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    CDS Exam 2023: CDS (II) Notification Out, Online Registration Starts

    CDS Exam 2023:Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CDS notification 2023 for Combined Defence Service Examination (II) at upsc.gov.in on 04th August 2023 and the online registration process has also been started from the same day. The last date for the application process has been scheduled for 24th August 2023. The CDS 2 Exam has been scheduled for 14th November 2023.

    Every year UPSC conducts CDS Exam twice a year for the candidates who wish to begin their career in the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Officer’s Training Academy. The candidates qualifying for the written test will be called for an interview round and medical examination for final selection. In this article, we have covered every detail for CDS Exam 2023, including important dates, eligibility, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, and more.

    CDS Exam 2023 Notification

    As per the UPSC calendar, the detailed advertisement and Official notification for the CDS (II) 2023 Examination has been released on 04th August 2023 containing all the necessary details for the exam. Once the notification is released on upsc.gov.in. The direct link to check the CDS 2023 exam notification pdf is given below.

    CDS Vacancy 2023

    CDS Exam 2023 Vacancy

    The fresh vacancies to be recruited through CDS 2, 2023 examination have been announced along with the official notification on 4th August 2023. For the CDS-2 Exam, a total of 339 vacancies are announced for Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Officer’s Training Academy. Have a look at the CDS-2 Vacancy distribution for reference.

    CDS II 2023 Vacancy
    Name of the academy Number of Vacancies
    Indian Military Academy, Dehradun 100
    Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala 22
    Air Force Academy, Hyderabad 32
    Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC Men 169
    Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women 16
    Total Vacancies 339

    CDS Exam 2023 Online Application

    The online registration procedure for the CDS II Exam 2023 has been scheduled for 04th August to 24th August 2023. The Online Applications can be filled up to 24th August 2023 till 6:00 pm. The aspirants interested in the vacancies must apply much before the last date to avoid any last-minute hassle. The online Applications can be withdrawn from 31st August to 6th September 2023 till 6.00 pm. The direct link for CDS 2 registration is given below. All eligible candidates can apply online for the CDS II exam 2023

    CDS Exam 2023 Application Fee

    The examination fee for CDS Exam is Rs. 200/- for all categories except SC/ST/Females (exempted from fee payment). The payment can be done through online/offline mode (Net Banking, Mastercard/Debit Card or cash deposit in any branch of SBI Bank.)

    Steps to Fill CDS Exam Registration Form

    Follow the steps as mentioned below to complete your CDS 2 Exam Registration process.

    Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC i.e. www.upsc.gov.in or directly apply from the above link.
    Step 2: On the homepage, click on Examination >> Active Examinations >> Online Application For UPSC CDS 2 Exam.
    Step 3: Click on "Part-1" against Combined Defence Examination (II) 2023
    Step 4: Read all the instructions carefully and proceed by clicking on "Yes"
    Step 5: You will be redirected to a new page, start filling in your details correctly.
    Step 6: Select your preferences carefully and continue to Part-II.
    Step 7: Pay the required application fee through online/offline mode as discussed above.
    Step 8: Select the desired examination center from the list.
    Step 9: Upload scanned documents as required in the application form.
    Step 10: Check all the details and click on "Submit". Download a copy of the application form for future reference.

    CDS 2023 Exam Dates

    CDS Exam is held twice a year (February and November). UPSC has released the CDS exam dates 2023 for the CDS II exam along with its notification. As per the notification the CDS II 2023 Exam is scheduled to be held on 14th November 2023. Check all the important dates for CDS II 2023 exam and set your reminder so you don't miss any dates.

    CDS II Exam 2023: Important Dates
    Notification Release Date 04th August
    Online Registration Start Date 04th August
    Online Registration End Date 24th August 2023
    Online Application Withdrawn 31st August to 6th September 2023
    CDS II Admit Card Release Date October 2023
    CDS II Exam Date 2023 14th November 2023
    CDS II Result December (tentatively)
    Interview Dates To be notified soon
    Final Result To be notified soon

    ABOUT CDS EXAM

    CDS Exam 2023: Exam Pattern

    • The candidates have to clear CDS Written Examination to get selected for the interview round. Check the exam pattern for each position below.
    • There will 100 Multiple-Choice Questions in each paper
    • The question paper for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set in Hindi as well as English
    • There will be a penalty of 1/3 marks for a wrong answer
    • Duration of each exam is separate i.e. 2 hours.

