UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026: English, GK, Maths, OTA, IMA, INA and AFA Pattern
Understand the academy-wise CDS written exam pattern, complete English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics syllabus, negative marking, SSB stages, medical examination and final merit process in one practical guide.
UPSC released Combined Defence Services Examination II, 2026 Notification Number 11/2026-CDS-II on 20 May 2026. The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
The current notice lists 451 tentative vacancies across Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy courses.
IMA, INA and AFA candidates appear in three objective papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Every paper carries 100 marks and has a duration of two hours. Total written marks are 300.
OTA candidates appear only in English and General Knowledge. Each paper carries 100 marks and lasts two hours. OTA written examination therefore carries 200 marks, and Elementary Mathematics is not required.
Candidates who qualify the written examination are called for the Services Selection Board process. Wrong answers in the objective written papers receive a penalty equal to one-third of the marks assigned to the question.
What Is the UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026?
The Combined Defence Services Examination is a graduate-level defence officer entry conducted by UPSC for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. The written syllabus changes according to the academy selected.
English and General Knowledge are common to every academy. Elementary Mathematics is compulsory only for candidates competing for IMA, INA and AFA. OTA candidates do not have a Maths paper.
The English and General Knowledge papers are approximately at the standard expected from a graduate of an Indian university. Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation level, but the paper still needs speed, formula recall and accurate calculation.
The official UPSC notification gives a broad English and GK syllabus and a detailed Mathematics syllabus. Therefore, the English and GK topic lists in this guide are practical preparation checklists based on the official scope and common CDS question areas.
Students using free classes can combine this syllabus with the complete CDS YouTube preparation guide for English, GK, Maths, current affairs, PYQs and SSB resources.
CDS OTA, IMA, INA and AFA Difference
Indian Military Academy
Permanent Commission route in the Indian Army. Written exam includes English, GK and Mathematics. A recognised university degree or equivalent is required.
Indian Naval Academy
Naval officer entry. Written exam includes English, GK and Mathematics. The current notice requires an eligible technical or Physics-based qualification as specified by UPSC.
Air Force Academy
Air Force officer entry. English, GK and Mathematics are required. Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or an eligible engineering qualification is needed under the notified education rule.
Officers Training Academy
Short Service Commission route in the Army. Written examination contains English and GK only. Both men and women are considered through the notified entries.
Academy-Wise Educational Qualification
| Academy | Current Educational Requirement | Written Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IMA | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent | English, GK and Mathematics |
| OTA | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent | English and GK |
| INA | Engineering degree or BSc with Physics as core or elective, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level | English, GK and Mathematics |
| AFA | Recognised degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or Bachelor of Engineering | English, GK and Mathematics |
Students comparing CDS with other graduate opportunities can also read the best government exams after graduation guide .
UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2026
IMA, INA and AFA Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 11 | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 13 | 2 hours | 100 |
| Total Written Examination | Three papers | 6 hours | 300 |
OTA Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Code | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 11 | 2 hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 12 | 2 hours | 100 |
| Total Written Examination | Two papers | 4 hours | 200 |
English
Tests understanding of English, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and practical use of words.
2 Hours
General Knowledge
Covers current events, everyday scientific awareness, Indian History, Geography and other broad awareness areas.
2 Hours
Elementary Mathematics
Required only for IMA, INA and AFA. The official standard is Matriculation level.
2 Hours
UPSC CDS Subject-Wise Syllabus 2026
CDS English Syllabus
Graduate-level comprehension and practical use of English words
UPSC officially states that the paper tests understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. Students should prepare grammar, vocabulary and comprehension together instead of treating English as a list of isolated rules.
Read English daily, revise one grammar area and solve a timed previous-year set. Record every repeated grammar and vocabulary mistake in a short revision notebook.
The CDS preparation resources guide includes useful English channels, playlists and PYQ support.
CDS General Knowledge Syllabus
Current events, History, Geography and everyday scientific awareness
The official syllabus specifically includes current events, matters of everyday observation in their scientific aspects, History of India and Geography. A practical CDS preparation plan should also cover common static and defence-awareness areas seen in the examination.
Official Core Areas
Practical CDS Preparation Areas
Mix static GK with current affairs. Revise weekly notes, solve CDS PYQs and connect defence news with geography, science, polity and international relations.
Use the CDS General Knowledge mock test for timed practice, answers and explanations.
For national security news, military exercises and interview awareness, follow the Defence Current Affairs preparation guide .
CDS Elementary Mathematics Syllabus
Official Matriculation-level syllabus for IMA, INA and AFA
The level is Class 10, but the paper needs strong calculation, formula memory and disciplined question selection. Complete Arithmetic first, then Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics.
Arithmetic and Number Theory
Algebra
Trigonometry
Geometry
Mensuration
Statistics
Build Number System, Percentage, Ratio, Interest and Time-Work first. Add Algebra and Geometry next, then complete Trigonometry, Mensuration and Statistics with timed PYQs.
UPSC CDS Negative Marking 2026
Official Wrong-Answer Rule
For every objective question answered incorrectly, one-third of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
Marking more than one option is treated as a wrong answer, even when one of the selected options is correct. A question left completely blank receives no penalty.
CDS SSB Interview and Personality Test Pattern
Candidates who clear the written examination are called for the Services Selection Board according to their academy preference and the procedure followed by the respective Service Headquarters.
