UPSC CDS Syllabus Subject Wise, Exam Pattern, PDF Download

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Reported by Pankaj Bhatt

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UPSC CDS Syllabus Subject Wise- UPSC invites applications for Combined Defence Service Examination (CDS) twice a year. The application process for CDS I is currently active and interested applications have submitted applications and are busy preparing for the exam that is scheduled to be conducted on 16th April 2023. Before preparing for the exam, one must have complete information on the UPSC CDS Syllabus so that he/she can prepare accordingly.

UPSC CDS Syllabus Subject Wise

UPSC CDS is a national-level competitive examination through which suitable candidates are shortlisted for the post of commissioned Officers in various Indian Defence forces viz. IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), OTA (Officers Training Academy),  and IFA (Indian Air Force Academy).

The selection is based on an examination followed by an interview conducted by the SSB (Service Selection Board). CDS I for 2023 will be conducted on 16th April and candidates who have submitted applications must have prepared for the same as per the syllabus issued by the Commission. CDS syllabus is communicated to candidates through the official examination notice. For the convenience of the examinees, we have shared the subject-wise syllabus details of the exam here. To get full information about the CDS exam pattern and syllabus do read this article till the end.

UPSC CDS 2 Syllabus Subject Wise

UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2023: Key Information

Name of the examCombined Defence Service Examination (CDS)
Article CategorySyllabus
Conducting AuthorityUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Selection atIMA, INA, OTA & IAF Academy
Post OfferedCommissioned Officer
Mode of ExaminationOffline
Date of CDS 116th April 2023
Availability of SyllabusAvailable  
Official website  www.upsc.gov.in

How to Check UPSC CDS syllabus?

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UPSC CDS syllabus is communicated to the candidates through the official website of UPSC. CDS aspirants can avail it from the official examination notification on the UPSC portal by following the given instructions-

  • Go to the UPSC portal.
  • Click on Examination Notifications link.
  • CDS II notification details will open.
  • Click on Document link and the examination notification pdf will open. 
  • Enter Ctrl+f and syllabus.
  • Syllabus page will appear.
  • Check the syllabus for each paper/subject.
  • Take the screenshot of the syllabus or download the pdf.

Read this

UPSC CDS Syllabus Subject Wise | NDA Admit Card 2023

UPSC CDS ApplicationMistakes You Should Avoid During UPSC Interview

UPSC CDS Examination Pattern

The competitive exam will consist of a Written exam and interview. Go through the examination scheme shared here before moving to the subject-wise syllabus-

CDS exam is a written exam conducted in offline mode.

For IMA, INA & IAF Academy

SubjectNo. of QuestionsMax. MarksDuration
English1201002 hours
General Knowledge1201002 hours
Elementary Mathematics1001002 hours
Total340300 

For OTA

SubjectNo. QuestionsMax. MarksDuration
English1201002 hours
General Knowledge1201002 hours

UPSC CDS Subject-wise Syllabus

The level of the elementary mathematic paper will be of High School/ Matriculation level. While the level of papers of other subjects will be of graduation level. Therefore, for mathematics, applicants can refer to their class 10th Mathematics books and for other subjects, they can refer to the graduation books. Before that, they must have complete knowledge about the syllabus for each paper. They can get subject-wise syllabus information in this particular section-

  • Subject – English (Code No. 01)
EnglishComprehensions
Spotting Errors
Selecting Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Substitution
Sentence Improvement/ Arrangements
Ordering of Sentence
Idioms and Phrases
Fill in the blanks etc.
  • Subject- General Knowledge (Code No. 02)
General KnowledgeCurrent Affairs and questions regarding- History
– Geography
– Science (PCB)
– Economics
– Politics
– Sociology
– Culture and Traditions
– Books & Authors
– Awards
– Sports
– Environment
  • Subject- Elementary Mathematics (Code No. 03)
ArithmeticNumber SystemNumber System-
– Integers
– Natural numbers,
– Fundamental Operations, Decimal fractions
– Rational & Real numbers
– Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Square Roots,
– Unitary method,
– Simple Interest & Compound Interest (Applications) Percentages,
– Profit and Loss Time & Distance
– Time & work,
– Variation Ratio and Proportion  

Elementary Number Theory-
– Prime & Composite No.
– Division Algorithm
– H.C.F. and L.C.M
– Multiples & Factors
– Logarithms to base 10
– Tests of divisibility
– Factorization Theorem
– Use of logarithmic tables
– Laws of logarithms
– Euclidean algorithm
Algebra– Basic Operations
– Simple Factors
– L.C.M., H.C.F.,
– Solutions of quadratic equations
– Remainder Theorem
– Set language and Set Notation
– Theory of polynomials
– Relation b/w its roots & coefficients
– Rational expressions & conditional identities
– Simultaneous linear equation in 2 unknowns—Analytical & graphical sol.
– Laws of Indices  
– Simultaneous linear inequations in 2 variables and sol.
– Practical problems
Trigonometry– Sin×, cos×, Tan × when 0° < × < 90°
– Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° & 90 degree
– Trigonometric tables (Use)
– Simple trigonometric identities
– Heights & Distances (simple cases)
Geometry– Lines and angles
– Plane and plane figures
– Theorems on-
Angles at a point (Properties)-Triangle (Sides & Angles)
Parallel lines
Similar Triangles
Sides, Angles & diagonals (Properties) 
Congruency of triangles
Loci Circles (properties, tangents & normal)
Concurrence of altitude & medians
Mensuration– Areas of figures like Triangle, Circle, squares, rectangles, parallelograms
– Areas of figures of Field Book
– Cuboids (Surface area & volume)
– Right circular cones and cylinders (Lateral Surface & volume)
– Spheres (Volume and surface areas)
Statistics– Collection & Tabulation of data
– Frequency polygons (graphical representations)
– Pie charts, Histograms & Bar graphs
– Measures of Central tendency

Intelligence & Personality Test

Candidates who pass the Written examination (stage 1) are invited to attend the Intelligence and Personality Test (Commonly known as SSB round). This round includes two selection stages-

  • 1st stage Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)
  • 2nd stage includes an Interview, Psychology Tests, GTOT (Group Testing Officer Tasks), and Conference.

UPSC One Time Registration 2023

UPSC CDS Schedule

Examination ActivitiesCDS ICDS II (Tentative)
Release of official notification21 DecemberAugust
Commencement of CDS online Application form submission21 DecemberAugust
Date of exam16 AprilNovember
Date of resultTBATo be announced later
Conduct of SSBTBATo be announced later

Important Links

UPSC official portalwww.upsc.gov.in
UPSC CDS II Examination Notification/Syllabus PDFClick Here

Contact Information

For inquiries or queries regarding UPSC CDS examination 2023, you can contact at-

Union Public Service Commission
Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi – 110069    
Facilitation Centre-
011-23098543/23381125/23385271/23098591
Fax JS (Exam)-
011-23387310
Email-Id- Oracell-Upsc@nic.in/ Oracell-Upsc@gov.in

FAQs

When will CDS I for 2023 be conducted?

It is going to be held on 16th April 2023

What is the availability status of the CDS II syllabus?

The syllabus of the upcoming exam is available and you can get it from the examination notification.

What is the mode of conduct of examination?

The CDS Stage 1 examination is conducted in offline mode (OMR-based).

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