CDS Syllabus 2025, Download Subject Wise Syllabus PDF Here

Q: What is the syllabus of CDS?

For admission to INA, IMA and AFA, CDS syllabus consists mainly of English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics while for admission to OTA, only English and General Knowledge subjects are included.

Q: Is CDS OTA hard to crack?

The CDS exam is one of the tough exams to qualify. But with proper planning and dedication, one can easily crack the exam without coaching as well.

Q: What is the syllabus for CDS 1 2024?

The CDS 1 2024 syllabus includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.

Q: What is the syllabus for CDS 2024 for OTA?

The CDS 2024 syllabus for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) includes English and General Knowledge.

Q: What is the syllabus of CDS?

The revised syllabus for the CDS exam in 2024 includes three subjects: General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics.

Q: Is CDS maths tough?

The CDS Maths section is considered more difficult than other competitive exams. The questions are based on concepts, and the paper is lengthy and tricky.

Q: Can I skip maths paper in CDS?

Candidates can skip the math paper in the CDS exam by applying for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) as their first preference.

CDS Syllabus 2025, Download Subject Wise Syllabus PDF Here

Union Public Service Commission has released the CDS Syllabus 2025 on its official website, upsc.gov.in. The CDS Syllabus is a breakdown of subjects like English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. With a detailed syllabus guide, you can prepare effectively for INA, IMA, and AFA admissions.

Table of Contents

The Combined Defence Services Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, is one of the most prestigious exams conducted to select candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. If you are appearing for the CDS Exam in 2025, then you must know the updated CDS syllabus and pattern so that you can make your study plan accordingly. This article provides an exhaustive guide to the CDS Syllabus 2025 for English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics with a downloadable PDF.

CDS Syllabus 2025

The CDS Syllabus 2025 has three papers- English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Candidates who are appearing for the UPSC CDS Recruit should know the Syllabus and Exam Pattern. Here, in this article, we have discussed the syllabus of the CDS exam along with the CDS Exam Pattern 2025 for the subject topic. Candidates are free to choose any category from the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers‘ Training Academy.

Overview
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 Pattern 2025

CDS Exam Pattern 2025 consists of two processes: written and interview. The Written exam includes papers on English, General Knowledge and Mathematics, varying in marks and duration. The interview assesses candidates’ personalities, leadership qualities, and suitability for commissioning into the Indian Armed Forces.

CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
Mathematics	2 Hours	100
SSB/Interview	5 Days	300

CDS Exam Pattern for OTA

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
English	2 Hours	100
General Knowledge	2 Hours	100
SSB/Interview	5 Days	300

Also, Check CDS Previous Year Question Paper

CDS English Syllabus 2025

For this section, candidates can improve the marks by reading newspapers daily pointed out difficult words at a place, and their meanings to make improvements in vocabulary and the easy understanding of comprehension passages. The aim of this paper is to assess applicants’ command over the English language as well as their ability to apply words professionally.

Reading Comprehension Questions.
Spotting the Errors Questions.
Fill in the blank questions.
Synonyms & Antonyms Questions.
Idioms and Phrases Questions.
Sentence Arrangement or Jumbled Questions.
Ordering of words in Sentence Questions.
Sentence Improvement or Sentence Correction Questions.

Important Topics

Vocabulary
Reading passages
Grammar, including topics such as:
- Tenses
- Parts of speech
- Active and passive voice
- Rearrangement of sentences
- Cloze test

Also, Check CDS Salary 2025

CDS General Knowledge Syllabus 2025

General knowledge includes familiarity with current events and ordinary observations and experiences that will contain a scientific element, as might be expected of an educated man who has not specialized in any scientific discipline. Moreover, there will be geography and Indian history questions on the exam that any qualified candidate will be able to answer without special preparation.

CDS Syllabus 2025 for General Knowledge

Indian History
Political Science
Economics
Geography
Environment
General Science – Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Current Affairs – National & International Awards, Summits, Sports, Conference; Books & Authors etc.
Defence Related Questions – Army, Navy, Air Force

CDS Maths Syllabus 2025

CDS Mathematics Syllabus 2025 covers topics like Arithmetic, trigonometry, geometry, measurements, statistics, and other related topics that comprise the syllabus of CDS Elementary Mathematics. We have provided the complete syllabus for individual mathematics topics. Please follow the table below for the mathematics syllabus of the CDS 2025 exam.

