The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) II Examination 2024. This prestigious examination provides an opportunity for young and dynamic individuals to join the Indian Armed Forces. The CDS II 2024 aims to recruit candidates for various posts including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The selection process includes a written examination followed by an interview for intelligence and personality tests. Here’s a detailed look at the key aspects of this examination:
Important Dates:
- Application Start: 15 May 2024
- Application Deadline: 04 June 2024
- Exam Date: 01 September 2024
Application Fees:
- General/OBC/EWS: ₹200
- SC/ST/Female: No fee
Age Limit (as of 01 July 2025):
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 24 years
- Age relaxation as per rules
Post Details and Qualifications:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA): 100 posts, bachelor’s degree in any stream.
- Indian Naval Academy: 32 posts, bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
- Air Force Academy: 32 posts, bachelor’s degree in any stream with Physics & Math at 10+2 level.
- Officers Training Academy (OTA): 295 posts, Bachelor’s degree in any stream.
Category-wise Vacancy Details:
- Total Vacancies: 459 posts
CDS Exam Syllabus Subject-Wise 2024
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
English Syllabus 2024
Maths Syllabus 2024
Check out the CDS previous year’s 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 honors, 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
Defense and Security Issues Current events related to national security, internal and external threats, and the role of the Armed Forces
Get to know about some of the most important CDS GK Questions here that are asked for the SSB Interviews and also get a set of important questions for the CDS written exam.
CDS English Syllabus
The English section of the CDS Exam Syllabus tests the candidate’s 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
Number System: Natural numbers, Rational & Real numbers, Integers
Fundamental operation: Subtraction, multiplication, addition, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions
Time and work
Percentage
Time and distance
Simple & Compound interest
Ratio and proportion
Profit and loss
Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm
Prime and composite numbers: Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11.
Multiples and factors
Factorisation Theorem
L.C.M. and H.C.F.
Euclidean algorithm
Logarithms to base 10, use of logarithmic tables
Laws of logarithms
Algebra
Basic Operations
Simple factors
H.C.F. and L.C.M.
Remainder Theorem
Theory of polynomials
Solutions of quadratic equations, the relation between its roots & coefficients (Only real roots to be considered)
Linear inequalities in two variables and their solutions
Linear equations in two unknowns—analytical & graphical solutions
Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequalities in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions
Rational expressions and conditional identities
Set language & set notation
Laws of indices.
Trigonometry
Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°
Simple trigonometric identities.
Use of trigonometric tables.
Simple cases of heights and distances.
Geometry
Plane & plane figures, Lines & angles
Theorems on
Properties of angles at a point
Parallel lines
Sides & angles of a triangle
Congruency of triangles
Similar triangles
Concurrence of medians and altitudes
Properties of angles, sides, and diagonals of a parallelogram, square, and rectangle
Circles and their properties including tangents and normals
Loci
Mensuration
Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles.
Surface area and volume of cuboids, lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book), surface area and volume of spheres
Statistics
Collection and tabulation of statistical data
Graphical representation frequency: Polygons, Histograms, Bar charts, Pie charts
Measures of central tendency
CDS Maths Syllabus: Weightage
The syllabus weightage represents the relative significance or emphasis given on every topic in the CDS exams Math part. It assists candidates in figuring 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
Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)
Picture Prescription and Descriptive Test
Stage 2
Interview
Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
Psychology Test
Conference
Stage 3 Group Discussion
Click Here to Apply for the UPSC CDS Recruitment 2024