CDS 2025 Syllabus , Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

• Each paper consists of Objective Type (MCQs).
• Negative marking of 1/3rd marks for each wrong answer.
• SSB Interview carries 300 marks for IMA, INA, AFA and 200 marks for OTA.

CDS 2025 Subject-Wise Detailed Syllabus

1. English (Common for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA)

🔹 Total Marks: 100
🔹 Duration: 2 Hours

Topics Covered:
✅ Grammar & Sentence Structure: Parts of Speech, Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, Active & Passive Voice, Direct & Indirect Speech.
✅ Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitutions, Idioms & Phrases.
✅ Reading Comprehension: Passage-based questions.
✅ Spotting Errors: Grammar and sentence correction.
✅ Sentence Arrangement: Rearranging jumbled sentences.
✅ Cloze Test: Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

📌 Tip: Reading newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) regularly helps in English as well as General Knowledge.

2. General Knowledge (Common for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA)

🔹 Total Marks: 100
🔹 Duration: 2 Hours

Topics Covered:
✅ History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, Freedom Struggle.
✅ Geography: Physical Geography, Indian & World Geography, Climate, Crops, Natural Resources.
✅ Polity: Indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Parliament, Judiciary, Panchayati Raj.
✅ Economy: Basic Economics, Banking, Budget, Economic Survey, Important Schemes.
✅ Science & Technology: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Space Tech, Defence Tech.
✅ Current Affairs: National & International Events, Defence News, Government Schemes, Reports & Indices.
✅ Environment & Ecology: Climate Change, Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation.

📌 Tip: Regularly follow PIB, Yojana, Kurukshetra, and monthly current affairs compilations.

3. Mathematics (Only for IMA, INA, AFA)

🔹 Total Marks: 100
🔹 Duration: 2 Hours

Topics Covered:
✅ Arithmetic: Number System, HCF & LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Time & Work, Time & Distance.
✅ Algebra: Basic Operations, Quadratic Equations, Linear Equations, Polynomials, Inequalities.
✅ Trigonometry: Trigonometric Ratios, Heights & Distances.
✅ Geometry: Lines & Angles, Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Theorems.
✅ Mensuration: Area & Volume of 2D and 3D figures (Squares, Rectangles, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres).
✅ Statistics & Probability: Mean, Median, Mode, Probability Basics.

📌 Tip: NCERT Mathematics (Class 6-10) + Previous Year Papers are key to scoring high in this section.

SSB Interview Process (For Recommended Candidates)

✅ Total Marks: 300 (IMA, INA, AFA), 200 (OTA).
✅ 5-Day Process including:

• Screening Test: OIR Test + PPDT
• Psychological Tests: TAT, WAT, SRT, SD
• GTO Tasks: Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, Command Task, Lecturette, Individual Obstacles.
• Personal Interview: Detailed assessment by the Interviewing Officer.
• Conference: Final assessment and medical evaluation.

📌 Tip: Daily Newspaper Reading + Practicing PPDT & WAT is crucial for SSB.

CDS 2025 Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +1 Mark
• Incorrect Answer: -0.33 Marks (Negative Marking)
• Unattempted Questions: No Deduction

📌 Tip: Attempt only those questions where you’re at least 50-60% sure to minimize negative marking.

CDS 2025 Preparation Strategy

✅ Step 1: Cover NCERTs (Class 6-12) for GK & Maths.
✅ Step 2: Read “Lucent GK” & “Manohar Pandey GK” for quick revision.
✅ Step 3: Solve Previous Year Papers (Last 10 Years).
✅ Step 4: Attempt Full-Length Mock Tests Weekly.
✅ Step 5: Improve English with The Hindu + Wren & Martin.
✅ Step 6: Practice SSB Questions (TAT, WAT, SRT, PPDT).