The Combined Defence Services exam is conducted two times a year to recruit candidates as commissioned officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The registration process for CDS (2) will start from August 05 and the exam will be held on November 08, 2021.Students selected through the CDS (II) exam undergoes the training in Indian Military Academy/Officers Training Academy/Indian Naval Academy/Indian Air Force Academy.
Highlights of CDS (II) Examination
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam – 1 & 2 |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Frequency of Exam | Twice a year, February and November |
| Total Vacancies | 345 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Qualification | Graduate |
| Selection Process | Written Exam and SSB Interview |
| After Selection | Training at IMA/OTA/INA/AFA |
| Written Exam Duration | One day |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates for CDS 2- 2021
| Events | Important Dates |
| Release of CDS 2 Notification | August 4, 2021 |
| Beginning of Online Application | August 4, 2021 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 24, 2021 |
| Application Withdrawal Dates | To be Notified |
| Release of CDS Admit Card | To be Notified |
| CDS 2 Written Exam | November 14, 2020 |
| Declaration of CDS 2 Result | To be Notified |
| Final Result | To be Notified |
CDS (II) 2021 Application Form
Applicants have to fill application through online mode only.
Applicants are required to provide the details of one photo ID proof (Aadhar Card/ Voter Card/ PAN Card/ Passport/ Driving License/ Any other photo ID Card) issued by the State/Central Government.
Upload the scanned copy of documents.
Must avoid submitting multiple applications. If in case the students need to submit multiple applications they must make sure that application with higher RID (Registration ID) is complete in all respect.
Also, applicants have to provide valid e-mail ID while filling the form as the Commission uses electronic mode of communication while contacting them at different stages of the examination process.
CDS 2 Application Fees 2021
Category Application Fees
General Category Rs. 200/-
Female/SC/ST category Exempted
Mode of Payment can be both online as well as offline.
Application fees are non-refundable in any situation.
CDS (II) 2021 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality: must have one of the following citizenship-
Indian
Bhutan
Nepal
Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January 1962 for permanently settling in India
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 to permanently settle in India.
Age Limit:
| Academy | Age Limit |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1998 and not later than 1st January 2002 |
| Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for Men) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1997 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
| Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Women Non-Technical Course) | Born not earlier than 2nd January 1997 and not later than 1st January 2003 |
Educational Qualification:
| Academy | Educational Qualification Required |
| IMA | Graduate Degree from a Recognized University |
| INA | Engineering Degree from a Recognized University |
| AFA | Graduate Degree with Physics & Maths at 10+2 or BE from a Recognized University |
| OTA | Graduate Degree from a Recognized University |
Gender and Marital Status Requirements:
| Department | Gender | Status |
| Indian Military Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Indian Naval Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Indian Air Force Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Officer Training Academy | Male | Unmarried |
| Officer Training Academy | Female | Unmarried/Issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) |
CDS Exam Pattern 2021
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Duration of Exam | 6 hours (for IMA, INA & AFA) 4 hours ( for OTA) |
| Type of Questions | MCQs/Objective type |
| Sections | Elementary Math, English Language, and General Knowledge |
FAQ’S
Ans A candidate must have Engineering Degree for INA, Graduate degree with Physics and Maths at 10+2 for AFA, and a graduate degree in any discipline for IMA and OTA from a recognized university.
Ans For AFA, the upper age limit is 24 years while for IMA, OTA, and INA, the age limit is 23 years.
Ans There is no limit on the number of attempts for this exam, but your degree must be over at the time of course commencement. You can apply while in the final year of your degree.
Ans NDA exam is quite tough as compared to CDS because it has high level mathematics whereas in CDS you only have elementary mathematics. … SSB is easier for NDA entry as compared to CDSE entry.
