The official notification for the Combined Defence Services Examination (1) 2024 was released by the Union Public Service Commission on December 20, 2023. Aspiring candidates can submit their applications on or before January 09, 2024.
CDS 2024 Notification
For those aspiring to join the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or Officers Training Academy, the application form is accessible on the UPSC website from December 20, 2023, to January 09, 2024.
| Exam name | CDS Exam 2024 |
| Organization | UPSC |
| Application Form Date | From December 20, 2023, to January 09, 2024. |
| Application Link | Check Here |
| Exam Date | On April 21, 2024 |
| Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
UPSC CDS 2024 Eligibility
Find the eligibility criteria for the CDS 1 2023 Exam, including educational qualifications and age limits, in the table below.
| Academy | Education Qualification | Age Limit |
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | Bachelor’s degree from a UGC-recognized university. | 19 to 24 years (born between Jan 2, 2000, and Jan 1, 2005) |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | BE from a UGC-recognized university. | 19 to 24 years (born not earlier than Jan 2, 2000, and not later than Jan 1, 2005) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | Intermediate with Physics, Mathematics, and BE pursued. | 20 to 24 years (born between Jan 2, 2000, and Jan 1, 2004) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) for Men | Candidates need a UGC-recognized Bachelor’s degree in any stream | 19 to 25 years (born not earlier than Jan 2, 1999, and not later than Jan 1, 2005) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) for Women | 19 to 25 years (born between Jan 2, 1999, and Jan 1, 2005) |
UPSC CDS 2024 Physical Standard
Check the table for the Physical Standard details of the Combined Defense Services (1) 2024 Exam to access all the information.
| Parameter | Men (Except for Air Force) | Women (Except for the Air Force) | Men (For Air Force) | Women (For Air Force) |
| Height | 157.5 cm | 152 cm | 162.5 cm (for Ground Duty) | 152 cm (for Ground Duty) |
| Weight | Proportionate to the height and age | |||
| Chest | 81 centimetres with a minimum expansion of only 5 centimetres | – | 81 centimetres with a minimum expansion of only 5 centimetres | – |
| Vision | 6/6 in an eye and 6/9 in the other one without glasses. | |||
UPSC CDS Exam Date 2024
The UPSC has shared crucial information about the UPSC CDS 1 2024 exam dates on its official website, upsc.gov.in, through the UPSC Calendar for 2024. The CDS 1 2024 Exam is scheduled for April 21, 2024. To keep candidates informed about essential events, the table below highlights key dates for UPSC CDS 1 2024.
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Date 2024
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | 20th December 2023 |
| Online Registration Start | 20th December 2023 |
| Online Registration Last | 09th January 2024 |
| Number of Vacancies | 457 |
| Admit Card Release | 3 weeks before exam |
| CDS 1 2024 Exam Date | 21st April 2024 (Sunday) |
| Result Release Date | To be updated |
UPSC CDS 2 Exam Date 2024
Stay informed about CDS 2 Exam 2024 dates to not miss important events. The official CDS 2 2024 notification will be released on May 15, 2024, on upsc.gov.in.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release Date (CDS 2) | 15th May, 2024 |
| Online Registration Start Date (CDS 2) | 15th May, 2024 |
| Online Registration Last Date (CDS 2) | 04th Jun, 2024 |
| Number of Vacancies (CDS 2) | To be updated |
| Admit Card Release Date (CDS 2) | 3 weeks before the exam |
| CDS 2 2024 Exam Date | 1st September 2024 (Sunday) |
| Result Release Date (CDS 2, To be updated) | |
| Official Website (CDS 2) | upsc.gov.in |
With the UPSC CDS exam dates in 2024 announced, start your preparations now. The CDS admit card will be released three weeks before the exam, a crucial step to remember for well-informed and organized exam preparation.
CDS Syllabus 2024
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Exam | Combined Defence Forces (CDS) |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Conducted in A Year | Twice a Year |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Medium | Hindi or English |
| Number of Questions | IMA/INA/AFA – 300 OTA – 200 |
| Time Duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Negative Marking | Yes (1/3rd deducted for every wrong answer) |
CDS Exam 2024 Vacancy
New vacancies for the CDS 1 2024 exam for the course starting in January 2025 have been revealed in the official CDS 1 Notification 2024. This year, 457 vacancies are available for the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officer’s Training Academy. Check the vacancy distribution below.
| Name of the academy | Number of Vacancies |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun 158th (DE) Course commencing in January 2025 | 100 |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala Course commencing in January 2025 | 32 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad Training Course commencing in January 2025 | 32 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC Men 121st SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course Commencing in April 2025 | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women 35th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in April 2025 | 18 |
| Total Vacancies | 457 |
UPSC CDS 2024 Exam Pattern
Exam pattern data for Combined Defence Services (1) 2023 can be seen in the table below.
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Number of Papers | 3 subjects: English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics |
| Total Marks | English: 100 General Knowledge: 100 Elementary Mathematics: 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Language | English for each paper |
| Sections | English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics |
| Type of Questions | Objective type |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark deducted for each incorrect answer |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer |
How to apply for UPSC CDS 2024?
To apply online for UPSC CDS 2024, follow the step-by-step instructions.
- Visit https://upsc.gov.in/.
- Click ‘Combined Defense Services (1) 2024’.
- Choose ‘Apply Online.’
- Fill in details and upload documents.
- Pay ₹200 fee for UR/OBC.
- Submit.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the UPSC CDS 1 exam date 2024?
The CDS 1 2024 exam is slated for April 21, 2024.
What is the exam date for UPSC CDS exam 2 2024?
The CDS 2 2024 exam is set for September 1, 2024.
