🔔 CAPF AC 2026 - Foundation Batch •
🔔 Offline Starting from 11th October, 2025 •
🔔 Online Starting from 1st October, 2025 •
🔔 Paper 2 Batch Offline - 11th October, 2025 •
About CDS Exam
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The exam is held for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and also for Officers Training Academy (OTA). Successful candidates undergo training at:
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
Selection Process:
Written Examination (Objective Papers).
SSB Interview/Personality Test (Services Selection Board).
Medical Examination.
Final Merit: Based on Written Exam + SSB Interview (Medical is qualifying).
Eligibility
Nationality: Indian / Nepalese / Bhutanese / Tibetan refugee (pre-1962) / PIO.
Age & Marital Status:
IMA: 19–24 yrs, unmarried male
INA: 19–24 yrs, unmarried male
AFA: 20–24 yrs, unmarried male (up to 26 yrs with CPL)
OTA: 19–25 yrs, unmarried male & female
Education:
IMA/OTA: Graduation (any stream)
INA: Engineering degree
AFA: Graduation with Physics & Maths at 10+2 OR Engineering degree
Application Process
Mode of Application: Online only, through the official UPSC website www.upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in.
Frequency: Applications are invited twice a year – for CDS I (notification in December) and CDS II (notification in May).
Steps to Apply:
Registration (Part I): Fill in basic details like name, date of birth, email, contact details, and preference for academies (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA).
Fee Payment: ₹200 for General/OBC candidates (exempted for SC/ST and female candidates).
Application Form (Part II): Upload scanned photograph, signature, and photo identity proof.
Selection of Exam Centre: Choose a preferred test city (first-come, first-served basis).
Final Submission: Review and submit the form. Take a printout of the application for records.
Admit Card: Released 3 weeks before the exam on the UPSC website (to be downloaded by candidates).
Exam Dates & Notifications (twice a year):
Usual Cycle (Most Years)
CDS I
Notification: December
Exam: April (earlier years were often Feb; recent cycles are April)
CDS II
Notification: May
Exam: September
Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA, AFA:
English – 100 marks
General Knowledge – 100 marks
Elementary Mathematics – 100 marks
(Total = 300 marks, each paper 2 hours)
For OTA (Men & Women):
English – 100 marks
General Knowledge – 100 marks
(Total = 200 marks, each paper 2 hours; no Mathematics paper)
SSB Interview: 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA; 200 marks for OTA.
Exam Pattern:
AFCAT– 300 Marks, 2 hrs
General Awareness: History, Geography, Polity, Current Affairs, Defence, Science.
English: Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Synonyms/Antonyms, Error spotting.
Numerical Ability: Arithmetic, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics.
Reasoning & Military Aptitude: Verbal & Non-verbal reasoning, Spatial ability, Pattern recognition.
EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) – 150 Marks, 45 mins
Common: Engg. Maths, Drawing, Physics, Basics of Computers, Electrical/Electronics.
Branch-specific:
CS/IT: OS, DBMS, Networks, Data structures.
Mechanical: Thermodynamics, SOM, Fluid, Machines.
Electrical/Electronics: Circuits, Machines, Control, Power Electronics.
ECE: Signals, Communication, Radar, Semiconductor devices.
SSB Interview Process
Candidates who clear the CDS written exam are called for the SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview, which is conducted over 5 days.
Day 1 – Screening Test
Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning (OIR Test)
Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PPDT)
Candidates who qualify move to the next stage; others are sent back the same day.
Day 2 – Psychological Tests
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Write stories based on pictures shown.
Word Association Test (WAT): Write first thought on seeing words flashed.
Situation Reaction Test (SRT): Write responses to given situations.
Self-Description Test (SD): Write about yourself from your own and others’ perspective.
Day 3 & 4 – Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
Group Discussion (GD)
Group Planning Exercise (GPE)
Progressive Group Task (PGT)
Half Group Task (HGT)
Lecturette (Short speech)
Individual Obstacles
Command Task
Final Group Task (FGT)
Day 5 – Conference
Personal Interview (may also be scheduled during Days 2–4).
