UPSC CDS (II) Notification 2024 Out: Apply By 4 June 2024

UPSC CDS Notification 2024 has been issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 15 May 2024 for the Combined Defence Services Examination (ii) 2024. UPSC CDS Application Window 2024 will open until 4 June 2024 at 06:00 pm. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online by visiting the official website of the UPSC from 15 May to 4 June 2024. Candidates should apply well in advance of the deadline to avoid last-minute inconvenience. 

UPSC CDS 2024 will take place on 1 September 2024 for admission to various Defence courses. Those who want to appear in the UPSC CDS 2024 Exam should check the Combined Defence Services 2024 Notification carefully as it contains all the relevant information that candidates should know before applying. Scroll down this page to get updates on UPSC CDS (II) 2024. 

UPSC CDS Recruitment 2024  

UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Recruitment Drive is being conducted for 459 vacancies. Candidates must go through the two-layer selection process i.e. Written Examination and Interview. Candidates attending the Services Selection Board tests do so at their own risk and understand that they cannot seek compensation or other government assistance for any injuries sustained during the testing process, regardless of the cause, including negligence.

What is CDS?

The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS Exam) is a national-level test conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Its purpose is to select qualified candidates for entry into prestigious institutions such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (IAF) and Officer Training Academy (OTA). This year, the UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Exam is scheduled to be held on 1 September 2024.

UPSC CDS Exam 2024: Overview

UPSC CDS (II) Exam Date 2024 has been announced by the UPSC for those who will apply for the CDS 2024. In the below table you will find a concise summary of the UPSC CDS 2024:-

UPSC CDS Important Dates 2024

UPSC CDS 2024 Application Window is open now and eligible candidates should apply through the official website. Check this table to know all the important dates related to the UPSC CDS 2024 Exam:-

UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Recruitment: Important Links

UPSC CDS 2024 Notification is out and the application window for the same is open for eligible candidates. In this section, we are providing all the important links related to the UPSC CDS (II) Recruitment 2024:-

UPSC CDS 2024 Vacancy

The UPSC has announced a total of 459 vacancies for the CDS (II) 2024. The listed number of vacancies is provisional and subject to change at any time by Services Headquarters. The Indian Army releases separate vacancies for men and women across various entries, taking into consideration the operational and administrative requirements of the Force as envisioned in current and future contexts. Check the below table for detailed vacancies:-

UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2024 

Applicants must ensure they meet all eligibility criteria before applying for the examination. Their admission at all stages of the examination is purely provisional and subject to satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. Verification of eligibility conditions with original documents will only be conducted after the candidate has qualified for the interview/Personality Test. Below, we outline the eligibility criteria for the UPSC CDS (II) Exam 2024 for your reference.

Nationality

A candidate must be unmarried and must either be: 

(i) a Citizen of India, or 

(ii) a subject of Nepal, or 

(iii) 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

B. Age Limit and Marital Status

UPSC CDS (II) Exam 2024 age limit has been detailed through the UPSC CDS 2024 Notification. Below we are providing a table with Academy-wise Age limit:-

Educational Qualification 

Note:- 

Candidates who are in their final year of college are also eligible to take the CDS Exam. An authentic graduation certificate must be presented to the board during the SSB interview.

Physical Standards

For admission to the Combined Defence Services Examination (2), 2023, a candidate must be physically fit according to the physical standards and guidelines set up by the various wings.

UPSC CDS Application Process

UPSC CDS (II) Application Window will be open till 4 June 2024. Candidates must complete the Online Application form, which consists of two stages, Part I and Part II. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to successfully apply for CDS 2: 

• Firstly, visit the official online application portal of UPSC (link for the same is given above in the Important Links section).
• You need to enter your credentials in the "Part I" section of the application form.
• Following "Part I," a registration ID will be generated, and you can proceed to "Part II" of the CDS 2 application form.
• Upload all scanned documents and signatures in the format specified.
• Finally, pay the application fee and select the examination centre.
• Re-check all details entered by you, before clicking the "Submit" button.
• Print the generated application number and a copy of the final application form for future reference.

Application fee

Mode of Payment:

Fees can be paid in cash at any SBI branch, by Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment, or by using any bank's internet banking facility.

Selection Process of UPSC CDS (II) 2024

The selection process comprises the following two stages:

Stage I -  Written Examination

• The written exam for the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) is divided into three sections: English, Maths, and General Knowledge (GK). 
• The written exam for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) has two sections: English and General Knowledge.