    For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy
    SNo Subject Maximum Marks Duration
    1 English 100 2 hours
    2 General Knowledge 100 2 hours
    3 Elementary Mathematics 100 2 hours
    For Officers’ Training Academy
    SNo Subject Maximum Marks Duration
    1 English 100 2 hours
    2 General Knowledge 100 2 hours

    • Note The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be equal for each course i.e. the maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy respectively.

    CDS 2023 SYLLABUS

    CDS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2023 are discussed in the article. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts "Combined Defence Services" (CDS) Examination twice a year for recruiting candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. The Notification is usually released in the months of October/ November and June/ July, and the examination is generally conducted in February and November respectively. Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board ( SSB ). To clear the examination, first, you need is the complete information of the pattern, syllabus and previous year exam analysis so that it would become easy for you to analyse the examination and to prepare a strategy further.

    CDS Syllabus 2023: Overview

    Mode of exam Offline
    Number of sections Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) – Three Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Two
    Total marks of the test IMA, INA and AFA – 300 OTA - 200
    Nature of questions Objective type
    Language of question paper Hindi and English
    Duration of the test 2 hours for each section of test
    CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA
    Subject Duration Maximum Marks
    English 100 2 hours
    General Knowledge 2 hours 100
    Elementary Mathematics 2 hours 100
    CDS Exam Pattern for OTA
    Subject Duration Maximum Marks
    English 100 2 hours
    General Knowledge 2 hours 100
    Elementary Mathematics 2 hours 100

    CDS Syllabus 2023: Marking Scheme

    Negative marking is applicable for every wrong marked answer. In CDS paper, each question carries 4 options and out of which only 1 option is correct. For each incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. More than one option marked is treated as incorrect. However, if a question is left unanswered there will be no negative marking.

    CDS Syllabus 2023: Subject-Wise Syllabus
    Candidates can check the UPSC CDS Syllabus in the table given below.
    Sections Topics
    English • * Spotting Errors Questions
    • * Sentence Arrangement Questions
    • * Synonyms & Antonyms
    • * Selecting Words
    • * Ordering of Sentence
    • * Comprehension Questions
    • * Ordering of words in a sentence
    • * Fill in the blanks questions
    • * Idioms and Phrases
    General Awareness (GK) • * Economics
    • * Physics
    • * Current Affairs
    • * Politics
    • * Chemistry
    • * Sociology
    • * History
    • * Defence related Award
    • * Geography
    • * Environment
    • * Sport
    • * Biology
    • * Cultural
    • * Book
    • * Statement
    • * true/false
    Elementary Mathematics Algebra • * Basic Operations
    • * simple factors
    • * Remainder Theorem
    • * H.C.F.
    • * L.C.M.
    • * Theory of polynomials
    • * solutions of quadratic equations
    • * relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered)
    • * Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions
    • * Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions
    • * Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions
    • * Set language and set notation
    • * Rational expressions and conditional identities
    • * Laws of indices
    Arithematic • * Number System: Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers.
    • * Fundamental operations: addition, substraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions
    • * Unitary method
    • * time and distance
    • * time and work
    • * percentages
    • * applications to simple and compound interest
    • * profit and loss
    • * ratio and proportion
    • * variation
    • * 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
    • * H.C.F. and L.C.M.
    • * Euclidean algorithm
    • * Logarithms to base 10
    • * laws of logarithms
    • * use of logarithmic tables
    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 • * 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
    • * Concurrence of medians and altitudes
    • * Properties of angles
    • * sides and diagonals of a Parallelogram
    • * rectangle and square
    • * Circles and its properties including tangents and normals
    • * Loci
    Mensuration • * Areas of squares
    • * rectangles
    • * parallelograms
    • * triangle and circle
    • * Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book)
    • * Surface area and volume of cuboids
    • * lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders
    • * surface area and volume of spheres
    Statistics • * Collection and tabulation of statistical data
    • * Graphical representation frequency polygons
    • * histograms
    • * bar charts
    • * pie charts etc
    • * Measures of central tendency

    Number of Attempts

    There are majorly three written exams conducted for enrollment of officers into the Army, Navy and Airforce. These exams are NDA (National Defence Academy) Exam, CDS (Combined Defence Service) Exam and AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) Exam. While the first two are meant for the induction of officers into the three wings (army, navy and air force), the latter is meant for only Air Force. This article is meant for giving you all information about the age limit of the three exams and also the number of attempts you can make for them.

