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UPSC CDS II 2023: Admit Card (Out), Exam Date, Application Form, , Result

Updated By Subhashri Roy on 17 Aug, 2023 11:15

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UPSC CDS II 2023 (Admit Card Out)

UPSC CDS II 2023: The UPSC CDS II 2023 Admit Card is out! On August 10, 2023, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the UPSC CDS 2 Admit Card 2023. Candidates have until September 3, 2023, to download their admit cards online. The UPSC CDS hall tickets for 2023 can be accessed through the official website, using either their Registration ID or roll number. For candidates preparing to take the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), can now download their hall tickets have now been made available at the official website upsconline.nic.in.

The registration process for UPSC CDS II 2023 started on May 17, 2023 and ended on 06th June 2023. The candidates can no longer apply online for the UPSC CDS II 2023 examination. The last application date for registration is June 6, 2023. Also, the UPSC CDS II form correction window has been closed. The candidates were given a chance to correct the details in the application form between June 7, 2023 to June 13, 2023. Through the exam, UPSC is going to recruit 349 candidates for the organization.

UPSC CDS II 2022 final result for OTA has been declared on July 4, 2023. The total marks of recommended candidates were released on July 12, 2023. A total of 302 candidates are recommended by UPSC for the 55th (DE) Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) and Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala Training Course. 

The candidates matching the eligibility criteria can fill in the UPSC CDS II 2023 Application Form by paying a fee of Rs. 200. SC/ST and female candidates are exempted from the fee payment. The date of examination for UPSC CDS II 2023 will be conducted on 03rd September 2023 (Sunday). Students are informed that they can download the UPSC CDS II 2023 Admit Card in August 2023 (Tentative). The officials released the admit card usually 2-3 weeks before the day of the UPSC-CDS examination. 

UPSC CDS I written examination result has been announced on May 4, 2023. The candidates can check it for a period of 30 days from the day of the result declaration. Whereas, UPSC CDS II 2022 final results were announced on April 21, 2023. The final UPSC CDS II 2022 Result is available for download in PDF format from the UPSC website (upsc.gov.in). The Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) will contact candidates who have been shortlisted in this exam for admission. 

According to the first preference of selected candidates, they will have to send their date of birth certificate and educational certificates to the Army Headquarters, Air Force Headquarters, or Navy Headquarters.The medical test was not taken into consideration while making the merit list for the UPSC CDS II final round results. 204 candidates qualified for the UPSC CDS 2022 final round, and 146 of them will be selected for the INA, 43 for the IMA, and 15 for the AFA. A few days after the OTA final result for the Combined Defence Services (CDS), the final result and mark will be released. 

Every year, around 8 lakh candidates appear for the UPSC CDS exam. The Combined Defence Service Exam is quite a prestigious exam that helps one to become an 'A' grade officer in the Armed Forces. In recent years, competition has risen to the next level. Read the article to learn more about the UPSC CDS II 2023 Selection Process.

After clearing all the stages of selection, candidates will be inducted in the INA Ezhimala, IMA Dehradun, OTA Chennai, and AFA Hyderabad, based on their rank and choices opted by them during the filling up of the online application form. Here, candidates will undergo a year of rigorous training. They will also be eligible to receive a monthly stipend of INR 56,100. On completion of the training, these cadets get posted as commissioned officers in their respective forces. Please read the article given below which has been provided to help the aspirants who want to don the prestigious uniform.

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UPSC CDS Exam 2023 Highlights

The highlights regarding the CDS 2023 exam process are given below:

ParticularsDetails
CDS Full FormCombined Defence Services Exam
Name of the OrganizationUnion Public Services Exam (UPSC)
Exam LevelNational Level
FrequencyTwice in a year
Mode of ApplicationOnline
Application Fees

UR/ OBC - Rs 200

Female- Exempted

SC/ST - Exempted

Exam ModeOffline
Exam Duration2 Hours
LanguageEnglish and Hindi
Official Websitehttps://www.upsc.gov.in/

UPSC CDS 2023 Important Dates

The latest dates for the UPSC CDS 2023 exam have been provided below - 

EventDate
Online Registration Starting Date for UPSC CDS II 2023 Examination17th May 2023
UPSC CDS II 2023 Last Date to Apply Online06th June 2023
UPSC CDS II 2023 Modify/ Edit Application Form07th June 2023 - 13th June 2023 
Availability of UPSC CDS II Admit Card/Hall Ticket10th August 2023
UPSC CDS II 2023 Examination Date03rd September 2023
UPSC CDS II 2023 ResultNovember 2023 (Tentative)

