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.
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.
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:
CDS 1 Exam 2024 - Important Updates |
|
Exam Conducted By |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Examination Name |
Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2024 |
Application Dates |
20 December 2023 to 09 January 2024 |
Vacancies |
457 |
Application Mode |
Online |
Exam Level |
National |
Exam frequency |
Twice a year |
Language of Exam |
English & Hindi (Bilingual) |
Exam Mode |
Offline |
All the important dates for the Combined Defence Services Examination 2024 is given in the table below:
Event |
Date |
Notification Issued on |
20 December 2024 |
Application Start Date |
20 December 2024 |
Last Date to Apply |
09 January 2024 (till 06:00 PM) |
Application and OTR Correction Window |
10-01-2024 to 16-01-2023 |
Date of CDS 1 Examination 2024 |
21 April 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:
Official Website |
|
Official Notification |
|
Apply Link |
|
CDS 1 Admit Card 2024 |
Available soon |
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:
Military Wing |
Name of the Course |
Approximate No. of Vacancies |
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun |
158th (DE) Course commencing in January 2025 |
100 [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC `C’ (Army Wing) holders] |
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala |
Course commencing in January 2025 Executive Branch (General Service)/Hydro |
32 [including 06 vacancies for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Naval Wing) holders] |
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad |
(Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in January 2025 i.e. No. 217 F(P) Course. |
32 [including 03 vacancies are reserved for NCC `C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC Special Entry] |
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) |
121st SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course Commencing in April 2025 |
275 |
Officers Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) |
35th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in April 2024 |
18 |
Total |
457 |
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 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.
Academy |
Age Limit |
Age Criteria |
Indian Military Academy |
19 - 24 |
Candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2006. |
Indian Naval Academy |
19 - 24 |
Candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2006. |
Air Force Academy (as on 1 January 2025) |
20 - 24 |
Born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2005 Note: (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January 1999 and not later than 1st January 2005. |
Officers' Training Academy (SSC Course) (Men) |
19 - 25 |
Candidates born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2006. |
Officers' Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) (Women) |
19 - 25 |
Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried, and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd January 2000 and not later than 1st January 2006. |
Academy |
Educational Qualification |
I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai |
Graduation Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. |
Indian Naval Academy |
Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution |
Air Force Academy |
Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering. |
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.
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.
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
Application fee
Category |
Application Fee |
General and OBC Candidates |
INR 200/- |
Female/SC/ST Candidates |
Exempted from payment of fees |
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.
The selection process comprises the following two stages:
Stage I - Written Examination
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.
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
CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA and Air Force Academy |
|||
Subject |
Code |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
English |
11 |
100 |
2 Hours |
General Knowledge |
12 |
100 |
2 Hours |
Elementary Mathematics |
13 |
100 |
2 Hours |
CDS Exam Pattern for Officers’ Training Academy |
|||
English |
11 |
100 |
2 Hours |
General Knowledge |
12 |
100 |
2 Hours |
Note:
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.
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.
Subject |
Topics |
|
English |
|
|
General Knowledge |
|
|
Elementary Mathematics |
|
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:
Candidates should check the UPSC official website on a regular basis to stay up to date on the admit card release date.
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.
AGARTALA |
GHAZIABAD |
PANAJI (GOA) |
AGRA |
GORAKHPUR |
PATNA |
AJMER |
GURGAON |
PORT BLAIR |
AHMEDABAD |
GWALIOR |
PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) |
AIZAWL |
HYDERABAD |
PUDUCHERRY |
ALIGARH |
IMPHAL |
PUNE |
ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) |
INDORE |
RAIPUR |
ANANTAPUR |
ITANAGAR |
RAJKOT |
AURANGABAD (ANDHRA PRADESH) |
JABALPUR |
RANCHI |
BENGALURU |
JAIPUR |
SAMBALPUR |
BAREILLY |
JAMMU |
SHILLONG |
BHOPAL |
JODHPUR |
SHIMLA |
BILASPUR (CHHATISGARH) |
JORHAT |
SILIGURI |
CHANDIGARH |
KOCHI |
SRINAGAR |
CHENNAI |
KOHIMA |
SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
COIMBATORE |
KOLKATA |
THANE |
CUTTACK |
KOZHIKODE (CALCUTTA) |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
DEHRADUN |
LEH |
TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
DELHI |
LUCKNOW |
TIRUPATI |
DHARAMSHALA |
LUDHIANA |
UDAIPUR |
DHARWAD |
MADURAI |
VARANASI |
DISPUR |
MANDI |
VELLORE |
FARIDABAD |
MUMBAI |
VIJAYAWADA |
GANGTOK |
MYSORE |
VISHAKHAPATNAM |
GAYA |
NAGPUR |
WARANGAL |
GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR |
NAVI MUMBAI |
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.
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:-
Academy |
Written Cut-off of CDS (I) 2022 |
Final Cut-off of CDS (I) 2022 |
IMA |
136 |
258 |
INA |
128 |
256 |
AFA |
147 |
269 |
OTA (MEN) |
100 |
181 |
OTA (WOMEN) |
100 |
184 |
UPSC CDS (I) EXPECTED CUT-OFF 2024
Academy |
Written Cut-off of CDS (I) 2024 |
IMA |
135-145 |
INA |
120-130 |
AFA |
140-150 |
OTA (MEN) |
90-110 |
OTA (WOMEN) |
90-100 |
Rank |
Level |
Pay scale/ salary |
Lieutenant |
10 |
INR 56,100-1,77,500 |
Captain |
10B |
INR 61,300-1,93,900 |
Major |
11 |
INR 69,400-2,07,200 |
Lieutenant colonel |
12A |
INR 1,21,200-2,12,400 |
colonel |
13 |
INR 1,30,600-2,15,900 |
brigadier |
13A |
INR 1,39,600- 2,17,600 |
Major general |
14 |
INR 1,44,200-2,18,200 |
Lieutenant general HAG scale |
15 |
INR 1,82,200-2,24,100 |
HAG + scale |
16 |
INR 2,05,400-2,24,400 |
VCOAS/ Lieutenant General (NFSG)/ Army Cdr |
17 |
INR 2,25,000(FIXED) |
COAS |
18 |
INR 2,25,000 ( FIXED) |
MSP to the officer is as follows:-
Military Service Pay(MSP) to the officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier |
Rs 15,500 p.m. fixed |