UPSC CDS 1 Recruitment 2025, Notification Out, 457 Vacancies, Apply Now, Best Luck !

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination twice annually, providing a gateway for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Indian Air Force (IAF), and Officer’s Training Academy (OTA). This national-level exam is a prestigious opportunity for individuals aiming to serve in the Indian defense forces. To qualify for the CDS Exam (I) 2025, candidates must clear a written test, followed by an interview and a medical examination. The CDS 1 2025 Notification was released on 11th December 2024, announcing 457 vacancies across various academies, and the online application form is now available for eligible aspirants on the CDS portal.

Drawing parallels to earlier editions like the Combined Defence Services Notification 2021, the CDS 2025 Exam follows a consistent selection process to identify the most capable candidates for defense training. Interested candidates should carefully review the official notification, understand the eligibility criteria, and prepare strategically to secure their position in the esteemed academies. This is a critical opportunity for those aiming to embark on a prestigious career in the armed forces.

CDS Recruitment 2025: Overview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2025 to fill 457 vacancies in top defense academies, including IMA, INA, IAF, and OTA. The registration window is open from 11th to 31st December 2024. The selection process involves a written test, an interview, and a medical examination. The exam will be held offline in a bilingual format with multiple-choice questions.

Organization	UPSC
Exam Name	CDS Examination (I) 2025
Vacancies	457
Level	National
Application Mode	Online
Registration Dates	11th–31st December 2024
Exam Mode	Offline
Eligibility	Unmarried Males & Females
Exam Duration	2 hours per paper
Marking Scheme	1/3 negative marking per incorrect answer
Website	www.upsc.gov.in

UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2025 Important Dates

UPSC has announced the key dates for the Combined Defence Services Exam 2025. The CDS 1 Notification was released on 11th December 2024, while the CDS 2 Notification will be available on 28th May 2025. Candidates should complete their application process before the deadlines to ensure eligibility for the examination. Below is a detailed schedule of the Exam:

Events	CDS 1 Dates	CDS 2 Dates
Notification Release	11th December 2024	28th May 2025
Application Start Date	11th December 2024	28th May 2025
Application Deadline	31st December 2024	17th June 2025
Fee Payment Deadline	31st December 2024	17th June 2025
Admit Card Release	April 2025	September 2025
Exam Date	13th April 2025	14th September 2025

CDS 1 Exam Notification 2025 Vacancy

The UPSC Combined Defence Services 1 2025 Exam offers a total of 457 vacancies across various prestigious academies, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Each academy has its designated courses commencing in 2026. Below is the detailed breakdown of vacancies:

CDS 1 2025 Vacancy Details

Academy	Course Details	Vacancies
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun	160th (DE) Course (January 2026)	100
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala	Course (January 2026)	32
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad	Training Course (January 2026)	32
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Men)	123rd SSC (Men) (NT) (April 2026)	275
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Women)	37th SSC (Women) (NT) (April 2026)	18
Total Vacancies		457

CDS Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates aspiring to appear for the CDS Exam 2025 must meet the eligibility criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The eligibility requirements include specific conditions related to nationality, educational qualifications, age, marital status, sex, and physical standards. Below is the detailed breakdown of the eligibility criteria:

Nationality:
Candidates must be:

Citizens of India, or
Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan, or
Tibetan refugees who migrated to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
Persons of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African countries, or Vietnam intending to settle permanently in India.

Educational Qualification:

Indian Military Academy (IMA) & Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
Indian Naval Academy (INA): Engineering degree from a recognized university/institution.
Air Force Academy (AFA): Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering.

Age Limit:

IMA: Unmarried male candidates born between 2nd January 2002 and 1st January 2007.
INA: Unmarried male candidates born between 2nd January 2002 and 1st January 2007.
AFA: Candidates aged 20 to 24 years as of 1st January 2026 (born between 2nd January 2002 and 1st January 2006).

Marital Status and Sex:

IMA and INA: Only unmarried males are eligible.
AFA: Both married and unmarried males can apply, but marriage during training is not allowed.
OTA: Both unmarried males and females can apply.

