UPSC CDS Exam 2023- Exam Date, Application Form, Eligibility, & More!

To select commissioning officers for the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Air Force Academy, and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the (UPSC) Union Public Service Commission conducts the CDS Examination twice a year.
Applicants who want to apply for the Indian Armed Forces and are interested in serving their country must pass a competitive written exam and SSB interview.

CDS Exam in 2023

For CDS recruitment, UPSC conducts written tests and interviews. The selected applicants are then sent to the Indian Naval Academy in Goa, the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the Officer Training Academy in Chennai, and the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

Official Notification for CDS 1 Exam 2023

On 21st December 2023, the comprehensive advertisement and official notification for the CDS (I) 2023 Examination will be made available on the authorised website of the UPSC www.upsc.gov.in. This notification will include all the information required for the exam, including the number of openings, the application process, crucial dates, and other information.

An Overview of CDS 1 Exam 2023

The CDS test must be passed to join one of the three Indian Armed Forces. The aspirants who fulfill the eligibility requirements of CDS are considered eligible for the CDS exam even though the eligibility requirement is different for recruitment in the top three Indian Academies. Please see the article below for complete information on the CDS Exam, exam format, eligibility requirements, salary scale, and selection process.

An Overview of CDS Exam 2023

Name of the Agency Union Public Service Commission
Name of the Examination Combined Defence Service Examination (I) 2023
CDS 1 Opening Yet to be announced
Mode of Registration Online
Online Application starting date December 21st, 2023to January 10th, 2023
Selection Criteria Written Test- Personal Interview- Medical Test
Language Bilingual
Mode of Examination Offline
Question Type MCQs
Eligibility Criteria Unmarried Females & Male
CDS Exam Time 2 hours (each paper)
Marking Scheme 1/3 for each incorrect answer
Job Location All Over India
Authorised Website www.upsc.gov.in

Exam Pattern of UPSC CDS

Number of Openings in CDS 1 Exam 2023

Along with the official CDS 1 Notification 2023, new positions that will be filled through the CDS-I 2023 test will be released. Last year there was a total of 399 openings for the IMA, IAF, Officer’s Training Academy, and Indian Naval Academy were released by the authority. Check the distribution of vacancies from the previous year 2022.

CDS 2 Openings in 2022
Academy Number of Openings
Air Force Academy in Hyderabad 32
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala 22
Officers Training Academy in Chennai SSC Women 16
IMA in Dehradun    100
Officers’ Training Academy in Chennai (Madras) SSC Men 169
Total Openings 339

How many applicants submit applications for the CDS Exam?

Every year, between 2 and 3 lakh applicants apply for the CDS exam, but only 300 to 350 of them are ultimately chosen.


Can someone who is married apply for the CDS exam?

No, at the time of application, the applicant must not be married. In addition, girls can only apply for the Officers Training Academy and nowhere else for the CDS exam.


Do students who fall under the reserved category get relaxation from the CDS exam?

No relaxation exists; the only exception is application fees. The cut-offs and screening procedure are the same for all aspirants since CDS wants to choose only the talented ones among all applicants.


Can I Give CDS exam after finishing high school?

No, a graduation degree is the required educational requirement for the CDS 2023 exam. Applicants who have not completed their diplomas are ineligible to take the exam.


Can women apply for the CDS Exam?

Yes, female aspirants are eligible to apply for the CDS. Girls who meet all the requirements can apply for the Officers Training Academy on the UPSC CDS website or by visiting the direct link given on the website.


What is the amount of the training period stipend granted to applicants who pass the CDS exam?

A stipend is granted to applicants once they pass the CDS exam and enroll in the Academies. General cadets receive a monthly allowance of Rs 56,100/-.


How candidates will be chosen for UPSC CDS 2023?

The written exam and the SSB Personal Interview are the two stages of the CDS selection process.


How much time is allotted for each paper during the CDS written examination phase?

In the CDS written examination stage, each paper has a 2-hour time limit.


What is the registration fee for CDS Exam 2023?

The registration fee for the UPSC CDS exam 2023 is Rs 200/ – except for the SC/ST/female category.