later than
Indian Military 2nd January 1996 1st January 2001 2nd July 1996 1st July 2001
Academy (IMA)
Indian Naval 2nd January 1996 1st January 2001 2nd July 1996 1st July 2001
Academy (INA)
Air Force Academy 2nd January 1996 1st January 2000 2nd July 1996 1st July 2000
(AFA)
Officers Training 2nd January 1995 1st January 2001 2nd July 1995 1st July 2001
Academy (OTA)

Marital Status:

 Candidate should be unmarried to apply for IMA, INA & AFA.

 Male Applicants at OTA are exempted from this restriction.
 Unmarried women, issueless widows and divorcees can apply for OTA.

Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Combined
Defence Services Examination (I), 2019 as per guidelines given in Appendix-IV.

Tenure of Appointment: Short Service Commission Officers (Male and Female) in the regular Army will be
granted for 14 years i.e. for an initial period of 10 years extendable by a further period of 04 years. Male officers
who are willing to continue to serve in the Army after the expiry of period of ten years Short Service Commission
may, if eligible and suitable in all respects, be considered for the grant of permanent Commission in the 10th year of
their Short Service Commission in accordance with the relevant rules. Those SSC officers, who are not selected for
grant of PC but are otherwise considered fit and suitable, will be given options to continue as SSCOs for a total
period of 14 years (including the initial tenure of 10 years) on expiry of which they will be released from the Army".
Women officers are not eligible for permanent commission. However, they can opt for extension of up to 14 years of
service.