UPSC CDS 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the CDS 2 2025 notification today, May 28, 2025, on its official website – upsc.gov.in. This official notification will include complete details such as CDS eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and other important guidelines.
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year to select candidates for top defence academies – Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
Aspirants must download the CDS 2 2025 notification PDF and carefully read all the information provided. Knowing the official rules and requirements will help candidates prepare better and avoid confusion during the application and exam process.
Below, you’ll find all the key highlights of the CDS 2025 notification to help you stay informed and ready.
UPSC CDS 2025
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the key dates for CDS 2026. Meanwhile, the CDS 2 2025 Notification will be released on May 28, 2025, at upsc.gov.in. Interested candidates can apply online from May 28 to June 17, 2025. A direct link to download the CDS 2 notification PDF will be provided here once it’s available. The CDS 2 2025 Exam is scheduled to take place on September 14, 2025.
Recently, the CDS 2 2024 merit list was published. The CDS 1 2025 result was declared on April 28, 2025, and the exam was held earlier on April 13, 2025. You can check the CDS 1 2025 Exam Analysis, answer key, and question papers for all shifts below. For reference, the last date to apply for CDS 1 2025 was January 1, 2025 (extended), and the notification was released on December 11, 2024.
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam is a prestigious national-level exam conducted twice a year by UPSC. It is held to select candidates for officer-level positions in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. The selection process includes two stages: a written exam followed by an SSB interview.
UPSC CDS 2025 Highlights
Candidates who are selected through the UPSC CDS exam join as commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. They will then undergo training at the respective defense academies. Below are the key highlights for the UPSC CDS 2025 exam:
| UPSC CDS 2025 Highlights | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC CDS |
| Full Form | Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
| Vacancy | 457 |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam stages |
|
| Mode of exam | Offline |
| No. of test cities | More than 70 |
| Application fee Prelims | Rs 200 |
UPSC CDS 2025 Notification
The CDS 2 2025 notification will be released on May 28, 2025, in PDF format on the official UPSC website. This official document will include all the essential details about the exam such as important dates, application procedure, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and syllabus.
Candidates are strongly advised to read the full CDS notification 2025 carefully before applying. Understanding the complete information will help avoid mistakes and ensure smooth registration and preparation for the exam.
UPSC CDS 2025 Important Dates
Candidates can refer to the table below for all the important CDS exam dates 2025. It is crucial to keep track of these dates to ensure you don’t miss any key events related to the exam process.
| UPSC CDS 2025 Important Dates | ||
| Events | CDS 1 | CDS 2 |
| Release of UPSC CDS 2025 notification | December 11, 2024 | May 28, 2025 |
| Release of CDS application form 2025 | December 11, 2024 | May 28, 2025 |
| CDS 2025 application form last date | December 31, 2024 | June 17, 2025 |
| CDS exam date 2025 | April 13, 2025 | September 14, 2025 |
| CDS Answer Key Release Date | To be announced | To be announced |
| CDS Exam Results 2025 | To be announced | To be announced |
UPSC CDS 2025 Selection Process
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) outlines the UPSC CDS selection process to recruit eligible candidates for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The process includes two stages: a written exam and an SSB interview.
The SSB interview itself is a two-stage procedure. To advance through each stage, candidates must meet the CDS cut-off marks. Final selection is based on merit, with candidates assigned All India Ranks, and allocation of services is done according to merit and preference.
UPSC CDS 2025 Application Form
The CDS 1 2025 application form was released on December 11, 2024, according to the UPSC annual calendar. The last date to apply for CDS 1 was January 1, 2025 (extended deadline).
Meanwhile, the CDS 2 2025 application form will be available from May 28, 2025, and candidates can submit their applications until June 15, 2025.
The application fee for General and OBC male candidates is INR 200, while SC/ST candidates and female candidates are exempted from paying any fee.
UPSC CDS 2025 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the UPSC CDS 2025 exam, candidates must meet the requirements listed in the UPSC CDS eligibility criteria 2025 table below:
Here is a table summarizing the UPSC CDS 2025 eligibility criteria:
| UPSC CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 | |
| Factor | Eligibility Criteria |
| Age | 20-25 years |
| Education | Graduation degree from a recognized university or equivalent. |
| Nationality |
|
| Marital Status | Unmarried for most candidates; women can apply for Short Service Commission at OTA (Officers Training Academy). |
| Experience | Not required. |
| Number of Attempts | Not specified. |
Note: Candidates with a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL) from DGCA (India) can apply up to the age of 26, with certain conditions for married candidates during training.
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025
The UPSC CDS 2025 syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. The syllabus includes subjects such as English, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and OTA-specific topics.
