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 Release of the official notice Online application process begins Last date for the receipt of application form Issuance of CDS admit card Date of written examination Announcement of result
For CDS I 31st October 2018 31st October 2018 26th November 2018 3 weeks before the exam 3rd February 2019 (Sunday) March 2019
For CDS II 12th June 2019 12th June 2019 8th July 2019 3 weeks before the exam 8th September 2019 (Sunday) 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 English Elementary Mathematics General Knowledge
Duration 2 hours 2 hours 2 hours
Max. Marks 100 100 100
For Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), the exam pattern is as follows: Subject English General Knowledge
Duration 2 hours 2 hours
Max. Marks 100 100
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 Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA) Air Force Academy (AFA) Indian Naval Academy (INA)
Education Qualification Graduation degree from any recognized University/Institution Graduation degree (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Tech.) 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 Indian Military Academy (IMA) Indian Naval Academy (INA) Air Force Academy (AFA) Officers Training Academy (OTA)
CDS I Not born earlier than Not born later than 2nd January 1996 1st January 2001
CDS II Not born earlier than Not born later than 2nd July 1996 1st July 2001
2nd January 1996
1st January 2001
2nd July 1996
1st July 2001
2nd January 1996
1st January 2000
2nd July 1996
1st July 2000
2nd January 1995
1st January 2001
2nd July 1995
1st July 2001
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.