CDS Syllabus for Mathematics
Arithmetic	Number System Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions. Unitary method, time and work, time and distance, percentages. Applications of profit and loss, simple and compound interest, ratio and proportion, and variation. Elementary Number Theory Division algorithm. Prime and composite numbers. Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Multiples and factors. Factorisation Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, use of logarithmic tables, laws of logarithms.
Algebra	Basic operations and Simple factors, Remainder Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Theory of polynomials, the relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered), solutions of quadratic equations. Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns — analytical & graphical solutions. Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables & their solutions. Practical issues with solutions that result in two simultaneous linear equations, inequalities in two variables, or quadratic equations in one variable. Set notion and set language. Rational expressions and conditional identities. Laws of indices.
Trigonometry	Sine x, cosine x, Tan x when 0° < x < 90° , Values of sin x, cos x & tan x, for x = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° & 90°. Simple trigonometric identities. Use of trigonometric tables. Simple cases of heights and distances.
Geometry	Plane and plane figures, Lines and angles, Theorems on: Properties of angles at a point Parallel lines Sides and angles of a triangle Congruency of triangles Similar triangles Concurrence of medians and altitudes Properties of sides, angles and diagonals of a rectangle, parallelogram and square Circles and their properties including tangents and normals Loci
Mensuration	Areas of parallelograms, squares, rectangles, triangles and circles. Areas of figures can be split up into these figures (Field Book), lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, Surface area and volume of cuboids, and surface area and volume of spheres.
Statistics	Collection and tabulation of statistical data. Graphical representation of frequency polygons, bar charts, histograms, pie charts etc. Measures of central tendency.

Topic-Wise Distribution of Questions

Elementary Mathematics

Topic	No. of Questions
Trigonometry	16
3D Mensuration	16
Number System	12
Simplification	11
Triangle	10
Statics	5
Data Interpretation	4
Quadrilateral	3
Polynomial	3
Logarithm	2
Percentage	2
Time & Distance	2
Profit & Loss	2
Average	2
Divisibility Rule	2
LCM & HCF	2
Time & Work	2
Circle	1
Sequence & Series	1
Remainder Theorem	1
2D Mensuration	1

General Knowledge

Topics	Number of Questions
Polity	20
Geography	18
Modern History	16
Economics	13
Current Affairs	12
Chemistry	12
Physics	9
Biology	9
Medieval History	5
Defence	3
Static GS	3

English

Topics	Number of Questions
Comprehension	10
Parts of Speech	10
Antonyms	10
Synonyms	10
Cloze Test	10
Spotting Error	10
Fill in the blanks	10
Ordering of words in a sentence	10
Ordering of sentence	10
Completion of sentence	10
Preposition & Determinants	10

CDS Syllabus 2025 PDF Download

Candidates can download the CDS Syllabus 2025 from the link provided below. The commission released the CDS Syllabus in PDF Format along with the official notification. The Syllabus of CDS PDF Contains the topics from which questions can be asked in this exam. Get the direct link to download the CDS Syllabus 2025 PDF below:

CDS Syllabus 2025 PDF

Preparation Tips for CDS 2025

Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly to optimize your study sessions.
Consistent Practice: Regularly solve previous years’ question papers and take mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
Read Newspapers Daily: This helps in building vocabulary for English and staying updated with current affairs for the General Knowledge section.
Focus on Weak Areas: Identify and work on subjects or topics that need improvement, whether it’s mathematics, general knowledge, or English grammar.
Revise Regularly: Consistent revision is crucial for retaining information, especially for subjects like General Knowledge.
Time Management: Practice answering questions within the time limit, especially for Mathematics, where accuracy is essential.

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2024 FAQs

What is the syllabus of CDS?

For admission to INA, IMA and AFA, CDS syllabus consists mainly of English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics while for admission to OTA, only English and General Knowledge subjects are included.

Is CDS OTA hard to crack?

The CDS exam is one of the tough exams to qualify. But with proper planning and dedication, one can easily crack the exam without coaching as well.

What is the syllabus for CDS 1 2024?

The CDS 1 2024 syllabus includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.

What is the syllabus for CDS 2024 for OTA?

The CDS 2024 syllabus for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA) includes English and General Knowledge.

What is the syllabus of CDS?

The revised syllabus for the CDS exam in 2024 includes three subjects: General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics.

Is CDS maths tough?

The CDS Maths section is considered more difficult than other competitive exams. The questions are based on concepts, and the paper is lengthy and tricky.