CDS – How to apply selection process, notification, exam pattern, exam mode

CDS or Combined Defence Services is a nationalized recruitment exam conducted twice a year. It is the premier yet one of the toughest exams in the country. UPSC– Union Public Service Commission is the conducting authority for CDS. Through this examination, UPSC recommends deserving candidates for all three wings of Indian Defence Forces, i.e., Indian Army, Indian Air Airforce, and Indian Navy. Yeah! You read that right; as the name suggests, this is a joint examination by which you may become an officer in any of the three branches of Indian defense. 

If you are enthusiastic about serving the motherland, then this will be the best opportunity for you to protect your country’s borders. Candidates selected through the CDS join the respective defense academies for further training before commissioning in the service. The catch here is the commission of the service. 

Officers who joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy through this examination get the Permanent Commission (PC), unlike the direct recruitment exam where you may get the Short Service Commission as well (SSC). If you’d like more information about CDS, keep reading; we have discussed all the significant aspects of this examination. 

Eligibility for CDS

Nationality 

Unmarried candidates of the following categories can apply:

• A Citizen of India,
• A subject of Bhutan or Nepal
• Tibetan refugee who has arrived in India before January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently,
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, or Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently. 

Note: 

• Candidates under 2 and 4 categories must be certified with the nationality proof issued by the Indian Government in favor of their statement.
• Candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal are not required to show any certificate for their recruitment. 

Age Limit 

Note:

• Men who are divorced/widowed will not be treated as unmarried. Therefore, they will not be considered eligible for the CDS examination and the Chennai Courses.
• The date of birth recorded on the high school exam certificate/Matriculation or a certificate recognized by an Indian University as equivalent to the Matriculation or any equivalent exam certificate will be accepted by UPSC.
• No other records related to age such as horoscopes, affidavits, Municipal Corporation birth certificates, service records, etc. will be accepted. 
• The date of birth provided by the applicants will be recorded in the records of the admissions committee. Therefore, no changes will be permitted subsequently or at a subsequent review for any reason.
• During the verification process or at any step of the examination, if it is determined that the date of birth, which the applicant has entered, does not correspond to the valid proof or the Matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, disciplinary action shall be taken against them by the Commission pursuant to the Regulations.

Educational Qualification 

• Anyone who is a graduate or is appearing or in the final year of graduation can apply. 
• For the Air Force Academy, the candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as their subjects in 10+2 with an aggregate of 60%. 

Note:

• Applicants who are in their last year/semester degree courses and have not yet completed the course can apply for the CDS exam. They must submit proof of completion of the degree by the prescribed date, and no request for extension of this date will be taken into consideration for any other reason.
• At the time of the SSB interview, candidates who are in their last year/semester of a degree program must provide an authentic certificate of graduation from the university/college. The degree certificate shall contain the date of issue, and the date of issue shall be prior to the specified date reported by UPSC. Otherwise, their application will be revoked.
• Candidates who have been prohibited from holding any commission in the Defence Services by the Ministry of Defence are not allowed to take the test.

Physical Standards 

• The Minimum height for male candidates is 157.5 cm for the Indian Army, 157 cm for the Indian Navy, and 162.5 cm for the Indian Air Force. 
• For Women, the minimum required height is 152 cm. 
• BMI must be below 25
• The waist-hip ratio must be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.
• Circumference of the waist must be less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.
• All the biochemical metabolics must be within the acceptable limit. 

Note: Individuals of the North-eastern region, Gorkhas, Garhwalis, and Kumaon area will get a relaxation of 5 cm in the minimum height requirement, and the individuals from Lakshadweep get a relaxation of 2 cm. 

CDS Vacancies 

The vacancies in the CDS exam vary from academy to academy. You can refer to the below table for detailed reference: 

CDS Selection Process

The selection of CDS involves three main stages, i.e., Written Test, SSB, and Medical Test. The written test comprises three papers for IMA, INA, and AFA and two papers for OTA. There is a negative marking for both the examinations, i.e., 0.33 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer, and for each correct answer, you will be awarded 1 mark. All the exams are objective in nature. 

Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA

Pattern for OTA

Stage – II 

The second stage is the SSB (Services Selection Board) which is a five-day-long process where every candidate is evaluated on the various parameters. SSB is further divided into two sub-stages. 

Stage – III

After successfully clearing both the stages, the only obstacle left is the Medical Examination. This is the mandatory step that every SSB passed candidate has to undergo. Candidates examined by the Board of Service Medical Officers. There are both male and female doctors as per the requirements. Candidates will only be permitted in the academies once they are declared fit by the Medical Officers. 

CDS exam day guidelines

The UPSC has set some guidelines for the applicants to keep in mind on the day of examination. 

• Carry your admit card and ID proof (Voter ID Card, AADHAR Card, Driving Licence, or Passport).
• Reach on time (if your get late more than 30 minutes, then you will not be allowed to give examination under any circumstance)
• Do not carry any prohibited or expensive item in the examination hall (Any electronic, digital, or Bluetooth device, calculator, translator, recorder, headphone, earphone, radio, walkman, geometry-box, pencil box, clipboard, wristwatch, bracelet, chips, chocolate, drinks, etc.)
• Black or Blue ballpoint can be used in the examination. 
• Do not staple your photograph on the Admit Card and use glue to paste it. 
• Candidates need to follow all the corona guidelines set by the Health Ministry.
• They should bring their own masks and sanitizer to ensure unnecessary gathering. 

Also Read: How to crack the CDS exam?

FAQ’s

Question – When will the CDS 2022 notification be released?

Answer   –  The tentative date for CDS 2022 is December 22, and the exam will be held on April 11. 

Question – How many attempts do I get for the CDS exam?

Answer   –  UPSC doesn’t restrict candidates on the basis of attempts; instead, they set the maximum age limit of 24 years. So on an average basis, you easily get 3 to 5 attempts before reaching the age limit. 

Question – What academic qualification is required for CDS?

Answer   –  Candidates must graduate with a full-time degree in B.tech and B.E. for the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. For the Indian Army, they must graduate in any stream with minimum passing marks.

Question – What is the salary of an officer selected through CDS?

Answer   –  After clearing the CDS, candidates are entitled to a salary pay band of level 10, i.e., 56,100 to 1,77,500 with minimum variations of postings and service. 

Question – How is the merit list for CDS Interview prepared?

Answer  –  The merit list is drawn up in accordance with the total marks obtained in both written exams and SSB. 

Question – Can I apply for CDS after Class 12?

Answer   –  No, you cannot apply for CDS immediately after the 12th class. You should be a graduate in either engineering (for Navy and Air Force) or any stream (for Army) with minimum passing aggregate. 

Question – What is the minimum acceptable height in the CDS exam?

Answer   –  Minimum acceptable height for CDS is 157 cm for men and 152 for women. (Gorkhas and Garwhals get a relaxation of 5 cm and men and women of Lakshadweep get 2 cm relaxation)