Final board conference with all assessors.
Results are declared (Recommended / Not Recommended).
Medical Examination
Candidates who are recommended undergo a detailed medical fitness test.
📌 Final Merit List:
Prepared based on Written Exam (CDS) + SSB Interview marks (medical is qualifying only).
Cutoff Trends
Year: 2024(2)
| Sr. No | Name of the Academy | Minimum qualifying marks in each Subject | Marks obtained by last qualified candidate in Written Exam | Aggregate Marks of last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | IMA | 20% | 117 (out of 300) | 241 (out of 600) |
| 2. | INA | 90 (out of 300) | 220 (out of 600) | |
| 3. | AFA | 126 (out of 300) | 248 (out of 600) | |
| 4. | OTA (Men) | 81 (out of 200) | 161 (out of 400) | |
| 5. | OTA (Women) | 81 (out of 200) | 166 (out of 400) |
Year: 2024(1)
| Academy | Written Exam Aggregate marks of the last qualified candidate@ |
Final Exam Marks of the last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 120 (Out of 300) | 244 (Out of 600) |
| INA | 100 (Out of 300) | 230 (Out of 600) |
| AFA | 128 (Out of 300) | 250 (Out of 600) |
| OTA (Men) | 87 (Out of 200) | 168 (Out of 400) |
| OTA (Women) | 87 (Out of 200) | 168 (Out of 400) |
@Subject to a minimum of 18% marks in each Subject.
Year:2023(2)
| Sr. No | Name of the Academy | Minimum qualifying marks in each Subject | Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Marks of last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | IMA | 20% | 127 marks (out of 300) | 250 (out of 600) |
| 2. | INA | 110 marks (out of 300) | 237 (out of 600) | |
| 3. | AFA | 136 marks (out of 300) | 259 (out of 600) | |
| 4. | OTA (Men) | 104 marks (out of 200) | 185 (out of 400) | |
| 5. | OTA (Women) | 104 marks (out of 200) | 188 (out of 400) |
Year:2023(1)
| Academy | Written Exam Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate@ |
Final Exam Marks of last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 132 | 257 |
| INA | 122 | 247 |
| AFA | 142 | 266 |
| OTA (Men) | 101 | 181 |
| OTA (Women) | 101 | 184 |
@Subject to a minimum of 20% marks in each paper.
Year:2022(2)
| Sr. No | Name of the Academy | Minimum qualifying marks in each Subject | Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Marks of last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | IMA | 20% | 126 marks | 249 |
| 2. | INA | 118 marks | 248 | |
| 3. | AFA | 136 marks | 258 | |
| 4. | OTA (Men) | 98 marks | 180 | |
| 5. | OTA (Women) | 98 marks | 179 |
Year:2022(1)
| Sr. No | Name of the Academy | Written Exam Aggregate Marks of Last Qualified Candidate | Final Exam Marks of Last Recommended Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | IMA | 136 | 258 |
| 2. | INA | 128 | 256 |
| 3. | AFA | 147 | 269 |
| 4. | OTA (Men) | 100 | 181 |
| 5. | OTA (Women) | 100 | 184 |
Year:2021(2)
| CDS (II) Exam. 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Marks of last qualified candidate → Course ↓ |
Written Result | Final Result Marks of last recommended candidate |
|
| Minimum qualifying marks in each Subject | Minimum aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | ||
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e. 20%) | 138 marks (i.e. 46%) | 263 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e. 20%) | 132 marks (i.e. 44%) | 256 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e. 20%) | 148 marks (i.e. 49.33%) | 270 |
| OTA (Men) | 20 marks (i.e. 20%) | 102 marks (i.e. 51%) | 183 |
| OTA (Women) | 20 marks (i.e. 20%) | 102 marks (i.e. 51%) | 184 |
Year:2021(1)
| Academy | Written Exam Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate* |
Final Exam Marks of last recommended candidate |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | 145 | 268 |
| INA | 136 | 260 |
| AFA | 158 | 281 |
| OTA (Men) | 107 | 189 |
| OTA (Women) | 107 | 191 |
*Subject to a minimum of 20% marks in each paper.