Two-Stage SSB Selection
Stage I is the screening stage. Only candidates who clear Stage I continue to Stage II.
Screening Tests
Officer Intelligence Rating Tests and Picture Perception and Description Test. Shortlisting is based on the combined performance in OIR and PPDT.
Full Personality Assessment
Includes Personal Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and Conference. These assessments are conducted over four days after the screening stage.
Use the complete SSB Interview preparation guide for OIR, PPDT, Psychology, GTO, Personal Interview and Conference.
For the opening interview response, practise with the self-introduction guide for freshers , but keep your final answer natural and connected with your real life.
Written and SSB Marks
CDS Medical Examination Pattern
Clearing the written examination and SSB does not guarantee academy admission. Candidates must also meet the medical standards prescribed for officer entry into the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Areas Commonly Examined
Special Note for Air Force Academy
AFA candidates may also need to meet Computer Pilot Selection System and Air Force medical requirements. Pilot aptitude testing is normally taken only once, so candidates should understand the consequences of an earlier CPSS result before selecting AFA.
90-Day UPSC CDS Syllabus Completion Plan
OTA candidates can use the Maths study time for extra English, GK and current affairs revision. IMA, INA and AFA candidates should keep all three written papers active throughout preparation.
Build English, Static GK and Maths Basics
Complete grammar foundations, daily vocabulary, Modern History, Indian Geography and core Arithmetic. OTA candidates should add more reading and GK revision instead of Maths.
Complete the Main Syllabus
Add comprehension, Polity, Economy, Science, Algebra, Geometry and current affairs. Begin chapter-wise previous-year questions immediately after every topic.
Use Timed Sectional Tests
Practise two-hour subject papers, revise weak chapters and improve question selection. Begin OIR, speaking practice and basic SSB awareness.
Full Papers, Accuracy and Short Notes
Attempt complete papers in the correct order, revise formulas, current affairs and vocabulary, and avoid starting too many new books or teachers.
Simple Daily CDS Routine
How to Use CDS Previous-Year Papers
| Stage | Paper Use | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning | Check topic language and difficulty | Do not calculate your score before basic syllabus coverage |
| After each chapter | Solve topic-wise previous questions | Mark repeated concepts and common traps |
| Middle preparation | Attempt subject-wise timed sets | Track accuracy, skipped questions and slow areas |
| Final preparation | Attempt complete two-hour papers | Follow negative marking and analyse every mistake |
UPSC provides official previous question papers for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Use official papers before depending completely on expected-question collections.
Useful CDS Preparation Resources
Use limited resources according to your academy and weak subject. Watching more lectures is not a substitute for revision and timed question practice.
Download Official UPSC CDS II 2026 PDF
Verify academy vacancies, eligibility, written pattern, syllabus, negative marking, SSB process, preferences and medical instructions from the official UPSC notification.
Official Accuracy Note
The academy-wise paper structure, marks, duration, negative marking, subject standard, Mathematics syllabus, SSB stages and medical reference in this article are based on the official CDS II 2026 notification.
The English and General Knowledge topic cards are practical preparation checklists. UPSC officially provides a broad description for these papers rather than an exhaustive chapter-by-chapter list.
Candidates should check the notification, e-Admit Card, official question papers, SSB call letter and current service medical manual before the examination and selection stages.
Common UPSC CDS Preparation Mistakes
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 FAQs
IMA, INA and AFA candidates prepare English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. OTA candidates prepare English and General Knowledge only.
IMA, INA and AFA have three written papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
OTA has two written papers: English and General Knowledge. Elementary Mathematics is not included in the OTA written exam.
Each English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics paper has a duration of two hours.
Every CDS written paper carries 100 marks. IMA, INA and AFA therefore have 300 written marks, while OTA has 200 written marks.
No. OTA candidates appear only in English and General Knowledge. Maths is required for IMA, INA and AFA.
UPSC states that Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation level. The paper covers Arithmetic, Number Theory, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics.
The English and General Knowledge papers are approximately at the level expected from a graduate of an Indian university.
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for a wrong answer. A blank question receives no penalty.
It is treated as a wrong answer even when one selected option is correct. The normal negative-marking penalty applies.
No. UPSC does not permit calculators for the objective written papers, including Elementary Mathematics.
Stage I contains Officer Intelligence Rating Tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test. Only screened-in candidates continue to Stage II.
Stage II includes Personal Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and Conference. The process is conducted over four days after Stage I.
Final merit uses the combined written and SSB marks. Candidates must qualify both stages separately and also meet medical, eligibility, preference and vacancy requirements.
Under the current CDS II notification, women candidates are considered for the notified Short Service Commission course at OTA. Candidates should verify the academy rules in the notification of their own examination cycle.
The official syllabus, exam scheme, SSB process and medical reference are included in the CDS II 2026 notification on the UPSC website. A direct official PDF button is provided above.
Conclusion
CDS preparation becomes clear once you select the correct academy. OTA candidates need English and GK, while IMA, INA and AFA candidates must prepare English, GK and Elementary Mathematics.
Follow the official syllabus, revise current affairs regularly, solve previous papers with one-third negative marking and start basic SSB awareness before the written result. Written preparation, personality development and medical fitness should move together.
