CDS Exam Complete Guide: Eligibility, Pattern & Salary

The CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam, conducted by UPSC twice a year, recruits graduate-level officers into the armed forces. It is the main route for graduates who want to become commissioned officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

This guide covers the academies, eligibility, the written exam and SSB Interview, and the officer salary. Confirm details in the official UPSC notification on upsc.gov.in.

What is the CDS exam?

CDS selects officers for four academies: the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), the Air Force Academy (AFA) and the Officers' Training Academy (OTA).

Eligibility and age

• Education: a bachelor's degree, with academy-specific needs — an engineering degree for the INA, and a degree with Physics and Maths (at 10+2) or engineering for the AFA.
• Age: varies by academy, roughly 19–25 years (the exact band is in the notification).
• Marital status: candidates for IMA/INA/AFA are generally unmarried; OTA accepts married candidates.

Exam pattern

Selection has two stages — a written exam and the SSB Interview — with one-third negative marking in the written papers.

• Written (IMA/INA/AFA): three papers — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks each).
• Written (OTA): two papers — English and General Knowledge (no Maths).
• SSB Interview: the five-day selection process, followed by a medical examination.

Salary

On commissioning, CDS officers enter Pay Level 10 (basic pay from ₹56,100), plus Military Service Pay and allowances, taking gross pay to roughly ₹80,000–₹1 lakh+ a month — with strong career progression and the prestige of an officer's role.