    NDA, AFCAT and CDS Exam Number of Attempts, Age Limits

    1. NDA Exam: There is no limit on the number of attempts you can make. However, it is essential that at the time of course commencement you have your passing certificate of 10+2. So in a way you can attempt for NDA when you are in 10+2 or when you have passed it. While giving NDA when you are still studying in 10+2 you start attempting only from NDA 2 exam of the year in which you have got in 12th. The age limit for NDA (for all the three wings) is between 16 ½ and 19 ½ years (both inclusive) at the time of course commencement.

    2. CDS Exam: Yet again there is no limit on the number of attempts for this exam, but your degree must be over at the time of course commencement. You can apply while in the final year of your degree. The age limits for different wings differ in case of CDSE. As you know CDSE is conducted for Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Air Force Academy and Naval Academy, the age limits for them differ, here are the age limits:

    • o IMA: 19-24 Years
    • o NA: 19-22 Years
    • o AFA: 19-23 Years
    • o OTA: 19-25 Years

    3. AFCAT ExamIn AFCAT also there is no limit on the number of attempts one can make. However, your degree must be complete at the time of course commencement. In AFCAT also the age limit for different posts differs. Here is a detailed account:

    • o Flying Branch: 19-23 years, Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (Indian) is relaxable up to 25 years.
    • o Technical Branch: 23-26 years
    • o Ground Duty Branches:
    • o For Graduate: 20 to 23 years
    • o For Post Graduate/LLB (Five years integrated course): 20 to 25
    • o For LLB (Three years course after Graduation): 20 to 26 years
    • o For M.Ed/Ph.D/CA/ICWA: 20 to 27 years.
    • o All the ages are inclusive and refer to the age at the time of course commencement.

    CDS Exam Eligibility

    CDS Exam Eligibility Criteria

    The candidates must meet the eligibility standards as set by the Union Public Service Commission for defence recruitment. Check detailed eligibility (nationality, education, age, marital status, sex) from below.

    Nationality

    A candidate should hold The Citizenship of India, subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee who had been migrated to India before January 01, 1962, with the intention of Permanent Settle, or An individual of Indian Origin migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire & Vietnam for permanent settle purpose in India.

    Education Qualification

    For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy - The candidate should have a graduation degree (any subject) from a recognized University or equivalent.

    For Indian Naval Academy - The candidate should have completed their Graduation in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution.

    For Air Force Academy - The candidate should hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.

    Age Limit (as on 01/07/2022)

    The candidate should fall in the age group of 20 to 24 years. The detailed age limit details are mentioned on the official notification pdf.

    Marital Status & Sex

    • • For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, only Unmarried males are eligible to apply for CDS Exam
    • • For Indian Air Force Academy, both married and unmarried males can apply, however marriage during the training is not permitted
    • • For Officer Training Academy, unmarried males & females can apply for CDS Exam.

    Negative Marking

    Negative marking is applicable for every wrong marked answer. In CDS paper, each question carries 4 options and out of which only 1 option is correct. For each incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. More than one option marked is treated as incorrect. However, if a question is left unanswered there will be no negative marking.

    The following table explains the detailed marking scheme of the exam.

    CDS Marking Scheme for IMA, INA, AFA
    CDS Paper English GK Mathematics
    Maximum Marks 100 100 100
    Marks for Correct answer +1 marks for each correct option +1 marks for each correct option +1 marks for each correct option
    Negative marking -0.33 marks for each wrong answer -0.33 marks for each wrong answer -0.33 marks for each wrong answer
    CDS Marking Scheme for OTA
    The following table shows Marking scheme for 2023 OTA (Officers’ Training Academy):
    CDS Paper English GK
    Maximum Marks 100 100
    Marks for Correct answer +1 marks for each correct option +1 marks for each correct option
    Negative marking -0.33 marks for each wrong answer -0.33 marks for each wrong answer

    Paper Analysis

    CDS Previous Year Paper Analysis – Subject-wise

    Here are the exam paper analysis of all subjects:

    CDS English

    The English question paper will be designed to test the candidates' understanding of the English language. As per the previous year's analysis, the following are the important topics asked in English paper.

