CDS Syllabus 2026: Overview
| Mode of exam | Offline |
| Number of sections | Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) – Three Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) – Two |
| Total marks of the test | IMA, INA and AFA – 300 OTA – 200 |
| Nature of questions | Objective type |
| Language of question paper | Hindi and English |
| Duration of the test | 2 hours for each section of test |
CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA
| Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 |
CDS Exam Pattern for OTA
| Subject | Duration | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 100 |
CDS Syllabus 2026: Marking Scheme
Negative marking is applicable for every wrong marked answer. In CDS paper, each question carries 4 options and out of which only 1 option is correct. For each incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. More than one option marked is treated as incorrect. However, if a question is left unanswered there will be no negative marking.
CDS Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise Syllabus
Candidates can check the UPSC CDS Syllabus in the table given below.
| Sections | Topics | |
|---|---|---|
| English | * Spotting Errors Questions * Sentence Arrangement Questions * Synonyms & Antonyms * Selecting Words * Ordering of Sentence * Comprehension Questions * Ordering of words in a sentence * Fill in the blanks questions * Idioms and Phrases | |
| General Awareness (GK) | * Economics * Physics * Current Affairs * Politics * Chemistry * Sociology * History * Defence related Award * Geography * Environment * Sport * Biology * Cultural * Book * Statement * true/false | |
| Elementary Mathematics | Algebra | * Basic Operations * simple factor s* Remainder Theorem * H.C.F. * L.C.M. * Theory of polynomials * solutions of quadratic equations * relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered) * Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions * Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions * Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions * Set language and set notation * Rational expressions and conditional identities * Laws of indices |
| Arithematic | * Number System: Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. * Fundamental operations: addition, substraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions * Unitary method * time and distance * time and work * percentages * applications to simple and compound interest * profit and loss * ratio and proportion * 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 * laws of logarithms * use of logarithmic tables | |
| Trigonometry | * Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° * Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for ×= 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° * Simple trigonometric identities * Use of trigonometric tables * Simple cases of heights and distances | |
| Geometry | * Lines and angles * Plane and plane figures * 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 angles * sides and diagonals of a Parallelogram * rectangle and square * Circles and its properties including tangents and normals * Loci | |
| Mensuration | * Areas of squares * rectangles * parallelograms * triangle and circle * Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book) * Surface area and volume of cuboids * lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders * surface area and volume of spheres | |
| Statistics | * Collection and tabulation of statistical data * Graphical representation frequency polygons * histograms * bar charts * pie charts etc * Measures of central tendency |