The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts various examinations to recruit candidates for a range of civil services and defense services. One such prestigious examination is the Combined Defense Services (CDS) Examination, aimed at selecting candidates for entry into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential aspects of the UPSC CDS Examination.
Contents
- 1 UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Overview
- 1.1 UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Important Dates
- 1.2 CDS 1 2024 Vacancy Details
- 1.3 UPSC CDS 1 Exam Eligibility Criteria
- 1.4 Educational Qualifications
- 1.5 Pay Scale
- 1.6 UPSC CDS Exam Age Limit
- 1.7 UPSC CDS 1 Exam Selection Process
- 1.8 UPSC CDS 1 Exam Application Fee
- 1.9 UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Notification – Important Link
- 1.10 CDS 1 Exam Pattern 2024
- 2 FAQs
UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Overview
| Organization Name | Union Public Service Commission |
| Post Name | Combined Defense Services Examination (I) |
| No. of Posts | 457 |
| Category | Jobs |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Quick Links:-
UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| CDS 1 2024 Notification Release Date | 20th December 2023 |
| Online Registration Start Date | 20th December 2023 |
| Online Registration End Date | 9th January 2024 (06:00 pm) |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 9th January 2024 (06:00 pm) |
| CDS 1 Admit Card Release Date | to be updated |
| CDS 1 Exam Date | 21st April 2024 |
CDS 1 2024 Vacancy Details
| Name of the Academy | Number of Posts |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 Posts |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 32 Posts |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 Posts |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC Men | 275 Posts |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women | 18 Posts |
| Total | 457 Posts |
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: A candidate must be unmarried and must either be:
- a Citizen of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India.
Educational Qualifications
For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: Degree from a recognized institute or university
For Indian Naval Academy: Degree in Engineering from a recognized institute or university
For Air Force Academy: Degree from a recognized University (with Physics and
Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Pay Scale
The selected candidates will get a salary range of Rs. 15,500/- to Rs. 2,50,000/- per month according to their posts.
UPSC CDS Exam Age Limit
- For IMA – Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2001
and not later than 1st January 2006 only are eligible. - For Indian Naval Academy – Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than
2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2001 only are eligible. - For Air Force Academy – 20 to 24 years as of 1st January 2025 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2005
- For Officers’ Training Academy – (SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2006 only are eligible.
- For Officers’ Training Academy – (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2006.
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Selection Process
- Written Test
- SSB Interview/ Personality Test
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Application Fee
Candidates (Except Female/ SC/ ST candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash or by using net banking facility of State Bank of India or by using Visa/ Master/ Rupay Credit/ Debit Card.
UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Notification – Important Link
| UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 Notification | Check Here |
| Apply For The UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2024 | Apply Link |
CDS 1 Exam Pattern 2024
For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy
| Name of the Subject | Time Duration | Number of Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | 300 Marks | |
| Type of Examination: Objective Type Questions | ||
For Admission to the Officers Training Academy
| Name of the Subject | Time Duration | Number of Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | 200 Marks | |
| Type of Examination: Objective Type Questions | ||
Note:
- The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective-type questions only
- The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.
- Negative Marking – For every wrong answer 1/3 is the penalty
FAQs
Yes, females can apply for specific academies like the Officers’ Training Academy.
The training duration at the Indian Military Academy is typically 18 months.
Yes, certain reserved categories have relaxation in the upper age limit as per UPSC guidelines.
There is no limit on the number of attempts for the UPSC CDS Examination, provided candidates meet the age criteria.