    Topic. Number of Questions Level of Difficulty
    Sentence Improvement 20 Easy
    Science 27 Easy (Concept-based questions)
    Reading Comprehension 23 (5 passages) Easy to Moderate
    Synonyms 8 Moderate
    Antonyms 7 Easy
    One Word Substitution 5 Moderate
    Para-Jumble 10 Easy to Moderate
    Sentence-Jumble 7 Moderate
    Spot the Error 20 Easy
    Cloze Test 20 Easy

    CDS General Knowledge

    As per previous year analysis following are the important topics for GK paper:

    Topic. Number of Questions Level of Difficulty
    History 19 Difficult
    Science 27 Easy (Concept-based questions)
    Geography 22 Moderate (Analytical based questions)
    Ecology 06 Moderate (Fact-based questions)
    Polity 20 Easy to Moderate
    Economy/Trade 11 Moderate (Fact-based questions)
    Miscellaneous /Armed Forces 15 Moderate (Fact-based questions)

    CDS Elementary Mathematics

    In the following table, the previous year's paper analysis of mathematics paper is mentioned.

    Topic. Number of Questions Level of Difficulty
    Mensuration 14 Easy
    Algebra 7 Easy to Moderate
    Mean-Median-Mode (Frequency Distribution Table) 4 Easy
    Time speed and Distance 6 Easy
    Number System 20 Easy to Moderate
    Simple interest/Compound interest 5 Easy
    Percentage 2 Easy
    Profit/Loss 1 Easy
    Mixture 1 Easy
    Time and Work 3 Easy
    Trigonometry 14 Moderate to Difficult
    Set Theory 1 Easy
    Clock 2 Easy
    Geometry 20 Easy to Moderate

    CDS Exam 2023 Cut-Off

    UPSC releases cut-off marks for CDS Exam on its official website. The candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks (i.e. 20 marks minimum in each subject) and for selection must score more than the cut-off marks. UPSC releases CDS written exam cut-off and final cut-off separately. The final cut-off for CDS 2 is expected to be out in May 2022. Check the previous year's cut-off marks for your reference.

    CDS-I Cut off 2020
    Academy Written Exam Final Exam
    IMA 130 250
    INA 118 242
    AFA 143 274
    OTA (Men) 93 173
    OTA (Women) 93 177

    HOW TO PREPARE FOR CDS EXAM

    CDS Preparation Tips: Time Management
    • Candidates must know how to effectively manage their time so that they can complete the paper within the allotted time only.
    • Candidates appearing for CDS are advised to start at least 3 to 6 months before the examination.
    • Follow a regular study routine so that the entire syllabus can be completed
    • Make a timetable and devote 6 – 8 hours especially for preparations.
    • Take time to manage your weekly revisions as well
    • Take short breaks in between.
    • Boost up your confidence level by getting updated with all the current affairs.

    Candidates can check CDS 2 2023 NOTIFICATION for detailed information about the upcoming CDS Exam.
    Previous Year Papers

    CDS Preparation Tips: Solving Previous Years Sample Papers

    • Try solving the question paper of previous Year
    • This will help you in getting an idea about the exam pattern, type of questions, weightage given to topics.
    • Helps you in managing the time.
    • Gives the feel of real paper.
    • Take mocks tests by setting up the timers in your watch.

    CDS Preparation Tips: Important Points to Remember

    To prepare for the CDS exam, a candidate must be willing to work hard physically as well as mentally. Candidates must own proper UPSC study material, like previous years’ papers, preparation books, topic-wise notes, etc. After acquiring the relevant study material, the candidates can follow the following tips to improve their chances of getting selected:

