CDS Syllabus 2025: The UPSC recruits graduates for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA through the Combine Defence Services (CDS) Exam. To make the most of this exciting opportunity, candidates must understand the CDS syllabus well as it is crucial for any competitive exam. The CDS Exam Syllabus will provide you with details of the subjects and topics you need to prepare for the exam. All details of the CDS exam syllabus and pattern have been compiled in this article for your reference.
The CDS Syllabus consists of 3 papers:
- General Knowledge
- English
- Elementary Mathematics
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The CDS OTA Syllabus has only 2 papers: General Knowledge and English. To successfully pass any government examination, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the syllabus. As such, we are providing the CDS Syllabus to assist candidates in their preparation.
Read about CDS Interview Questions Here.
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Subjects |
PDF Link |
| Most Asked General Knowledge Question in CDS Exam in Past Years - Download PDF | Download Link |
| Most Asked General Science Question in CDS Exam in Past Years - Download PDF | Download Link |
| Most Asked Quantitative Aptitude Question in CDS Exam in Past Years - Download PDF | Download Link |
| Most Asked Logical Reasoning Question in CDS Exam in Past Years - Download PDF | Download Link |
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CDS Syllabus 2025 Highlights
The CDS (Combined Defence Services) syllabus is for a UPSC exam in India for officer positions in the military. It covers English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics to test candidates' skills and knowledge. The comprehensive CDS exam syllabus PDF can be found in this article and downloaded for future reference.
| CDS Syllabus Overview 2025 | |
| Mode of CDS exam | Offline |
| Total number of marks |
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| Total Number of sections |
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| Language of the CDS question paper | Hindi and English |
| Total Duration of the test | 2 hours for each section of test |
| Nature of the questions | Objective type |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd deducted for every wrong answer |
Check out CDS Salary here.
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025 Overview
The CDS syllabus is divided into three subjects: General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics (not required for OTA). UPSC conducts the CDS exam twice a year, providing students with the opportunity to take the exam more frequently. To crack the UPSC CDS 2025 exam, it is crucial to know the syllabus, which is the basis for the exam questions. The detailed syllabus, along with a CDS Syllabus PDF version, is provided below for the candidate's benefit.
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CDS Syllabus PDF - Download
Understanding the CDS syllabus is an important part of exam preparation because it allows you to prioritize your study plan and focus on the relevant topics. Furthermore, having a copy of the CDS Syllabus PDF in hand provides a convenient way to access the syllabus at any time and from any location.
Download the CDS Syllabus PDF!
Benefits of CDS Exam Syllabus PDF
Following are the benefits of downloading and learning from PDF format of CDS Syllaus:
- Aspirants can easily refer to the syllabus by downloading the CDS Syllabus PDF instead of searching for it online repeatedly.
- You can print out the syllabus in PDF format and keep it handy for quick reference during exam preparation.
- In addition, the CDS Syllabus PDF link provided below allows candidates to access the syllabus with a single click.
As a result, using the CDS Syllabus PDF can save time and effort while also ensuring effective exam preparation.
CDS OTA Syllabus
The syllabus of the CDS Officers Training Academy (OTA) is all the same as given above in the article. A minor change is that the Mathematics exam is not conducted by the UPSC for OTA, so those who are appearing for OTA only and do not want to appear for INA and IMA can skip the Mathematics part of the syllabus while preparing for CDS 2025. Candidates can check the other details for OTA in CDS by visiting this link.
| CDS OTA Syllabus Subjects | Exam Duration | Total Marks |
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
The changes in CDS OTA Syllabus effects the exam pattern and marking scheme for OTA exam as well. The CDS OTA (Officers Training Academy) exam pattern for 2025 is as follows:
- The exam comprises two sections: English language and General Knowledge.
- The exam is a written test consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- The total time stipulated for solving the questions is 4 hours.
- The maximum marks for the OTA are 200. The maximum marks for IMA, INA, and AFA categories are 300 as mathematics is also included in these categories.
- There is no penalty for wrong answers in CDS OTA.
Check out CDS Apply Online Process to know all details regarding the application process
CDS Exam Syllabus Subject-Wise 2025
The examinations cover several subjects that come with detailed questions. A candidate will have to understand every subject in the syllabus at length. Below we have mentioned the common subject-wise CDS Syllabus for an aspirant's understanding of the exam.
- CDS Syllabus for General Knowledge
- CDS English Syllabus
- CDS Maths Syllabus
Check out the CDS previous year papers to boost your preparation.
CDS General Knowledge Syllabus
The General Knowledge section of the CDS Exam Syllabus includes knowledge of current events and everyday observations expected of an educated person with a graduate degree. It covers subjects like Political Science, History, Economics, and Geography, with questions based on various topics listed below.
| CDS Syllabus for General Knowledge | |
| Topic | Description |
| Current Affairs | Events of national and international importance, sports, awards and honours, books and authors, and major developments in the fields of politics, economics, and social issues |
| History | Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, Indian national movement, and the growth of nationalism |
| Geography | Physical, social, and economic aspects of geography, including Indian geography and world geography |
| Indian Polity and Governance | Constitution of India, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. |
| Economic and Social Development | Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. |
| Science and Technology | Developments in the field of science and technology, including space technology, biotechnology, and computer technology |
| Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, and climate change |
| Defence and Security Issues | Current events related to national security, internal and external threats, and role of Armed Forces |
Get to know about some of the most important CDS GK Questions here that are asked for SSB Interview and also get a set of important questions for CDS written exam.
