The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is a prestigious national-level entrance exam for graduates aspiring to serve as commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Successful candidates undergo rigorous training at elite academies before joining their respective wings.
Depending on their preference and eligibility, candidates can target recruitment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), or the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). This article provides the comprehensive, latest updated breakdown for the CDS cycles scheduled across the 2027 academic sessions.
CDS Exam Overview (2027 Cycles)
The UPSC manages the CDS recruitment drive twice a year through a transparent, highly scheduled calendar.
| Particulars | CDS 1 2027 | CDS 2 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Date | December 2, 2026 | May 12, 2027 |
| Application Window | Dec 2, 2026 – Dec 22, 2026 | May 12, 2027 – June 1, 2027 |
| Admit Card Release | Late March 2027 | Late August 2027 |
| Written Exam Date | April 11, 2027 | September 19, 2027 |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen & Paper – OMR Sheets) | Offline (Pen & Paper – OMR Sheets) |
| Medium of Question Paper | Hindi & English Bilingual | Hindi & English Bilingual |
Academy-Wise Distribution of Vacancies
The Ministry of Defence tentatively structures vacancies per session based on operational requirements. The standard baseline vacancy trends across both cycles are distributed as follows:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun: ~100 Vacancies (For Male candidates)
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala: ~22 Vacancies (For Male candidates with Engineering degrees)
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad: ~32 Vacancies (For Male candidates with Physics & Maths at 10+2 or B.Tech)
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai:
- Short Service Commission (SSC) Men: ~169 Vacancies
- Short Service Commission (SSC) Women: ~16 Vacancies
Selection Infrastructure
To secure a place in the final merit list, candidates must successfully navigate a multi-stage filter mechanism:
- Written Examination: Evaluates English proficiency, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Mathematics is exempted for OTA aspirants).
- Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview): A comprehensive 5-day assessment analyzing psychological profiling, group Dynamics, and officer-like qualities (OLQs).
- Medical Fitness Board: Stringent medical testing to certify absolute psychological and physiological health.
Eligibility Criteria
A. Nationality
Candidates must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
B. Educational Qualification
| Academy | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| IMA & OTA | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or institute. |
| INA | Engineering degree (B.E./B.Tech) from a recognized university or institution. |
| AFA | Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E./B.Tech) degree. |
C. Age Limit (For 2027 Cycles)
| Academy | Age Limit Guidelines |
|---|---|
| IMA | 19 – 24 years (Unmarried males born between specified service criteria dates) |
| INA | 19 – 24 years (Unmarried males born between specified service criteria dates) |
| AFA | 20 – 24 years (Upper age limit extendable up to 26 years for valid Commercial Pilot License holders) |
| OTA | 19 – 25 years (Unmarried men and unmarried/widowed women) |
D. Marital Status
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA): Only unmarried male candidates are eligible to apply.
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Both unmarried male and unmarried/issueless female candidates are eligible.
Detailed Exam Pattern
Each paper lasts 2 hours and carries a maximum of 100 marks. All question papers consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with a negative marking penalty of 0.33 marks (one-third of the assigned mark) for every incorrect response.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | English | 2 Hours | 100 Marks |
| Paper 2 | General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 Marks |
| Paper 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 Marks |
| Total / Combined Score | 6 Hours | 300 Marks | |
| For Academy | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) | Paper 1: English | 2 Hours | 100 Marks |
| Paper 2: General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 Marks | |
| Total / Combined Score | 4 Hours | 200 Marks | |
Comprehensive Section-Wise Syllabus
1. English (100 Marks)
This paper is designed to evaluate the candidate’s understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
- Comprehension and passage reading
- Spotting grammar errors in sentences
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Selecting words to fill in blanks
- Ordering of sentences and words
- Idioms, phrases, and sentence improvement
2. General Knowledge (100 Marks)
General Knowledge includes knowledge of current events and matters of everyday observation and experience. It covers:
- Physics, Chemistry, and General Science: Elementary understanding of scientific phenomena, laws of nature, and daily life applications.
- History of India: Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history with a focus on the freedom movement.
- Geography: Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world.
- Current Affairs: National and international events, prominent personalities, sports, awards, and economic developments.
- Indian Polity and Economy: Basic knowledge of the Indian Constitution, Panchayati Raj, and fundamental economic policies.
3. Elementary Mathematics (100 Marks – For IMA, INA, AFA only)
The standard of this paper is approximately of the Matriculation (Class 10) level.
- Arithmetic: Number system, natural integers, rational and real numbers, fundamental operations, unitary method, time and distance, time and work, percentages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion.
- Algebra: Basic operations, factor polynomials, HCF and LCM, quadratic equations, simultaneous linear equations, algebraic identities, solutions of linear equations.
- Geometry: Lines and angles, plane and plane figures, theorems on properties of angles at a point, parallel lines, sides and angles of a triangle, congruency of triangles, similar triangles, properties of circles, tangents, and chords.
- Mensuration: Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangle and circle. Surface area and volume of cuboids, cylinders, cones, and spheres.
- Statistics: Collection and tabulation of data, graphical representation, bar charts, pie charts, histograms, frequency polygons, mean, median, and mode.
- Trigonometry: Sine, cosine, tangent values, trigonometric identities, height and distance problems using trigonometric tables.
