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Combined Defence Services Examination


  Posts offered through Combined Defence Services Examination, shortly known as CDS Examination, is basically for the Indian Nationals who are young and courageous individuals who cares for the nation with patriotic emotions and who have devoted their lives to defend their country and its people.

  Successful candidates in the Combined Defence Services Examination will be sent for the training to any one of the following Defence training institutes mentioned below.

  • Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
  • Naval Academy, Ezhimala
  • Air Force Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad
  • Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai

  Candidates selected in the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy get permanent commission, however cadets passing out of Officers Training Academy get short service commission.

  Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted by UPSC twice every year in the months of February and September for recruitment to officer cadre of the Army, Navy and Air force.

Important Dates of C.D.S. EXAM.(I), 2023
Notification of Examination 21st Dec 2022
Last date for receipt of Application 10th Jan 2023
Conduct of Examination 16th Apr 2023
Important Dates of C.D.S. EXAM.(II), 2023
Notification of Examination 17th May 2023
Last date for receipt of Application 06th June 2023
Conduct of Examination 03rd Sep 2023

CDS Question Papers

Tentative Schedule (Examination held twice a year)
Notification of Examination August and March
Conduct of Examination February and August

Eligibility For Combined Defence Services Exam