Physical Standards:
Applicants must meet strict physical and medical standards for the CDS Exam 2025. Key requirements include:

Minimum Height: 157 cm for males (162.5 cm for Air Force); 152 cm for females. Special relaxations apply for Gorkhas, candidates from hilly regions, and tribal communities.
Body Mass Index (BMI): Should be below 25.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.
Waist Circumference: Less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.

Candidates must ensure they meet these eligibility conditions before applying for the CDS 2025 exam to secure their place in prestigious academies like IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.

UPSC CDS 1 Exam 2025 Application Fee

The application fee for the Exam is Rs. 200/- for most candidates, while SC/ST and female candidates are exempted. Fee payment can be completed via online modes such as net banking or debit/credit cards, or through an offline cash deposit at any State Bank of India (SBI) branch. Below is the fee structure:

Category	Application Fee	Payment Modes
General/OBC	Rs. 200/-	Online (Net Banking/Debit/Credit Card)
SC/ST	Exempted	Offline (Cash Deposit at SBI)
Female Candidates	Exempted	Both Online & Offline

Candidates are advised to ensure timely fee payment to avoid issues during the CDS exam application process.

CDS 1 Exam 2025 Selection Process

The selection process for the UPSC CDS 2025 Exam includes four rigorous stages to recruit candidates for prestigious academies like IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. The process evaluates candidates on their academic knowledge, leadership qualities, personality, and medical fitness. Here is the detailed selection procedure:

Stage 1: Written Examination
The written exam is conducted by UPSC and consists of objective-type questions. The syllabus includes General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics (for IMA, INA, and AFA), while OTA candidates are tested only on General Knowledge and English. This stage acts as the first level of screening for applicants.

Stage 2: SSB Interview/Personality Test
Candidates who qualify for the written exam are invited for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. This stage assesses intelligence, leadership skills, and officer-like qualities. It is conducted in two phases:

Stage 1: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR), Picture Perception, and Description Test (PPDT).
Stage 2: Psychological tests, group tasks, personal interviews, and a final conference.

Stage 3: Document Verification
Candidates shortlisted in the SSB interview must present original documents for verification, including educational certificates, identity proof, and other required documents submitted during the application process.

Stage 4: Medical Examination
The final stage involves a comprehensive medical examination by the Armed Forces Medical Services to ensure candidates meet the required physical and mental health standards. This includes tests for fitness, height, weight, and other medical criteria essential for a career in the defense forces.

This structured selection process ensures that only the most capable candidates join the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy, making the CDS exam one of the most prestigious defense recruitment processes in India.

UPSC CDS 1 Exam Pattern

The UPSC CDS Exam 2025 assesses candidates through a structured written test, featuring multiple-choice questions. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers are bilingual (Hindi and English), and there is a penalty of 1/3 marks for each incorrect response. Each paper is conducted for 2 hours. The exam pattern varies for different academies.

Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, and AFA:

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
General Knowledge	2 hours	120
Elementary Mathematics	2 hours	100
English	2 hours	120

Exam Pattern for OTA:

Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
General Knowledge	2 hours	100
English	2 hours	100

Candidates applying for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) are not required to take the Elementary Mathematics paper, while those applying for IMA, INA, or AFA must appear for all three subjects. Thorough preparation for the written test is essential to qualify for the next stage of the selection process.