UPSC CDS 2023 Eligibility Criteria

All students are required to check their eligibility criteria before applying for the CDS exam. UPSC CDS II 2023 Eligibility Criteria has been briefly discussed here:

CDS Exam Nationality

To be eligible for CDS Exam, a candidate must be unmarried and must either be:

  • A Citizen of India, or
  • A Subject of Bhutan, or
  • A Subject of Nepal, or
  • A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, 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.

CDS Exam Education Qualification

AcademyEducational Qualification
Indian Military AcademyGraduation Degree
Indian Naval AcademyB.E/B.Tech (10+2 with Physics & Maths)
Air Force AcademyGraduation, B.E/B.Tech (10+2 with Physics & Maths)
Officers’ Training Academy (Men)Graduation Degree
Officers’ Training Academy (Women)Graduation Degree

CDS Exam Age limit 

AcademyAge Limit
Indian Military Academy19-24 Years
Indian Naval Academy19-24 Years
Air Force Academy20-24 Years
Officers’ Training Academy (Men)19-25 Years
Officers’ Training Academy (Women)19-25 Years

UPSC CDS Exam 2023 Application Form

The aspirants who are interested in filling out the UPSC CDS (II) application form can fill them through online mode. The application form of the CDS exam is divided into two parts which are further divided into Part I and Part II. The steps to apply for the CDS exam is provided below.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Union Public Services Exam or UPSC - upsconline.nic.in.

Step 2: There aspirants will find an option for an application link, click on that.

Step 3: Click on new registration and complete the registration process.

Step 4: You will receive the registration number and password on your mail-id.

Step 5: Log in using your credentials and click on "Apply Now".

Step 6: Aspirants need to fill in their personal and educational details in the application form.

Step 7: Upload a recent photograph and scanned copy of the signature

Step 8: Choose the examination centre and proceed with the application form.

Step 9: Please check the details once again before submitting the form as no correction is allowed once the application is submitted.

Step 10: Proceed with the application fee payment process and pay your application fees online through any provided options.

Step 11: After successful fee payment, save a soft copy of the application form along with the fee payment receipt for future reference.

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2023

For good preparation, it is important for candidates to know the syllabus in depth. They can check the syllabus for English, Mathematics, and General knowledge. The knowledge of detailed UPSC CDS (II) Syllabus 2023 makes it possible for candidates to focus more on important topics.    

UPSC CDS Syllabus for English Paper

Following are the topics that are covered in English paper:

  • 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

UPSC CDS Syllabus for Elementary Mathematics Paper

Following are the topics that are covered in Elementary Mathematics Paper:

  • Elementary Number Theory
  • Number System
  • Elementary Number Theory
  • Algebra
  • Trignometry
  • Geometry
  • Mensuration
  • Statistics

UPSC CDS Syllabus for General Knowledge Paper

Following are the topics that are covered in General Knowledge Paper:

  • Economics
  • Physics
  • Current Affairs
  • Politics
  • Chemistry
  • Sociology
  • History
  • Defence-related Award
  • Geography
  • Environment
  • Sport
  • Biology
  • Cultural

UPSC CDS 2023 Preparation Tips

In order to prepare well for the UPSC CDS 2023 written exam, the aspirants have to be well aware of the marking scheme, exam pattern, and preparation tips which will play a major role in getting a strong command over the important topics. The UPSC CDS 2023 Preparation Tips encourage candidates to prepare a timetable and refer to the best available resources for effective preparation.

Preparation Tips for UPSC 2023 English Paper 

  • To prepare for English, one can develop the habit of reading the newspaper regularly. Reading the newspaper improves not only one's vocabulary but also one's knowledge of the subject.

  • One can refer to basic grammar books to clear the concepts.

  • Try to learn a couple of new words on a daily basis. By doing this, a candidate will soon find that he/she is developing a good hold on the language.

  • When a candidate starts learning new words, he/she should also try to learn their antonyms and synonyms and also how to use the words in sentences. Try solving previous year's question papers so that candidate has an idea of what to expect.

