Defence Services Entrance Examination are those which are conducted on All India basis for recruitment into defence forces such as the army, navy and airforce. Defence Services are also known as The Combined Defence Services (CDS). The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the CDS Examinations twice a year and successful candidates can serve the country through their efforts in the Indian Navy, Indian Army or Indian Air Force.

Defence Services Entrance Examination Eligibility and Application Procedure

Examination Notification - The general public is notified about the Combined Defense Services Examination once in August and again in March through press advertisements, which are normally carried in 'Employment News' and all leading newspapers of India.


Defence Services Entrance Examination Pattern and Admission Process

Examination Schedule - The CDS examinations are generally held in February and September.

Examination Pattern

Indian Military Academy and Air Force Academy

• Objective Type Written Test in English -100 marks
• Objective Type Written Test in General Knowledge - 100 marks
• Objective Type Written Test in Elementary Mathematics - 100 marks

Officer's Training Academy

• Objective Type Written Test in English - 100 marks
• Objective Type Written Test in General Knowledge - 100 marks

For the interviews to be conducted by the Staff Selection Board once the candidate successfully clears the written test, the total marks are as follows:

• Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy - 300 marks
• Officers' Training Academy - 200 marks

Candidates who clear the CDS Examination are called for an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB) and subject to their performance in the interview and overall ranking, they are deputed to any of the CDS institutes.

There are many types of Defence Services Entrance Examinations in India. These are -

1.   Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
2.   Naval Academy,Goa
3.   Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
4.   Officers Training Academy, Chennai