Defence Services Exams 2024

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Defence Services Entrance Exams are those which are conducted on An Indian basis for recruitment into defence forces such as the army, navy and airforce. Defence Services are also known as 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. Therefore these exams are also referred to as UPSC CDS Exam.

Defence Services Entrance Examination Eligibility and Application Procedure

Examination Notification - The general public is notified about the Combined Defence 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.

For the Indian Military Academy and the Officers Training Academy -

  • Candidates must have a degree from a recognized university or any other degree of equal educational value.
  • Age should be between 19 and 24 years of age 

For the Naval Academy -

  • Candidates should be graduates in Science with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
  • Engineering graduates are also eligible.
  • Age should be between 19 and 22 years of age 

For the Air Force Academy -

  • candidates should be graduates in Science with Physics and/or Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
  • Engineering graduates are also eligible.
  • Age should be between 19 and 23 years of age

 

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 Combined Defence Services Exam 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 Exams in India. These are -

  • Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
  • Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
  • Naval Academy, Goa, and
  • Officers Training Academy, Chennai