CDS 2025: Exam Dates (Announced), Application Form, Eligibility

CDS 2025 Exam Date has been announced through online mode for both Papers. CDS I will be conducted on April 13th 2025 and CDS II will be conducted on September 14th 2025.

Do you want to become Indian Army Officer? Check CDS 2025 details below

CDS 2025 Exam Dates | CDS 2025 Application

CDS 2025 Notifications – Exam Dates Out

CDS 2025 Exam Dates have been announced. The exam will be held on 13th April 2025 (CDS 1) and on 14th September 2025 (CDS 2). Check here for exam date details.

CDS 2025 Notification will be released on 11th December 2024 tentatively for CDS I. Application form for UPSC CDS I 2025 will be released on 11th December 2024.

Union Public Service Commission of India (UPSC) is the conducting authority of CDS 2025 examination. Combined Defence Services (CDS) is a national level entrance exam conducted assessing candidates for positions in Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy.

This UPSC CDS 2025 exam is a highly anticipated exam consist with two divisions, Paper I and Paper II. Exam will be administered on same day but during separate sessions.

Qualified candidates through this exam will undergo training Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Office Training Academy (OTA).

All you need to know regarding CDS 2025 Exam

• Want to apply for CDS 2025 exam for paper I & II, Check CDS 2025 Application Form
• Confused? Whether eligible for CDS 2025 exam, Check CDS 2025 Eligibility Criteria
• CDS 2025 Exam dates Announced, Check complete CDS 2025 Exam Date
• Start preparing for CDS 2025 exam by knowing best books, check CDS 2025 Books
• Thinking to start preparation early for CDS 2025 exam? Good ! Check CDS Preparation Tips

Any Query? Leave your queries below

CDS 2025 Overview

CDS 2025 Exam Dates

Candidates can check complete CDS 2025 exam dates from below:

CDS 2025 Application Form

Here we have mentioned complete CDS 2025 application form details:

• UPSC CDS 2025 application form for Paper I will be released from 11th December 2024.
• Candidates will be able to complete application procedure through online mode, no offline mode will be available.
• Application form for CDS II 2025 will be released from 28^th May 2025 through online mode.
• Before applying for exam, candidates must fulfil complete eligibility criteria mentioned below.
• During registration (OTR), candidates will have to enter basic information such as name, personal details and other information.
• Select preferences for IMA, NA, AFA, and OTA in application form.
• Fill application form with details such as academic qualification, personal details, communication details, etc.
• Upload scanned image of required documents in prescribed format to avoid rejection.
• Complete the procedure by submitting application fee as per your category.
• Re-check the details and submit the form on website.
• Take a hardcopy of form and keep it safe for further usage in admission procedure.

Application Fee:

• The CDS 2025 application fee will be submitted through online & offline both the modes.
• For offline method, candidates will be able to deposit the money in any branch of SBI by cash to submit registration fee.
• Those candidates who will submit fee through “Pay by Cash” mode should print system generated Pay in-Slip during part II registration and deposit the fee at counter of SBI branch.
• Online facility such as Visa, Master, Rupay Credit card, debit card, UPI Payment or net banking will be available.

Here are the application fee for different category candidates:

How to Apply for CDS 2025

To apply for CDS 2025 exam, candidates can check complete step-by-step procedure:

• Step-1: Visit the website of UPSC CDS (Link will be given above).
• Step-2: On homepage, press “UPSC CDS 2025 registration” option.
• Step-3: It will be mandatory to register first at OTR (One Time Registration) platform.
• Step-4: After registration, fill application form with details such as qualification, personal details, communication details, etc.
• Step-5: Upload the scanned documents in prescribed format only.
• Step-6: Complete the process by submitting the application fee as per the category.
• Step-7: Recheck filled details in application form and submit it on the website.
• Step-8: A confirmation page will appear on the screen.
• Step-9: Take a hardcopy of form and keep it safe for further usage in admission.

CDS 2025 Application Correction

Application correction in CDS 2025 will be started through online mode. There will be no offline method provided to make correction in form. Those registered candidates in exam will be able to make correction in form during edit facility.

This window will be open for two to three days only. In case of any mistake in application form while filling it, candidates will be able to make changes in it during edit window.

CDS 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfill complete CDS 2025 eligibility criteria before applying for exam:

• Nationality: Applying candidates must be unmarried and citizen of India, subject of Nepal or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African countries with intention to permanently settle in India.
• Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1962, with the intention to permanently settle in India will also apply.
• Educational Qualification: For IMA, candidates must have bachelor’s degree (BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, BCA, BTech, etc) from a recognized university or equivalent institute.
• To apply for Indian Naval Academy (INA), candidates must have bachelor’s degree in engineering from a recognized university/ college.
• Candidates must have bachelor’s degree from any recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or bachelor’s degree in engineering will be eligible for Air Force Academy exam.
• For OTA (Men, Women – Non- Technical), candidates must have bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent institute.
• Physical Fitness: Applying candidates should be physically fit in all aspects by the three defence departments i.e Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Applying candidates must be good in Physics and sound mental health and free from any disease/ disability that can interfere in the performance of their duties.
• Appearing: Those appearing candidates in final year/ semester degree course and yet to pass final year degree exam will also be eligible to apply.
• Age Limit: Given below are the age limit for different categories:

CDS 2025 Exam Pattern

Here are the complete CDS 2025 exam pattern below in pointers:

• Exam Mode: Exam will be conducted through offline mode
• Duration: Total 2 hours (120 minutes) will be given to solve each paper.
• Medium: Exam will be held in two languages in Hindi & English
• Number of Questions: There will be total 300 questions asked in IMA, INA, & AFA exam and 200 questions in OTA.
• Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) will be asked in exam.
• Marks: There will be total 300 marks consist in IMA, INA, and AFA and 200 marks in OTA.
• Marking Scheme: 1 mark will be awarded for each correct answer.
• Negative Marking: 1/3 of negative marking will be there for each incorrect answer.

CDS 2025 Syllabus

The CDS 2025 syllabus will be released through online mode on the website. Written exam will be divided into three sections. In English sections of CDS syllabus, candidates will have to prepare more with grammar and increase their word power.

It will be mandatory for the candidates to check complete syllabus before preparing for entrance exam. Syllabus of CDS 2025 will include English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics for admission to Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Air Force Academy.

CDS 2025 Preparation Tips

To score higher in CDS 2025 entrance exam, candidates can check preparation tips below:

• Start preparing for exam by knowing complete syllabus from the website.
• Candidates should focus on solving previous year’s CDS questions papers to know difficulty level of maths section.
• Try to attempt as many mock test as you can.
• Make a proper study plan to study in a planned manner.
• Divide their time equally among all the topics asked in entrance exam.
• Take a help from best books for CDS 2025 for preparation.

CDS 2025 Books

To prepare for CDS 2025 exam, candidates can check best books from below:

• English Grammar & Composition by SC Gupta
• General Knowledge by Manohar Pandey
• Mathematics for CDS entrance Exam RS Agrawal
• CDS Pathfinder by Arihant
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
• Let’s Crack SSB Interview by SSB Crack
• Arihant CDS Solved Paper Chapter wise
• Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar & Composition – Wren and Martin’s

CDS 2025 Exam Centres

Here are the CDS 2025 exam centres where the exam will be conducted through offline mode:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

CDS 2025 Admit Card

UPSC will release CDS 2025 admit card through online mode. There will be no other method will be provided to download admit card. Candidates will be able to download CDS 2025 I admit card in April 2025 and for CDS II 2025 will be released in September 2025.

Those registered candidates for exam will be able to access hall ticket from the website. Login detail such as application number and date of birth will be required to download it. Admit card will be the most important document to carry on the day of exam, as without it candidates will not be given entry to exam hall. There will be various details in admit cad such as

CDS 2025 Answer Key

CDS 2025 answer key will be released through online mode. It will be released after the completion of exam process. However, the unofficial answer key will be released by various coaching centre on their respective website.

Candidates will be able to calculate their probable scores with the help of answer key. It will be released in the form of PDF on the website. It will be released for all sets of test booklets.

CDS 2025 Result

UPSC will release the CDS I 2025 result in the month of June 2025 and in October 2025 for CDS II. Candidates will be able to download result through online mode. There will be no other offline method provided to access result. To download result, candidates will be required to use their application number and password.

Qualified candidates in exam will have to participate in other process of admission. After clearing exam and SSB Interview, candidates will secure admission to prestigious IMA, INA, AFA and officers training Academy (OTA).

CDS 2025 Cut Off

CDS I 2025 Cut off will be released along with the released of final CDS result. It will be released through online mode. The expected cut off marks will help the candidates to get the probability of getting selected in defence academics.

Based on the minimum qualifying marks in each subject and minimum aggregate marks of the last qualified candidates, the cut off marks will be released. Candidates will be required to secure the cut off marks separately in the written exam and SSB Interview to be considered for final selection.

CDS 2025 Selection Procedure

 The complete CDS 2025 selection procedure will be release by UPSC on the website through online mode. There will be two stages of CDS selection procedure – a written exam and an SSB Interview.

Those candidates who will qualify the exam will be called to participate for SSB Interview round. Selection procedure will be held to test the candidates aptitude and reasoning ability. Selected candidates in this procedure will be called for SSB Interview for 5 days.

CDS 2025 SSB Interview

Those qualified candidates in CDS 2025 exam will have to participate in selection procedure. Candidates who will be selected in selection procedure will have to participate in SSB Interview round. Based on SSB Interview, candidates will be selected for various offered posts.

There will be two stage in selection process. Stage 1 will comprise with officer intelligence rating (OIR) test and picture perception description test (PP & DT). Stage 2 will be consist with Interview, Group testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the conference.

In case of any query related to CDS 2025 Exam, candidates can feel free to ask their queries below in the comment section.