CDS Exam 2025 Syllabus

Subject	Topics
English	– Grammar & Usage: Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement – Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Word Substitution – Sentence Structure: Ordering Words/Sentences, Fill in the Blanks – Reading Skills: Comprehension & Passage Interpretation – Idioms and Phrases
General Knowledge	– History & Culture: Indian and World History, Heritage Sites – Geography: Physical and Political Geography, Environmental Studies – Science & Technology: Basic Physics, Chemistry, Biology – Economy: Indian Economy Basics – Polity: Constitution, Governance – Defense Awareness: Awards, Exercises – Current Affairs: National & International News – Miscellaneous: Sports, Books, Famous Personalities
Mathematics	1. Algebra – Operations, Quadratic Equations, Simultaneous Equations – Set Theory, Laws of Indices 2. Arithmetic – Number Systems, Time-Distance-Work, Percentages – Profit-Loss, Interest (Simple & Compound) 3. Trigonometry – Ratios (Sin, Cos, Tan), Heights and Distances 4. Geometry – Triangles, Circles, Congruence & Similarity – Rectangles, Squares, Tangents 5. Mensuration – Areas (Squares, Rectangles, Circles) – Volumes & Surface Areas (Cylinders, Spheres, Cones) 6. Statistics – Data Interpretation: Graphs, Histograms, Pie Charts – Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median, Mode)

Preparation Tips:

Key Strategies	Details
Focus on Core Areas	Begin with challenging topics and move to easier ones.
Mock Tests & Previous Papers	Familiarize yourself with question patterns to improve speed and accuracy.
Time Management	Practice solving questions within the allotted time.

CDS Recruitment 2025 Salary

The pay structure for officers recruited through the exam is determined by rank and level in the defense forces. Below is the detailed salary distribution:

Rank	Pay Level	Basic Pay (in Rs.)
Lieutenant	Level 10	56,100 – 1,77,500
Captain	Level 10B	61,300 – 1,93,900
Major	Level 11	69,400 – 2,07,200
Lieutenant Colonel	Level 12A	1,21,200 – 2,12,400
Colonel	Level 13	1,30,600 – 2,15,900
Brigadier	Level 13A	1,39,600 – 2,17,600
Major General	Level 14	1,44,200 – 2,18,200
Lieutenant General (HAG Scale)	Level 15	1,82,200 – 2,24,100
Lieutenant General (HAG+ Scale)	Level 16	2,05,400 – 2,24,400
VCOAS/Army Commander/Lt. General (NFSG)	Level 17	2,25,000 (fixed)
Chief of Army Staff (COAS)	Level 18	2,50,000 (fixed)

Additional Benefits:

In addition to the salary, officers receive allowances and perks, including:

Military Service Pay for officers up to Brigadier rank.
Dearness Allowance revised periodically.
Uniform Allowance provided annually.
Transport Allowance based on posting location.
Housing or House Rent Allowance depending on availability.
Comprehensive retirement benefits, including pension and gratuity.

CDS Exam 2025 Admit Card

The admit card for the CDS 1 Exam 2025 will be available for download in the first week of April 2025. Candidates planning to appear for the written exam on 13th April 2025 should ensure they download their admit card well before the exam date to avoid any last-minute rush.

It is essential to carry a hard copy of the admit card to the exam center for verification purposes. Make sure all the details, including personal information and exam venue, are correctly mentioned on the admit card before the exam.

CDS Exam 2025 Result

UPSC will announce the Exam 2025 results after the successful completion of the written examination. Candidates who qualify for the next stage, the interview round, will be listed. Each stage’s result will be published separately.

How to Check CDS Result 2025:

Go to the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
Click on the “Written Result” section on the homepage.
A PDF with the results will open.
Use “CTRL+F” to search for your roll number in the document.
If your roll number is listed, expect further details for the interview round to be communicated shortly.

CDS Cut off

CDS Cut Off 2023

The CDS cut-off marks for 2023 vary across different academies, with candidates required to meet specific scores in both the written and final exams. The cutoff of CDS serves as a benchmark for determining eligibility for the next selection phase. For aspirants aiming to secure a position, it is essential to prepare strategically using resources like CDS mock tests and study materials such as CDS Pathfinder. Additionally, seeking guidance from CDS coaching centers near me can significantly enhance preparation and increase the chances of clearing the cut-off. The following table shows the CDS 2023 cut-off marks for various academies after both the written and final exams:

Academy	Written Exam (CDS I 2023)	Final Exam (CDS II 2023)
Air Force Academy (AFA)	142	266
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	132	257
Officers Training Academy (Men)	101	181
Officers Training Academy (Women)	101	184
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	122	247