Last updated on April 21st, 2022 at 02:02 pm
UPSC CDS Exam is for recruitment in the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Officers Training Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. The Commission conducts the CDS Exam twice a year- CDS I and CDS II. 341 vacancies were released for CDS I on the 22nd of December 2021. Exam for the same was conducted on 10th April 2022.
- The result for the CDS I exam will be out soon.
- The selection process for UPSC CDS Exam includes a written exam, an SSB Interview/Personality test, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination.
- Candidates who get selected are paid a stipend of Rs. 21,000 per during the training period.
- Graduation is an essential educational requirement to be eligible for UPSC CDS Recruitment.
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Official website | UPSC |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS Exam) |
| Mode of exam | Online |
| Recruiting Body | Indian Military AcademyIndian Naval AcademyOfficers Training AcademyIndian Air Force Academy |
Table of Contents
CDS Recruitment Vacancy
Application process for CDS I took place from 22nd December 2021 to 11th January 2022. There were 341 vacancies released in total. CDS II will be conducted later this year. Given below are the details of vacancies for the first CDS Exam.
| CDS Academy | Vacancy |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 22 |
| Indian Air Force Academy, Hyderabad | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Men) | 170 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Women) | 17 |
| Total | 341 |
Download PDF for CDS 1 Notification 2022
Download PDF for CDS 2 Notification 2021
How to Apply for CDS Exam?
The first exam for CDS Recruitment has already been conducted. However, the Commission will be conducting CDS II soon. Candidates can submit their applications on the official website of UPSC. The steps given below will help you fill out the forms.
Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the link “Online Application for Various Examinations’
Step 3: Look for the link to apply for CDS Exam.
Step 4: Enter your details in both the parts of the application form.
Step 5: Upload all the necessary documents.
Step 6: Make the payment of the application fee and select the examination center.
Application Fee
Without the payment of the application fee the form will not be processed. The payment in online mode has to be done via net banking/credit card/debit card. For offline payment, candidates have to visit any branch of the State Bank of India. Here are the details.
| Category | Application Fee |
| SC/ST/Females | No fee |
| Other | Rs. 200/- |
CDS Recruitment Selection Process
UPSC CDS Recruitment is a multiple-stage process. Each stage is a test of the candidate’s mental and physical abilities. Candidates have to go through the following stages of the selection process.
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview/Personality Test
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
Read about UPSC Assistant Engineer Exam here
CDS Recruitment Eligibility Criteria
The Commission has set criteria for eligibility for the candidates. It is the candidates’ responsibility to make sure that they fit the criteria before applying for the exam. Eligibility is defined in terms of age limit, educational qualification, marital status, nationality, and Physical & Medical standards. We will discuss them one by one.
Age Limit
Candidates applying for UPSC CDS Recruitment are required to satisfy the age eligibility. Documents like Aadhar cards can be uploaded as proof of age. Given below are the details for the same.
| CDS Academy | Age Limit |
| Indian Military Academy | Born between 2nd January 1999 to 1st January 2004 |
| Indian Naval Academy | Born between 2nd January 1999 to 1st January 2004 |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Born between 2nd January 1999 to 1st January 2003 |
| Officers Training Academy | Born between 2nd January 1998 to 1st January 2004 |
| Officers Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born between 2nd January 1998 to 1st January 2004 |
Educational Qualification
A minimum educational qualification is necessary to apply for UPSC CDS Exam. Candidates have to submit documents regarding their educational qualifications while filling out the forms. The academy-wise details are as follows.
| Academy | Minimum Educational Qualification |
| Indian Military Academy | A degree from a well-reputed Univesity or Institute |
| Indian Naval Academy | Engineering degree from a well-reputed Univesity or Institute |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Engineering degree with Physics and Maths in their 12th standard from a recognized UnivesityOr, Bachelor of Engineering |
| Officers Training Academy | A Graduation degree from a well-reputed Univesity or Institute |
Marital Status
The Commission specifies the required marital status to get the candidature for CDS Exam. Candidates are required to make sure that they satisfy these requirements. In order to be eligible, candidates must be unmarried regardless of their gender.
