CDS Syllabus 2024: Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme

CDS Syllabus 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the “Combined Defence Services” (CDS) Examination twice a year to recruit candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. The CDS 1 Notification 2024 has been released by UPSC on 20th December 2023 for 457 vacancies.

In this article, we have discussed Subjectwise CDS Syllabus 2024, Exam Pattern of CDS, and many more in detail.

Let’s dive right in.

CDS syllabus 2024

CDS Syllabus 2024 Overview

The following is the CDS Syllabus Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2024:

CDS Syllabus 2024-Overview
Exam Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services
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
CDS 1 2024 Exam Date	21st April 2024
Negative Marking	1/3 for each incorrect answer
Duration of the test	2 hours for each section of test
Language of Written Exam	English and Hindi

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 English Syllabus

Sections of CDS Syllabus	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

CDS General Awareness (GK) Syllabus

Sections of CDS Syllabus	Topics
General Awareness (GK)	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 Syllabus for Mathematics

Arithmetic, trigonometry, geometry, measures, statistics, and other subjects are covered in the CDS Elementary Mathematics curriculum. It will take constant practice and committed work to improve preparedness and produce positive results in this paper. It is imperative for candidates to uphold precision and swiftness in order to complete the questions within the designated time range. Referencing the accompanying table for the mathematics syllabus of the CDS 1 2024 exam is advised for a thorough knowledge of the syllabus.

Elementary Mathematics	Algebra	Basic operations and Simple factors, Remainder Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Theory of polynomials, 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 inequalities 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 notation and set language. 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 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 Congruence 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 frequency polygons histograms bar charts pie charts etc Measures of central tendency

CDS Syllabus 2024 Marking Scheme

In the CDS 2024 paper, there is a penalty for incorrect answers, as negative marking is applied. Each question has four options, with only one being correct. If you choose the wrong option, 1/3 of the marks for that question will be deducted. Multiple options marked as answers are considered incorrect. However, if you leave a question unanswered, no negative marking will be applied.

How to prepare for CDS 2024?

Preparing for the competitive CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2024, held twice a year by UPSC for officer commissions, demands a strategic effort. The following are some important preparation strategy tips:

1. Understand the exam pattern and syllabus.
2. Gather study materials and recommended books.
3. Create a structured study plan with daily and weekly targets.
4. Focus on English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics (for IMA, INA, and AFA).
5. Take regular mock tests and solve previous years’ question papers.
6. Stay updated with current affairs and defense-related news.
7. Maintain physical fitness, especially for IMA, INA, and AFA.
8. Prepare for the SSB interview if qualified.
9. Stay consistent, positive, and seek guidance if needed.

FAQs on CDS Syllabus 2024

What is the official website of UPSC CDS syllabus?

The CDS syllabus is available on Official website of UPSC which is upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in and also available in the above article.

How many papers are there in the UPSC CDS exam?

There are 3 Papers for IMA/INA/AFA i.e. General Knowledge, English and Mathematics. There is no Mathematics paper for OTA category.

Is there negative marking in the CDS exam?

Yes, there is negative marking in the CDS exam. For each incorrect answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to that question will be deducted.

What is the syllabus of CDS exam 2024??

The CDS syllabus includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics subjects and subtopics.

How can I prepare for the UPSC CDS syllabus?

First, you need to understand the whole syllabus, then analyse the previous year’s question papers and make a plan accordingly. You can focus on topics with high weightage.

Does CDS Syllabus change every year?

The syllabus of the CDS (Combined Defence Services) examination may undergo modifications when updated by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), potentially leading to changes in its content.