Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by UPSC for commissioning graduates as officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Successful candidates enter the Indian Military Academy Dehradun (Army), Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala (Navy), Air Force Academy Hyderabad (Air Force), or Officers Training Academy Chennai (Short Service Commission).
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: 300 Marks for IMA/INA/AFA | 200 Marks for OTA| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) | 120 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours (9 AM - 11 AM) |
| General Knowledge (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) | 120 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours (12 PM - 2 PM) |
| Elementary Mathematics (IMA, INA, AFA only) | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours (3 PM - 5 PM) |
English & GK: +0.83 correct, -0.27 wrong. Elementary Math: +1 correct, -0.33 wrong. Total 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA (200 marks for OTA).
Negative Marking Rule: One-third penalty (-0.27 on English/GK, -0.33 on Math) per incorrect answer
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
IMA written cutoff is ~125-135/300; AFA is ~140-150/300; OTA (Men & Women) is ~95-105/200. Minimum 20% score required in each individual subject.
Participating Institutes / Career Pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
Do candidates applying for OTA need to appear for the Mathematics paper in CDS?
No, candidates opting only for Officers Training Academy (OTA Chennai) appear only for Paper 1 (English) and Paper 2 (General Knowledge). Mathematics is not required for OTA.
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