To advance to the next phase, the candidate must pass a written examination.

Stage II -  Intelligence & Personality Test

The next stage to be cleared after the written examination is the SSB interview which includes the Personality test/Interview. SSB interview is divided into two phases. The first step is an intelligence and personality test, followed by a psychology test that includes an interview, group discussion, and conference round.

Note: Candidates who clear Stage - I are permitted to appear for Stage - II.

Candidates who pass both the interview and the document verification rounds are eligible for the medical exam.

UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Exam Pattern

The UPSC CDS Exam pattern differs for each military academy. The number of sections in the exam for the Officers' Training Academy varies slightly. However, the questions in both papers will be of the objective variety. The questions, except for the English language, will be bilingual. The details of the sections of exa are as follows

A. WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Note: 

• The papers in all subjects will only contain objective type questions. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics question papers (Test Booklets) will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
• There will be a negative marking of ⅓ marks for each wrong answer.

B. SSB INTERVIEW (INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY TEST)

The CDS SSB Interview, as previously stated, is divided into two stages, each of which includes an intelligence and personality test:

(a) Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests are Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in the OIR Test and PP&DT. 

(b) Stage II: Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted over a period of 4 days.

Syllabus for CDS (II) Exam 2024

Understanding the CDS syllabus will assist you in developing a well-structured study plan with an appropriate strategy. It will also save you time because you will not have to study for topics that are irrelevant to this exam. This article contains a comprehensive CDS exam 2024 syllabus that will assist you in the future.

UPSC CDS Exam Centres 2024

The CDS 2 exam will be held at multiple locations across India. The UPSC announces the CDS 2024 Exam Centres officially through a notification. Below is a table containing the list of all the examination centres for the 2024 exam:

UPSC CDS (II) Admit Card 2024

The admit card is a vital document that candidates must bring with them to the examination centre. It is proof of their eligibility and allows them to enter the exam hall. 

The UPSC issues CDS admit cards one or two weeks before the exam. Candidates can view and download their CDS II Admit Card 2024 from the UPSC website.

Candidates can download he UPSC CDS 2 admit card 2024 by following the steps outlined below:

• Visit the UPSC's Official Website
• On the homepage, click the Admit Cards tab.
• Click on the E-Admit card for the CDS (II) Examination link.
• Enter Your User ID And Password To Download The Hall Ticket.
• Enter the captcha that has been provided on the screen.
• Then click 'Login' to download your CDS admit card.

Candidates should check the UPSC official website on a regular basis to stay up to date on the admit card release date.

UPSC CDS Answer Key 2024

The UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Answer Key will be made available by the UPSC after the successful completion of the exam. Candidates can download the UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Answer Key and submit objections once it is uploaded. Below, you will find the direct link to download the UPSC CDS Answer Key 2024, once it becomes available:

UPSC CDS Answer Key 2024 Link (inactive)

UPSC CDS Result 2024 

The CDS 2 Examination Result 2024 will be released one month after the written examination, which is scheduled for 1 September 2024. The commission publishes the results of each stage, namely the written exam and the SSB interview, on its official website. Following the steps below, candidates can access their UPSC CDS Results.

Step 1: Navigate to the UPS website at upsc.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click the Written Result CDS (II) Examination 2024 link.

Step 3: The Result PDF will be shown on the screen.

Step 4: Examine the result PDF and use the Ctrl+F key to find your roll number.

Step 5: Save a copy of the UPSC result PDF for future reference.

UPSC CDS 2024 Exam Cut-off 

The UPSC CDS (II) Exam Cut-off Marks will be released after the successful completion of the exam. Candidates need to achieve scores higher than the cut-off marks to secure their positions. Once the UPSC declares the cut-off marks, we will provide the direct link to download the UPSC CDS 2024 Exam Cut-off Marks:

UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Exam Cut-off Marks Link (Inactive)

UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Salary

• Gentlemen or Lady Cadets will get a Stipend of Rs 56,100/-p.m during the entire duration of training in Service academies i.e. during training period at IMA and OTA. 
• On successful commissioning, the pay in the Pay Matrix of the Officer commissioned shall be fixed in the first Cell of Level 10 and the period of training shall not be treated as commissioned service.

MSP to the officer is as follows:-