CDS (1) Exam Notification 2024: Check Eligibility and Other Details

The UPSC CDS (I) 2024 Notification was released by the Union Public Service Commission on 20 December 2023. The Commission has announced a total of 457 CDS 1 vacancies for 2024 through this notification. Interested candidates must ensure that they meet all of the examination's eligibility requirements.

The official notice states that admission to the Combined Defence Services Examination is provisional and subject to meeting the prescribed eligibility conditions at all stages of the exam. Eligible candidates can submit their applications from 20 December 2023 to 09 January 2024.

What is CDS?

Combined Defence Services Examination (abbreviated as CDS Exam) is a National-level Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to select eligible candidates for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (IAF), and Officer Training Academy (OTA). 

Candidates must go through a selection process that includes a written test and an interview by SSB. Check out the information provided in the article below as we have provided comprehensive information about the CDS 2 Exam 2023 that will help you understand the exam and the application process.

CDS I Exam 2024 Overview

The selection process for the CDS exam is divided into two stages, i.e., the written exam and the SSB interview. Before filling out the application form, aspirants must carefully review the UPSC CDS eligibility criteria. All the important updates of CDS (I) 2024 are tabulated below:

Important Dates of CDS (I) 2024

All the important dates for the Combined Defence Services Examination 2024 is given in the table below:

Important Links for CDS (I) 2024

Along with the release of notification, the online application process for CDS 1 Exam 2024 has also been commenced on the website of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates can check the official notification and apply online by using the links provided in the table below:

UPSC CDS (I) 2024 Vacancy Details

The detailed CDS (1) 2024 notification includes military wing-specific vacancy information. This time, 457 vacancies have been announced, and candidates will be selected based on the final UPSC CDS (1) Exam merit list. The table below shows the military wing vacancy breakdown for the CDS 1 EXAM 2024:

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CDS (I) 2024

Those who wish to sit for the UPSC CDS 1 Examination 2024 must ensure they are eligible. Candidates should review the eligibility criteria, which include parameters such as nationality, age limit, and educational qualification, before applying for the exam.

A. 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

C. 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.

D. 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.

Online Application Process & Fees for UPSC CDS (I) 2024

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to successfully apply for CDS 1: 

Candidates must complete the Online Application form, which consists of two stages, Part I and Part II

• 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 1 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 (I) 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 (1) 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 (I) 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 (I) 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 I Admit Card 2024 from the UPSC website.

Candidates can d townload he UPSC CDS 1 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 (I) 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.

CDS 1 Exam Centres 2024

The CDS examination will be conducted at 77 exam centres throughout India. Candidates will be able to view a list of CDS exam centers on the official notification. While filling out the application form, candidates have to mention their preferred exam center. See the table below to see the exam centers.

UPSC CDS (I) Result 2024

The CDS 1 Examination Result 2024 will be released one month after the written examination, which is scheduled for 21 April 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 1 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 (I) 2024 Expected Cut-off Marks 

We have provided the previous year's (2022) CDS cut-off for the various branches of the prestigious India Defence Forces in the table below:-

UPSC CDS (I) EXPECTED CUT-OFF 2024

UPSC CDS (I) 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:-