Preparation Tips for UPSC CDS 2023 General Knowledge Paper

  • Read newspapers regularly and watch television for the latest happenings in and around the world.

  • Read magazines that cover varied topics ranging from economy to business to trade policies to the latest awardees in the fields of sports, art, and literature. In short, just be aware of all the topics because questions can come from anywhere.

  • Refer to past question papers and see the pattern of occurrence of the questions. That will give an idea as to which topics to concentrate on. 

Preparation Tips for UPSC CDS 2023 Elementary Mathematics Paper

  • Revise all the topics thoroughly.

  • First, the candidate must choose those topics in which they are strong. Later, they can move on to the difficult ones and try to practice as much as possible.

  • Concentrate on having a clear concept of all the topics.

Preparation Tips for UPSC CDS Personal Interview: Intelligence and Personality Test Preparation Tips

  • Concentrate and develop reasoning ability, written and oral expressions, self-confidence, courage, a positive and cheerful attitude.

  • Train your mind to think clearly, rationally and logically.

  • Try to improve the way you can influence people through logical arguments.

  • Improve your communication skills.

  • Try to have a very strong hold on the English language.

  • Train yourself to respect your seniors and juniors.

  • Develop a cooperative and responsible attitude, which will help in successfully carrying out teamwork.

  • Improve your general awareness of national and international issues.

  • Begin to think and behave like an officer.

UPSC CDS 2023 Exam Pattern

When going to appear for the UPSC CDS exam, candidates must be familiar with the exam pattern. They should know the exam duration and total marks for each of the subjects. To know the UPSC CDS 2023 Exam Pattern, candidates must go through the table provided below: 

UPSC CDS Exam Pattern for IMA, INA, AFA

Name of the Subject

Exam Duration

Maximum marks

English

2 hours

100

General Knowledge

2 hours

100

Elementary Mathematics

2 hours

100

CDS Exam Pattern for OTA

Name of the Subject

Exam Duration

Maximum marks

English

2 hours

100

General Knowledge

2 hours

100

UPSC CDS 2023 Admit Card

The UPSC CDS admit card has been made available by the UPSC on its official website. The candidates can download the admit card and appear for the UPSC CDS 2023 examination on 16th April 2023. It is mandatory for all candidates to carry a printout of the e-admit card to the examination center, along with them.  

Applicants can now download their admit card and check it carefully. If there is any mistake in the details provided on the CDS admit card, the aspirant must inform the UPSC immediately via mail. The details mentioned on UPSC CDS Admit Card 2023 are as follows:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Photograph
  • Registration number
  • Name of Exam Centre
  • Date of Exam
  • Reporting Time

If any aspirant faces any problem in downloading their CDS admit card they can also contact the UPSC immediately.

UPSC CDS 2023 Exam Centers

The CDS exam is conducted across the country in 41 cities. The allotment of the CDS exam centre will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

CDS Exam CenterStateCDS exam centreState
AgartalaTripuraKohimaNagaland
AhmedabadGujaratKolkataWest Bengal
AizawlMizoramLucknowUttar Pradesh
AllahabadUttar PradeshMaduraiTamil Nadu
BengaluruKarnatakaMumbaiMaharashtra
BareillyUttar PradeshNagpurMaharashtra
BhopalMadhya PradeshPanajiGoa
ChandigarhChandigarhPatnaBihar
ChennaiTamil NaduPort BlairAndaman and Nicobar Island
CuttackOdishaRaipurChhattisgarh
DehradunUttrakhandRanchiJharkhand
DelhiDelhiSambalpurOdisha
DharwadKarnatakaShillongMeghalaya
DispurAssamShimlaHimachal Pradesh
GangtokSikkimSrinagarJammu and Kashmir
HyderabadAndhra PradeshThiruvananthapuramKerala
ImphalManipurTirupatiAndhra Pradesh
JaipurRajasthanUdaipurRajasthan
JammuJammu and KashmirVisakhapatnamAndhra Pradesh
JorhatAssam--

UPSC CDS (II) 2023 Exam Analysis

UPSC CDS (II) 2023 Exam will be conducted on 03rd September 2023. After the exam, we will update here the detailed exam analysis here based on students' reactions and experts' advice:

SectionsOverall Difficulty LevelGood Attempts
Elementary MathematicsTBATBA
EnglishTBATBA
General KnowledgeTBATBA