    APPLY NOWCHECK ELIGIBILITYGET UPDATES
    • Get yourself printed copies of the exam pattern, syllabus, and previous year's question papers.
    • Your basic concepts rather than cramming the formulas must be clear at the beginning of your preparation days.
    • By analyzing the previous year's question papers, candidates need to focus on the important topics which carry maximum marks in each exam.
    • Develop a reading habit. Reading different sorts of media, like magazines, newspapers, blogs, notes, etc. helps to enhance the vocabulary as well as the understanding of practical English.
    • Make a list of all the new words and their meanings. Try and use the words in the list in different scenarios and sentences.
    • Take online mock tests to improve the answering ability.
    • Read newspapers, news blogs, watch the news, etc. daily to be in touch with the latest happenings in all sectors of the world. Try to keep the material vast.
    • Make notes of every important date, name, or event you come across.
    • Many mock tests can help a candidate with GK preparations.
    • Make a list of all the important formulas, theorems, identities, etc., and revise them daily.
    • Try to solve questions with variety to learn the proper use of theorems and identities.
    • Enrol in an online mock test series.
    APPLY NOWCHECK ELIGIBILITYGET UPDATES
    • Get yourself printed copies of the exam pattern, syllabus, and previous year's question papers.
    • Your basic concepts rather than cramming the formulas must be clear at the beginning of your preparation days.
    • By analyzing the previous year's question papers, candidates need to focus on the important topics which carry maximum marks in each exam.
    • Develop a reading habit. Reading different sorts of media, like magazines, newspapers, blogs, notes, etc. helps to enhance the vocabulary as well as the understanding of practical English.
    • Make a list of all the new words and their meanings. Try and use the words in the list in different scenarios and sentences.
    • Take online mock tests to improve the answering ability.
    • Read newspapers, news blogs, watch the news, etc. daily to be in touch with the latest happenings in all sectors of the world. Try to keep the material vast.
    • Make notes of every important date, name, or event you come across.
    • Many mock tests can help a candidate with GK preparations.
    • Make a list of all the important formulas, theorems, identities, etc., and revise them daily.
    • Try to solve questions with variety to learn the proper use of theorems and identities.
    • Enrol in an online mock test series.

    CDS Physical and Medical Exam

    The Defense sector requires candidates who are not only strong mentally, but also physically. Apart from the written exam, the candidates have to clear a physical and medical exam as well. No candidate should have a history of mental breakdown. The physical exam is one of the crucial parts of the CDS . The candidates can follow these tips for the physical exam:

    • The weight and height of the candidate must be on a standard scale.
    • Regular and proper exercise and training is important.
    • Candidates must get a full body checkup before appearing for the exam to make sure they do not have any type of illness or disease.

    Personal Interview Tips

    CDS Preparation Tips for Personal Interview

    After clearing the CDS test, the candidates have to face the personal interview conducted by SSB. The SSB Interview tests the candidate’s intelligence, personality, and ability to hold ranks with the Officers in the Defense Forces. There are several components of the interview, like Psychological Tests, Group Discussion, Intelligence Tests, Outdoor activities, Opinion on issues, Physical Fitness, etc. Here are some tips to clear the interview:

    • Stay confident. It is natural to be nervous or anxious, but a candidate must be able to express his/her thoughts as beautifully as possible.
    • A well-honed communication skill is crucial, as the thoughts can be expressed in better and more suitable words.
    • Be updated and in touch with the latest and interesting happenings around the globe.
    • Think before you speak and act like you are already an Officer.
    • It is imperative to be respectful and humble.

    Last Minute Tips

    Last-Minute Tips for CDS 2023

    The few weeks before the exam are crucial as that is the time to revise all that you have studied, without cramming up all the knowledge. The following steps may help candidates to plan and prepare in that time:

    APPLY NOWCHECK ELIGIBILITYGET UPDATES
    • Make small and useful notes. The notes should be to the point and should act as a summary of what has been studied.
    • Although the last weeks can be a chaotic time, a calm and planned approach is all that is needed.
    • Time management is crucial. The CDS exam is a time-based exam that gives candidates about a minute to attempt each question. Not only the knowledge, but swiftness in using that knowledge is important.
    • The exam has negative marking for each incorrect answer. So, guesswork should be avoided.
    • Taking an online mock test is helpful

    CDS Exam FAQs

    Q1: When will online registration start for CDS II Exam 2023?

    The online registration process for CDS II Exam has begun on 04th August 2023.

    Q2. When will CDS-II Exam conducted?

    As per the UPSC Calendar, the CDS-2 exam has been scheduled for 14th November 2023.

    Q3: Is there any physical test for CDS Examination?

    No, particular physical test will be conducted, but the candidates have to undergo a medical examination.

    Q4: What is the selection procedure for UPSC CDS 2023?

    CDS has two stages of the selection process – written exam and the SSB Interview.

    Q5. How many vacancies are announced for the CDS II 2023 exam?

    The total number of vacancies for the CDS II 2023 exam are 339.

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