Nationality Criteria
Nationality is another important factor for eligibility. Candidates must fit one of the following criteria to get the candidature.
- A Citizen of India
- A subject of Nepal
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before the 1st of 1962, with the intention of settling permanently in India, or Indian origins who migrated to India from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, and Ethiopia, or Vietnamese origins who migrated to India with the aim of settling permanently in India.
- A subject of Bhutan
Physical & Medical standards
Candidates should know about the Physical and Medical Standards required for the UPSC CDS Recruitment. Some of the defects that will result in disqualification are:
- Overweight / Underweight
- Deviated Nasal Septum
- Under Sized Chest
- Piles
- Wax (Ears)
- Gynaecomastia
- Varicocele
- Tonsillitis
- The Body Mass Index of the aspiring candidates should be below 25.
- Hydrocele / Phimosis
- Male candidates should have a well-developed chest. After complete inspiration, the minimum range of expansion should be 5 cms.
- Male candidates must be at least 157.5 centimeters tall (157 cm for Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force). The minimum height requirement for female candidates is 152 cm. After all kinds of waivers/dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm.
Check the height and weight standards here.
- Female candidates must have a minimum height of 152 cm.
- Male candidates must have a minimum height of 157.5 cm. (The Navy’s is 157 cms, while the Air Force’s is 162.5 cms).
- Gorkhas and people from the hills of India’s north-eastern region, such as Garhwali and Kumaon, will be allowed to be 5 cm shorter.
- The minimum permissible height for candidates from Lakshadweep can be lowered by 2 cm. After all kinds of waivers/dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm. If not, the candidate will be labeled a dwarf.
CDS Exam Pattern
Examination Pattern is the layout of the question paper. For CDS Recruitment, the first stage of selection is a written exam. Candidates must be aware of the pattern of exams and should prepare accordingly. Here are the details.
CDS Exam Pattern for Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Indian Airforce Academy
- The question paper is for a maximum of 300 marks.
- The time allotted to attempt the exam is 2 hours for each paper.
- Objective type of questions are asked.
- A negative marking of 0.33 marks will be done for every incorrect answer.
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | – |
| General Knowledge | 100 | – |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | – |
| Total | 300 | 2 hours each |
CDS Exam Pattern for Officer Training Academy
- The question paper is for a maximum of 200 marks.
- The time allotted to attempt the exam is 2 hours for each paper.
- Objective type of questions are asked.
- A negative marking of 0.33 marks will be done for every incorrect answer.
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | – |
| General Knowledge | 100 | – |
| Total | 200 | 2 hours each |
CDS Interview
The interview round will consist of two stages.
- Stage 1 will include Officer Intelligence Rating, Picture Perception, and Description Test
- Stage 2 will consist of Interview, Group Testing Officer Task, Psychology Test, and Conference
CDS Salary
Candidates who clear all the rounds will finally be selected. During the training days, they will receive a stipend of Rs. 21,000 per month. Given below are the pay scale and pay matrix for different ranks.
| Rank | Pay Scale | Pay Matrix |
| Lieutenant | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500/ | Level 10 |
| Captain | Rs. 61,300 – 1,93,000 | Level 10B |
| Major | Rs. 69,400 – 2,07,200 | Level 11 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Rs. 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 | Level 12A |
| Colonel | Rs. 1,30,600 – 2,15,900 | Level 13 |
| Brigadier | Rs. 1,39,600 – 2,17,600 | Level 13A |
| Major General | Rs. 1,44,200 – 2,18,200 | Level 14 |
| Lieutenant General | Rs. 1,82,200 – 2,24,400 | Level 15 |
| HAG + Scale | Rs. 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 | Level 16 |
| VCOAS | Rs. 2,25,000 | Level 17 |
| COAS | Rs. 2,25,000 | Level 18 |
We hope reading this article was helpful. You can also read our article on UPSC CMS Exam 2022 here.
CDS Exam FAQs
CDS 1 was conducted on the 10th of April 2022.
The selection process involves a Written-test, an interview, a document verification, and a medical examination.
Candidates must be unmarried to apply for CDS Recruitment?
There were 341 vacancies released for the CDS 1 exam.
Candidates must have a graduation degree to apply for the CDS Exam.
