Post Overview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I) 2025. Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can read the full notification and apply online.

Details	Information
Post Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2025
Total Vacancies	457
Advertisement No.	04/2025.CDS-I
Application Start Date	December 11, 2024
Last Date to Apply Online	December 31, 2024, till 06:00 PM
Exam Date	April 13, 2025
Official Website	UPSC Official Website

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Application Fee

Category	Fee
All Other Candidates	₹200
Female/SC/ST Candidates	₹0
Payment Mode	Via SBI Branch (cash), Visa/Master/Rupay Cards, UPI, Internet Banking

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Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release	December 11, 2024
Application Deadline	December 31, 2024 (till 06:00 PM)
Fee Payment (Cash)	December 30, 2024 (till 11:59 PM)
Fee Payment (Online)	December 31, 2024 (till 06:00 PM)
Form Modification Period	January 1–7, 2025
Last Date for Modification	January 7, 2025
Exam Date	April 13, 2025

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Age Limit (as of January 1, 2026)

Category	Age Range
General Candidates	Between 20-24 years (born between Jan 2, 2002 & Jan 1, 2006)
For IMA (Indian Military Academy)	Unmarried male candidates born between Jan 2, 2002 & Jan 1, 2007
For INA (Indian Naval Academy)	Unmarried male candidates born between Jan 2, 2002 & Jan 1, 2007
For OTA (Officers’ Training Academy)	Unmarried male candidates born between Jan 2, 2001 & Jan 1, 2007
For OTA (Women)	Unmarried women, widows, and divorcees (with documents) born between Jan 2, 2001 & Jan 1, 2007
Age Relaxation	Applicable as per rules

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Educational Qualification

Post Name	Qualification
IMA (Indian Military Academy)	Degree from a recognized University or equivalent
INA (Indian Naval Academy)	Engineering degree from a recognized University/Institution
AFA (Air Force Academy)	Degree with Physics and Maths at 10+2 level or Bachelor of Engineering
OTA (Officers’ Training Academy)	Degree from a recognized University or equivalent

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Vacancy Details

Post Name	Total Vacancies
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I) 2025	457

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How to Apply

1. Visit the UPSC Official Website: Go to the official UPSC website.
2. Fill in the Application: Complete the application form with all necessary details.
3. Pay the Application Fee: Make the fee payment via the available methods.
4. Submit the Form: Submit the application before the deadline.

Important Links:-

UPSC CDS Official Notification	CLICK HERE
UPSC CDS Apply Online	CLICK HERE
UPSC Official Website	CLICK HERE

UPSC CDS (I) 2025 – Exam Pattern & Selection Process

Exam Pattern:

• The CDS Exam consists of objective-type questions.
• For IMA, INA, and AFA, the written exam has three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper is of 2 hours duration and carries 100 marks.
• For OTA, the written exam includes two papers: English and General Knowledge, each lasting 2 hours and carrying 100 marks.
• A penalty of 1/3rd marks is deducted for every incorrect answer.

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Selection Process:

1. Written Test: All eligible candidates must first clear the written exam.
2. SSB Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam will be called for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.
3. Medical Examination: After clearing the SSB interview, candidates must undergo a medical examination.

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CDS (I) 2025 – Exam Syllabus

English (for all posts):

• Reading Comprehension: Understanding passages and answering related questions.
• Spotting Errors: Identifying and correcting errors in sentences.
• Fill in the Blanks: Completing sentences with appropriate words.
• Synonyms and Antonyms: Identifying meanings of words and their opposites.
• Idioms and Phrases: Understanding and applying idiomatic expressions.
• Sentence Arrangement: Correcting the order of words in sentences.
• Sentence Improvement or Correction: Improving sentence structure and grammar.

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General Knowledge (for all posts):

• Current Affairs: Latest news and important national/international events.
• History of India: Ancient, medieval, and modern history of India.
• Geography: Physical and political geography.
• Political Science: Basic concepts of political structures.
• Economics: Principles of economics, Indian economy basics.
• General Science: Basics of physics, chemistry, and biology.

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Elementary Mathematics (for IMA, INA, AFA):

• Arithmetic:
  • Number Systems
  • Percentages
  • Profit & Loss
  • Ratio & Proportion
  • Time & Distance
  • Time & Work
• Algebra:
  • Basic Operations
  • Simple Equations
• Trigonometry:
  • Trigonometric Ratios
  • Heights and Distances
• Geometry:
  • Lines and Angles
  • Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles
  • Areas and Volumes
• Mensuration:
  • Areas and Volumes of different shapes.
• Statistics:
  • Collection, Tabulation, and Graphical Representation of Data
  • Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median, Mode)