UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Syllabus

This page is a structured preparation map. Always compare it with the latest official notification because UPSC can revise wording, paper rules, optional subjects or qualifying conditions.

Syllabus at a glance

English covers comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and usage. General Knowledge covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, science and defence awareness. Elementary Mathematics is matriculation-level arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration and statistics.

Detailed preparation buckets

General awareness and current affairs

Follow national and international events, government schemes, constitutional and institutional developments, economy, science and technology, environment, disaster management, internal security and defence-related developments as relevant to the exam. Use primary government and institutional sources wherever possible.

Language and comprehension

Practise reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, précis, structured answers and time-bound writing whenever the examination includes English, Hindi or descriptive papers. Maintain an error log rather than only collecting notes.

Quantitative and analytical ability

Build fundamentals first, then practise mixed timed sets. Focus on accuracy, estimation, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data interpretation, reasoning and decision-making according to the exam’s paper list.

Subject-specialist preparation

For IFoS, cover the chosen optional subjects at the required depth. For NDA and CDS, give mathematics the level and daily practice it needs. For CAPF, connect general studies with internal security, governance, constitutional structure and contemporary national issues.

Study workflow

Foundation: complete one reliable source per subject and make short revision notes.
Integration: map current affairs to the syllabus and solve topic-wise questions.
Testing: take full-length papers under the official time limit.
Revision: revisit mistakes, facts, formulas, vocabulary and weak topics on a fixed cycle.
Written/SSB/physical readiness: add the non-written stages early where applicable.

What not to do

Do not prepare from an old syllabus alone, ignore qualifying papers, assume CSE preparation covers every paper, or wait for the written result before starting the next stage.

Recent official reference

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026; applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA (Men) 275 and OTA (Women) 18. The notice specifies the course, preference, age, education, medical and academy rules for each entry.

This guide is evergreen. The current notification controls dates, vacancies, age limits, reservations, fees, application steps, medical standards, paper instructions and course-specific rules.

Official links

Before applying

Check the latest official notification, advertisement, corrigendum and timetable. Do not rely on an old date, vacancy, fee, age limit, physical standard or paper pattern.

Search intent covered by this syllabus page

This page targets searches for UPSC CDS 2026 syllabus, subject-wise syllabus, paper-wise topics, what to study, books and resources, previous-year questions and preparation strategy.

UPSC CDS (II) 2026 latest notification snapshot

The official CDS (II), 2026 notification was issued on 20 May 2026. Applications closed on 9 June 2026 and the examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026. It notified 451 tentative vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA Men 275 and OTA Women 18. Course commencement dates, preferences and eligibility are specified separately for each academy.

The fee for candidates required to pay it is Rs. 200; female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempt under the notice.

Academy choice matters

IMA, INA and AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only. Women candidates are considered for the notified OTA entry, subject to the current rules.

Subject-wise study checklist

Static foundation

Use the official syllabus as the master checklist for history, geography, polity, economy, science, environment, current affairs, language, mathematics, reasoning, security or specialist papers applicable to the exam.

Current affairs

Maintain separate notes for national events, government schemes, defence and security, environment, international relations, science and technology, economy, awards, reports and important institutions. Every note should answer: what happened, why it matters, the institution involved and the likely syllabus connection.

Previous-year paper method

Download official papers from UPSC.
Classify each question by syllabus topic.
Record the recurring concepts and question style.
Re-solve the paper without notes.
Convert mistakes into a short revision list.

Answer and language practice

Where the exam includes descriptive writing, essay, précis, comprehension or a written SSB-related assessment, practise structure, clarity, grammar, word control and time management every week.

Resource strategy

Start with the official syllabus and notification, then use one standard source per subject, official government reports and recent UPSC papers. Avoid collecting multiple books before completing revision and testing.

Common syllabus mistakes

Preparing CSE alone for an exam with a different paper mix.
Ignoring qualifying papers or specialist optional subjects.
Reading current affairs without mapping them to the syllabus.
Postponing mathematics, essay, language, physical or SSB preparation.
Treating an old notification as the current rulebook.

UPSC CDS frequently asked questions

What is the CDS exam?

It is the UPSC examination for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

Is CDS only for engineering graduates?

No. A recognised degree is generally required; engineering is required for INA, while AFA has its specified Physics/Mathematics or engineering requirement.

Which CDS papers are required for OTA?

OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge. IMA, INA and AFA candidates also take Elementary Mathematics.

Does CDS have an SSB interview?

Yes. Written-qualified candidates undergo the Services Selection Board process, followed by medical and final merit procedures.

Can final-year students apply for CDS?

Final-year candidates may be eligible under the conditions and proof deadlines in the notification.

UPSC CDS 2026 Syllabus

Summary