In the English section, candidates will be tested on areas like Reading Comprehension, Error Spotting, Synonyms & Antonyms, and Sentence Improvement.
Mathematics covers topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics.
The General Knowledge section includes Indian History, Political Science, Economics, Geography, Environment, General Science, Current Affairs, and Defence-related topics.
For the OTA exam, the focus is primarily on General Knowledge and English proficiency.
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2025
The CDS 2025 exam consists of two stages: the written exam and the SSB interview. While the CDS exam patterns for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) are similar, the CDS OTA exam pattern is slightly different.
CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, and AFA: The written exam for IMA, INA, and AFA includes three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. Each section is allotted 2 hours, making the total exam duration 6 hours. The total marks for the test are 300.
| CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, and AFA | ||
| Subject | Duration (In hours) | Maximum Marks |
| English | 2 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 | 100 |
CDS Exam Pattern for OTA: The written exam for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) consists of two sections: English and General Knowledge. Each section is given 2 hours, making the total exam duration 4 hours. The total marks for the test are 200.
| CDS Exam Pattern for OTA | ||
| Subject | Duration (In hours) | Maximum Marks |
| English | 2 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 | 100 |
UPSC CDS 2025 Vacancy
The CDS 2025 vacancy has been officially released along with the notification. On December 11, 2024, UPSC announced the CDS 1 Vacancy 2025 through its official notification. This year, around 457 vacancies have been announced for different academies, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). These vacancies are available for both male and female candidates. Check the detailed breakdown of the CDS 2025 vacancies below:
| UPSC CDS 2025 Vacancy | |
| Institution |
Approximate Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 32 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) – Men | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy (OTA) – Women | 18 |
| Total | 457 |
UPSC CDS 2025 Admit Card
The CDS Admit Card 2025 is now available for download on the official UPSC website. To access the admit card, candidates need to log in to their registered accounts using their application number and date of birth. The admit card will include essential information such as the candidate’s name, roll number, date of birth, a scanned photograph, signature, and details about the exam centre. The CDS exam is conducted by UPSC for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
To download the UPSC CDS Admit Card 2025, follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website.
Step 2: Go to the login section and enter your registered account details.
Step 3: Enter your application number and date of birth as provided during registration.
Step 4: After logging in, find the admit card download section and download your admit card.
UPSC CDS 2025 Answer Key
The UPSC CDS answer keys are usually released a few days after the exam, giving candidates the opportunity to check their answers and assess their performance. Candidates can access the UPSC CDS answer keys on the official website, upsc.gov.in.
It’s important to review the answer keys carefully, as there may be occasional errors or discrepancies. If candidates identify any issues with the answer keys, they can raise concerns through the official channels provided by UPSC.
UPSC CDS 2025 Cut Off
The UPSC CDS 2025 cut off will be determined by factors such as the exam’s difficulty level, the number of available vacancies, and the overall performance of candidates. The cut off marks represent the minimum score required for candidates to qualify for the next stages of the selection process.
It is important to note that the UPSC CDS cut off for 2025 may differ from previous years, so candidates should await the official announcement from UPSC. Additionally, meeting the cutoff marks does not guarantee selection; it only qualifies candidates for subsequent stages, such as the SSB interview.
UPSC CDS 2025 Result
The UPSC will announce the exact date for the CDS 2025 results through its official website and other official communication channels. Candidates are advised to regularly check the UPSC website for updates on result announcements and related notifications.
Follow these steps to access your UPSC CDS 2025 results:
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website at www.upsc.gov.in.
Step 2: Find the “Examination” section on the homepage.
Step 3: Look for the link to the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam results for 2025.
Step 4: Click on the “CDS Results” link to open the results page.
Step 5: Enter your roll number or registration ID and date of birth as prompted.
Step 6: Click on the submit or view result button.
Step 7: Your UPSC CDS 2025 results will be displayed on the screen.
Step 8: If available, check the merit list to see if your name appears for further rounds of selection.
UPSC CDS 2025 FAQs
Q.1. When will the UPSC CDS 2025 notification be released?
Ans. The UPSC CDS 2025 notification will be released on December 11, 2024.
Q.2. What is the eligibility age for UPSC CDS 2025?
Ans. Candidates must be between 20 to 25 years of age to be eligible for UPSC CDS 2025.
Q.3. How many times is the UPSC CDS exam conducted annually?
Ans. The UPSC CDS exam is conducted twice a year.
Q.4. What subjects are covered in the UPSC CDS exam?
Ans. The exam covers English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (for IMA, INA, AFA), and English and General Knowledge (for OTA).
Q.5. When is the UPSC CDS 2025 exam date?
Ans. The CDS 1 exam will be held on April 13, 2025.
