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The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is one of the most prestigious and sought-after exams in India for those aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year, the CDS Exam opens doors to entry into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). To qualify for the CDS Exam 2024, it is crucial to comprehend its intricate CDS Exam Pattern 2024 in detail.
CDS Exam Pattern 2024
The written section of the Combined Defense Services Examination is the first stage, while the interview portion is the second. All three forces’ exams are under this examination, which is conducted by the UPSC. A call for the SSB interview is made if the candidate performs well on the written test. The candidate is then dispatched to various locations for training. The CDS Exam Pattern will now be discussed below in this article. CDS Exam Pattern follows a three-stage recruitment process that consists of:
- Written Test
- SSB Interview
- Medical Examination & Merit List
CDS Exam Pattern 2024 Overview
CDS Exam Pattern Overview 2024 |
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Exam Mode | Offline |
Total Number of sections | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA)- Three
Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)- Two |
Language asked in the question paper | Hindi and English |
Total Duration of the test | Two hours for each section of the test |
Total Marks | IMA, INA and AFA- 300
OTA- 200 |
Type of questions | Objective type |
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CDS Exam Pattern 2024 – Written Test
The following subjects are included in the written examination for Admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA):
Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
English | 2 Hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
SSB Test/Interview | 5 Days | 300 |
For Admission to the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA):
Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
English | 2 Hours | 100 |
General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
Read More: CDS Previous Year Question Papers
CDS Exam Marking Scheme 2024
Details about the UPSC CDS Exam | Mathematics | English Exam | General Knowledge |
Total marks | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Marks for Negative marking | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer |
Read More: CDS Eligibility Criteria
CDS SSB Interview Exam Pattern 2024
After successfully clearing the written test of the CDS exam, candidates are called for the SSB round for final selection in the academy. CDS Interview involves 2 stages that include different tests such as:
- Stage 1 includes the officer cognitive rating, the picture perception test and the description test.
- Stage 2 includes an interview, a group testing officer task, a conference, and a psychology test.