1

CDS – 1 Exam Syllabus

|

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the “Combined Defence Services” (CDS) Examination twice a year for recruiting candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. 

Only unmarried graduates are eligible to sit for the exam. Successful candidates are admitted into the respective Academies after an interview conducted by the Services Selection Board ( SSB ). To clear the examination, first, you need the complete information of the pattern, syllabus and previous year exam analysis so that it would become easy for you to analyse the examination and prepare a strategy further.

CDS Syllabus 2023- Overview

CDS Exam will be conducted in offline mode and there will be Multiple Choice Questions asked in the examination. Check an overview glimpse of CDS Exam from the below table. 

CDS Syllabus 2023- 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
CDS 1 Exam Date April 16, 2023
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 2023 Marking Scheme

Negative marking is applicable for every wrong-marked answer. In CDS 2023 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 2023

The syllabus and exam pattern for all the exams is similar, except for the OTA paper.  The main topics of the CDS syllabus are Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Economics, History, Number systems, Percentages etc. The aspirants must read the entire page and jot down the important topics of the CDS syllabus 2023. It comprises the following sections for IAFA, INA and IMA posts, which are as follows: 

  • English
  • General Knowledge 
  • Elementary Mathematics

For the OTA posts, the aspirants are screened based on their knowledge of English and General Knowledge subjects. The standard of the questions in Mathematics will be of grade 10 and for other subjects, it will be of graduation level. To understand the weightage of each topic, candidates must study previous question papers of the CDS Exam.

The maximum marks allotted to the written exam and to the interviews are equal for each course i.e. the maximum marks allotted to the written exam and to the interviews are 300, 300, 300, and 200 each for admission to the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA respectively. 

CDS Syllabus 2023 for English

CDS Syllabus English: To score better in this section, candidates should read newspapers daily and point out the difficult words at a place and find their meaning which will help to improve their vocabulary and understanding of the comprehension passages with ease. The purpose of this paper is to assess the applicants’ command of the English language and their ability to use words in a professional manner.

CDS 2023 Syllabus for English
  • Reading Comprehension Questions.
  • Spotting the Errors Questions.
  • Fill in the Blanks 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.
  • Selecting Words

CDS Syllabus 2023 for General Knowledge

CDS Syllabus General Knowledge: General knowledge includes awareness of current affairs and everyday observations and experiences that include a scientific component, as might be anticipated of an educated person who has not specifically studied any scientific field. Additionally, there will be geography and Indian history questions on the examination that any qualified candidate should be able to respond to without additional study.

CDS 2023 Syllabus 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 , cultural etc.
  • Defence Related Questions – Army, Navy, Air Force
  • Sociology
  • True/false
  • Statement

CDS Syllabus 2023 for Mathematics

CDS Syllabus for Mathematics: Arithmetic, trigonometry, geometry, measurements, statistics, and other related topics comprise the syllabus of CDS Elementary Mathematics. To improve the preparation and the results, this paper needs constant practice and committed efforts. To answer these questions within the allotted time and provide the necessary outcomes, the applicants must retain accuracy and speed. For the complete syllabus of individual topics of mathematics, follow the given below table for the mathematics syllabus of the CDS 1 2023 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, 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, 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.

CDS Syllabus 2023 OTA

The CDS 2023 exam syllabus covers subjects such as General Knowledge, English, and Elementary Mathematics. But those candidates who are going to appear for CDS OTA 2023 do not have to give the Mathematics paper because for CDS 2023 OTA, only English and General Knowledge subjects are included in their syllabus. English and General Knowledge syllabi for both (OTA and IMA, INA, AFA) are the same.

CDS Important Instructions

  1. Write only in Black ballpoint pen, your Centre and subject followed by the CDS 2023 test booklet series (in bracket), subject code and the exam roll number at the appropriate space provided on the answer sheet at the top.
  2. Encode your CDS 2023 booklet series (A, B, C, or D as the case may be), subject code and roll number in the circles provided for the purpose in the answer sheet.
  3. In case the CDS booklet series is not printed on the test booklet or answer sheet is un-numbered then candidates should report immediately to the invigilator and get the test booklet/answer sheet replaced.
  4. Candidates should note that any omission/mistakes/discrepancy in encoding/filling of details in the CDS 2023 OMR answer sheet, especially with regard to the Roll Number and Test Booklet Series Code, will render the answer sheet liable for rejection.
  5. Immediately after the commencement of the CDS 2023 please check that the test booklet supplied to you does not have any unprinted or torn or missing pages or items etc., if so, get it replaced by a complete test booklet of the same series and subject.
  6. Do not write your name or anything other than the specific items of information asked for, on the CDS answer sheet/test booklet/sheet for rough work.
  7. Do not fold or damage or put any extraneous marking over the CDS Answer Sheet. Do not write anything on the reverse of the answer sheet.

DOWNLOAD NOW CDS – 1 HANDBOOK – CLICK HERE