‘341+ VACANCIES’ in 

UPSC CDS (I) Examination 2023

CDS Exam is conducted twice every year by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) to select eligible candidates for admission to the elite Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers’ Training Academy. The details of the examination are as follows:

Vacancies:

There are 341 vacancies.  The vacancies are Tentative. The number of vacancies given above is tentative and may be changed at any stage by Services H. Q.

Important Dates

The tentative schedule of events is as follows:

Scheme of Examination:

1.      Phase-I: UPSC NDA (I) 2023 – Pen & Paper Based Examination-Objective paper- Medium Hindi/English:

• Tier-I will consist of Objective Type, Multiple choice questions, which will be set both in English & Hindi except for English subject. 
• There will be negative marks for wrong answers in the Objective tests.

·         For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy, the written examination consists of the below subjects:

·         For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy: the written examination consists of the below subjects:

Note: -

• One third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty. 

2.                  Phase-II: UPSC CDS SSB Interview:

• Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to CDS Examination. 
• For admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy; marks allotted for SSB Interview is 300 for each.
• For admission to the Officers’ Training Academy; marks allotted for SSB Interview is 200.

Indicative Syllabus: 

The syllabus for the Examination will be as follows:

1.      English

·         The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. This includes Sentence arrangement, Spotting Error, selecting words, Synonyms and Antonyms, Comprehension, Ordering of Sentence, ordering of words, Idioms and Phrases, Fill up the blanks.

2.                  General Knowledge 

·         General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on History of India and Geography of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study. This paper includes Current Affairs, Sports, History, India & its neighbouring countries, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity, Indian Constitution

3.                  Elementary 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 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. 

Algebra 

• Basic Operations, simple factors, 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. 

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 (i) Properties of angles at a point, (ii) Parallel lines, (iii) Sides and angles of a triangle, (iv) Congruency of triangles, (v) Similar triangles, (vi) Concurrence of medians and altitudes, (vii) Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) 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.

Essential Educational Qualifications (As on 01-01-2023): 

Educational qualifications for various academies under the UPSC CDS are as follows:

Note:

·         Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB. 

·         Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog upto the last semester / year for which results have been declared upto the time of submission of application.

Age limit (As on 01-01-2023):  

·         For IMA—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2^nd January, 2000 and not later than 1^st January, 2005 only are eligible. 

·         For Indian Naval Academy—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2^nd January, 2000 and not later than 1^st January, 2005 only are eligible. 

·         For Air Force Academy— 20 to 24 years as on 1^st January, 2024 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January, 2000 and not later than 1st January, 2004 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd January, 1998 and not later than 1st January, 2004 only are eligible. Note: Candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises. 

·         For Officers' Training Academy - (SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 1999 and not later than 1st January, 2005 only are eligible. 

·         For Officers' Training Academy - (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd January, 1999 and not later than 1^st January, 2005. 

Nationality/ Citizenship: 

A candidate must be unmarried and must either be: 

• A Citizen of India, or 
• A subject of Nepal, or 
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. 

Steps to Apply:

·         Applications must be submitted only in online mode at the website of UPSC i.e. https://www.upsconline.nic.in. 

·         candidates are required to upload the scanned colour passport size photograph in JPEG format (20 KB to 50 KB). 

·         Scanned signature in JPEG format (20 to 300 KB). 

·         Details of qualifying educational qualification like passing year, roll number, percentage/ CGPA, name of Board, etc are required.

·         Last date and time for submission of online applications is 10-01-2023 (06:00 PM). 

·         Before submission of the online application, candidates must check through Preview/ Print option that they have filled correct details in each field of the form.

Application Fee: 

• Candidates are required to pay fee either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using net banking facility of State Bank of India or by using Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card.

• Applicants who opt for "Pay by Cash" mode should print the system generated Pay in-slip during Part-II registration and deposit the fee at the counter of SBI Branch on the next working day only.
• "Pay by Cash" mode option will be deactivated at 11:59 PM of 10.01.2023 i.e. one day before the closing date. 

• Fee structure for the application is as follows:

FAQs 

Ques. I am in the the final year of my college. Can I apply for the UPSC CDS exam?

Ans. Yes, Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog up to the last semester / year.

Ques.  Are there any percentage criteria to apply for the UPSC CDS Exam?

Ans.   There are no minimum percentage criteria to apply           for the UPSC CDS exam. 

Ques. What is UPSC CDS Job Profile 2023?

Ans. Recruitment of the posts under UPSC CDS are officers in Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers’ Training Academy.

Ques. Is there any negative marking in UPSC CDS Exam?

Ans. Yes, UPSC CDS exam has negative marking. One third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty. 

Ques.  How many times can the UPSC CDS Exam be attempted?

Ans.    There is no limit to how many times can UPSC CDS examination be attempted as long as the eligibility criteria like age and other, are fulfilled.

Ques. Are married candidates eligible to apply for CDS Exam?

Ans. No, only unmarried candidates can apply for CDS Exam.

Ques. Am I eligible to apply for CDS Exam if I have tattoo on my arms/ any other part of body?

Ans. Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on inner face of forearm i.e from inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of hand. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable and candidates will be barred from further selection. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case to case.

Ques. What is the date for UPSC CDS (I) 2023 Exam?

Ans. UPSC CDS (I) 2023 exam is scheduled to be held in April 2023.

Ques. How many language options will be available for the UPSC CDS (I) 2023 Exam?

Ans. UPSC CDS (I) 2023 Exam will have two Language options that are English and Hindi.