The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is conducted twice a year, in the months of February and November. The examination is conducted to select officers for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The examination consists of two stages, namely the written stage and the interview stage. The written examination consists of two papers: General Knowledge and English. The interview stage is conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB).
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for appearing in the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) is as follows:
1. Nationality: A candidate must be either:
a) A citizen of India,
b) A subject of Bhutan,
c) A subject of Nepal,
d) A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India,
e) 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.
2. Age Limit:
(a) For Indian Military Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 1996 and not later than 1st January, 2001 only are eligible.
(b) For Indian Naval Academy: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 1996 and not later than 1st January, 2001 only are eligible.
(c) For Air Force Academy: 20 to 24 years as on 1st January, 2021 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January, 1997 and not later than 1st January, 2001 (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, 1995 and not later than 1st January, 2001).
(d) For Officers’ Training Academy: (SSC Course for men): Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 1996 and not later than 1st January, 2001 only are eligible.
(e) For Officers Training Academy: (SSC Women Non–Technical Course): 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, 1996 and not later than 1st January, 2001.
3. Educational Qualification:
(a) For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(b) For Officers’ Training Academy:
(i) Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) Those candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply but they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination during the time of interview.
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) Colleges In India
1. National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, Maharashtra
2. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala
3. Officers‘ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4. Officers‘ Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar
5. Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad, Telangana
6. College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, Telangana
7. Army Cadet College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
8. Institute of Defence and Management Studies, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
9. Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand
10. Army Institute of Education, New Delhi
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) List of Stream
1. Indian Military Academy
2. Indian Naval Academy
3. Air Force Academy
4. Officers Training Academy (OTA)
5. Officers Training Academy (Women)
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) Syllabus
The syllabus for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is divided into 3 sections.
1) English:
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension
• Fill in the blanks
• Error Detection
• Idioms and phrases
2) General Knowledge:
• History
• Geography
• Indian Polity
• Indian Economy
• General Science
• Current Affairs
3) Mathematics:
• Arithmetic
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Statistics
• Mensuration
