CDS Exam 2027: Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Application
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year for recruitment of officers into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). It is one of the most prestigious defence exams in India for graduates aspiring to become commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
CDS Exam 2027 – Official Schedule (As per UPSC Calendar 2027)
CDS I 2027
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 2 December 2026 |
| Application Start | 2 December 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 December 2026 |
| Written Exam Date | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) |
| Admit Card (Expected) | First week of April 2027 |
| Written Result (Expected) | May – June 2027 |
| SSB Interviews | From mid-2027 onwards |
| Course Commencement | January / April 2028 (approx) |
CDS II 2027
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 12 May 2027 |
| Application Start | 12 May 2027 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1 June 2027 |
| Written Exam Date | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
| Admit Card (Expected) | Last week of August 2027 |
| Written Result (Expected) | October – November 2027 |
| SSB Interviews | From late 2027 onwards |
| Course Commencement | July / October 2028 (approx) |
Note: All dates are as per the official UPSC Annual Calendar 2027 and are subject to change. Always verify on upsc.gov.in
Nationality
- Citizen of India, or
- Subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- Person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Age Limits (Expected for CDS I 2027 – to be confirmed in official notification)
| Academy | Age Limit | Expected Date of Birth Range (both inclusive) | Gender & Marital Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | 19 – 24 years | 2 Jan 2004 to 1 Jan 2009 | Unmarried Male only |
| INA | 19 – 24 years | 2 Jan 2004 to 1 Jan 2009 | Unmarried Male only |
| AFA | 20 – 24 years | 2 Jan 2004 to 1 Jan 2008 | Unmarried Male (CPL holders up to 26 yrs) |
| OTA (Men) | 19 – 25 years | 2 Jan 2003 to 1 Jan 2009 | Unmarried Male |
| OTA (Women) | 19 – 25 years | 2 Jan 2003 to 1 Jan 2009 | Unmarried women / Issueless widows / divorcees (who have not remarried) |
Educational Qualifications
- IMA & OTA: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university (any discipline).
- INA: Degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution.
- AFA: Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Bachelor of Engineering.
- Final-year students can apply provided they submit proof of passing by the course commencement date.
Application Process (Online Only)
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on upsconline.nic.in.
- Login and fill the CDS application form.
- Upload photograph, signature and photo ID as per specifications.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable).
- Submit and take a printout of the confirmation page.
Application Fee
- ₹200 for General / OBC / EWS male candidates.
- Exempted for Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates.
CDS Exam Pattern 2027
| Academy | Subjects | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA / INA / AFA | English General Knowledge Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours each | 100 + 100 + 100 = 300 |
| OTA | English General Knowledge | 2 hours each | 100 + 100 = 200 |
- Mode: Offline (Pen & Paper)
- Type: Objective (MCQs)
- Negative Marking: ⅓rd marks deducted for every wrong answer
- Language: Bilingual (Hindi & English) except the English paper
Selection Process
- Written Examination
- SSB Interview (5 days – Stage I & Stage II)
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List (Written + SSB marks)
CDS Syllabus 2027 (Brief Overview)
English
Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms), Idioms & Phrases, Comprehension, Ordering of Sentences, Cloze Test.
General Knowledge
Current Affairs, History of India & Freedom Movement, Geography, Indian Polity & Constitution, Economy, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology – Class 10 level).
Elementary Mathematics (for IMA/INA/AFA only)
Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics (Class 10 level).
Important Official Links
- UPSC Official Website: https://www.upsc.gov.in
- Online Application Portal: https://upsconline.nic.in
- Examination Calendar: Available on UPSC website
Preparation Tip: Focus on NCERT books (Class 6–12), previous year papers, and standard books like R.S. Aggarwal (Maths), Lucent (GK), and Wren & Martin (English). Maintain physical fitness and work on personality traits required for SSB.
For the most accurate and latest information, always refer to the official UPSC notification once released.
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