CDS English Syllabus
The English section of the CDS Exam Syllabus tests candidates' understanding of basic English, including vocabulary, basic grammar, error detection, and idioms & phrases. The syllabus for the CDS English paper is divided into three sections: Vocabulary, Reading Passage, and Grammar.
| CDS English Syllabus Topics | ||
| Section | Topics | Description |
| Vocabulary | Basic Grammar, Idioms & Phrases, Synonyms & Antonyms, Sentence Completion, etc. | This section tests the candidate's knowledge of English vocabulary. |
| Reading Passage |
Reading Comprehension Solving, Para Jumbles, Understanding the main idea and supporting details, Answering questions based on the passage, etc. |
This section tests the candidate's ability to understand and interpret written English. |
| Grammar |
Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Cloze test, Active and passive voice, Direct and indirect speech, Transformation of sentences, etc. |
This section tests the candidate's knowledge of English grammar. |
Important Topics to Focus on CDS English Syllabus
The CDS English syllabus consists of various topics that test candidates' command over the English language. Here are some important topics to focus on in the CDS English syllabus:
- Vocabulary
- Reading passages
- Grammar, including topics such as:
- Tenses
- Parts of speech
- Active and passive voice
- Rearrangement of sentences
- Cloze test
Candidates are advised to read newspapers, books, and magazines regularly to improve their reading and writing skills. The level of difficulty of questions will be of the secondary school level. It is recommended to invest at least 2 hours daily for the English paper
CDS Maths Syllabus
The CDS Maths Syllabus is vast and further divided into sections like Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Static. The CDS Maths Syllabus section is included in the written exam for INA and IMA, whereas candidates appearing for OTA need not prepare for this section. Check the details of all the sections given below.
| CDS Maths Syllabus Topics | |
| Section | Topic |
| Arithmetic |
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| Algebra |
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| Trigonometry |
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| Geometry |
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| Mensuration |
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| Statistics |
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CDS Maths Syllabus: Weightage
The syllabus weightage represents the relative significance or emphasis given on every topic in the CDS exam's Math part. It assists candidates to figure out the proportion of questions that may be expected from different areas of math, allowing them to tailor their preparation accordingly.
CDS Maths Syllabus - High Weightage Topics
The CDS exam often assigns higher weightage to certain topics within the Mathematics section.
CDS Maths Syllabus Consists:
- Number System (20-22 questions)
- Mensuration (14-16 questions)
- Geometry (10-12 questions)
- Trigonometry (10-12 questions)
- Algebra (10-11 questions)
CDS Maths Syllabus - Moderate Weightage Topics
In addition to the high weightage topics mentioned earlier, there are several other topics within the Mathematics section of the CDS exam that typically carry a moderate weightage. These topics are important and require a decent amount of preparation.
- Time, Speed and Distance (4-5 questions)
- Percentage (3-5 questions)
- Data Interpretation (2-3 questions)
- Profit and Loss (1-2 questions)
- Ratio and Proportion (1-3 questions)
- Simple Interest (1-2 questions)
- Compound Interest (1-2 questions)
- Miscellaneous (1-4 questions)
UPSC CDS Syllabus for Intelligence and Personality Test
The SSB selection process consists of two stages - stage I and stage II. Candidates who clear stage I can appear for stage II.
Candidates' personalities are assessed by three assessors: Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO), and Psychologist. There is no separate weightage for each test, and marks are given based on overall performance in all tests, including Conference. IO, GTO, and Psych tests are designed to identify Officer Like Qualities and trainability. Candidates' recommendations are based on their SSB performance.
| CDS Syllabus for SSB Selection | |
| Stage | Test |
| Stage 1 |
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| Stage 2 |
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| Stage 3 | Group Discussion |
Candidates who are preparing for CDS can also check out here.
CDS Exam Pattern 2025
The CDS Exam pattern consists of a written examination and an interview process. The written test includes papers on English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, each varying in duration and marks. The interview assesses candidates' personalities, leadership qualities, and suitability for commissioning into the Indian Armed Forces.
Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA
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Subject
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Duration
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Maximum Marks
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English
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2 Hours
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100
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General Knowledge
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2 Hours
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100
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Mathematics
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2 Hours
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100
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SSB/Interview
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5 Days
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300
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Exam Pattern for OTA
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Subject
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Duration
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Maximum Marks
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English
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2 Hours
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100
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General Knowledge
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2 Hours
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100
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SSB/Interview
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5 Days
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300
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Check the UPSC CDS Exam Pattern here in detail to know the marking scheme , type of questions and sectional weightage in detail.
Hope this article on the CDS Exam syllabus 2025 was informative for you. If you have any queries regarding any topic or syllabus, leave a comment below. Further, you can also download the Testbook App for comprehensive courses, PDF study notes, and new test series for your exam preparation.
Related Links
Last updated: June 6, 2025
-> The UPSC CDS 2 Notification has been released at upsconline.gov.in. for 453 vacancies.
-> Candidates can apply online from 28th May to 17th June 2025.
-> The CDS 2 Exam will be held on 14th September 2025.
-> Attempt UPSC CDS Free Mock Test to boost your score.
-> The selection process includes Written Examination, SSB Interview, Document Verification, and Medical Examination.
-> Refer to the CDS Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.