UPSC CDS (II) 2023 Section Wise Paper Analysis

Paper Analysis for Elementary Mathematics

TopicsWeightageNumber of Questions Asked
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA

Paper Analysis for English

TopicsWeightageNumber of Questions Asked
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA

Paper Analysis for General Knowledge

TopicsWeightageNumber of Questions Asked
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA
TBATBATBA

UPSC CDS 2023 Answer Key

UPSC CDS answer keys for English, GS and Mathematics papers for each set, are released on the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The commission releases the CDS answer keys on completion of the examination process. UPSC CDS final result 2023 will be declared in December 2023 and hence will the official answer keys be uploaded by the commission. However, some coaching institutes release the UPSC CDS 2023 Answer Key for all the sets on their respective websites one or two days after the exam. We will also provide you with the answers of both paper I and II, after the exam is over. Stay connected with CollegeDekho for more updates. 

UPSC CDS Cut Off 2023 (Tentative)

UPSC CDS Cut Off 2023 will be released after the declaration of the final result. Tentative cut off for CDS exam 2023 has been provided in the following table:

Name of the AcademyWritten Exam Cut Off (Tentative)Final Exam Cut Off (Tentative)

IMA (Indian Military Academy)

119 – 131244 – 256

INA (Indian Naval Academy)

104 – 121232 – 246

AFA (Air Force Academy)

146 – 151

267 – 271

OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) men

73 – 84161 – 170

OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) women

75 – 85164 – 170

UPSC CDS 2 2021 Cutoff

The official cutoff for UPSC CDS (II) 2021 exam was released by the commission on the official website. CDS Final cut off indicates the marks of the selected candidates. CDS Written examination is conducted for 200 marks for OTA while for 300 marks for the IMA, AFA & INA. Candidates who clear the UPSC CDS written examination are called on for the SSB. The SSB is also conducted for 300 marks. Given below is the table depicting the final cutoff for UPSC CDS 2 2021:

CourseSectional CutoffWritten Exam CutoffFinal Cutoff (Marks of last recommended candidate)
IMA20 Marks138263
INA20 Marks132256
AFA20 Marks148270
OTA (Male)20 Marks102183
OTA (Female)20 Marks102184

UPSC CDS Result 2023

UPSC CDS Result (l) 2023 is released on the official website at upsc.gov.in. The candidates can check the UPSC CDS Result for written examination on the official website. The commission uploads a PDF that contains the names and roll numbers of the qualified candidates. Given below are important dates in relation to UPSC CDS Result 2023:

CDS Result 2023 Important EventsCDS I & II Result 2023 Dates
UPSC CDS I 2023 Exam Date16th April 2023
Declaration of written exam result for UPSC CDS I 202304th May 2023
UPSC CDS II 2023 Exam Date03rd September 2023
Declaration of written exam result for UPSC CDS II 2023November 2023 (Tentative)

The marks of recommended candidates have been released by UPSC on its official website and with this, the UPSC CDS 2023 has been concluded. The list of marks of recommended candidates contains information regarding the DOB and total marks obtained by the selected candidates in written exam and SSB. 

UPSC CDS (I) 2023 Vacancies

The detailed information on the number of vacancies is tabulated below. 

CDS (I) 2023 Vacancies

PostsCourseCDS I Vacancies (Tentative)
Indian Military Academy (IMA)154th (DE) course commencing in January 2024100
Air Force Academy (AFA)Course commencing in January 2024 Executive (General Service)/ Hydro21
Officers Training Academy (Men) (OTA)(Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in January 202434
Indian Naval Academy (INA)119th SSC (Men) Course (NT) commencing in April 2024170
Officers Training Academy (Non-Technical, Women) (OTA)33rd SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in April 202425
Total350

Advantages of Appearing in UPSC CDS Entrance Examination

Listed below are some of the advantages that the candidates will have if they appear in the UPSC CDS entrance examination:

  1. A career in the Defence Services which is adventurous and equally exciting

  2. Opportunity to travel throughout the country and across the globe (United Nations Peacekeeping Forces {UNPKF})

  3. Job satisfaction and job security

Advantages for NCC Certificate Holders in UPSC CDS Exam

Those candidates who were a part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during their college days and hold a “C” certificate in the same will be in an advantageous position in the UPSC CDS entrance exam in the following ways:

  1. Can apply for the Special Entry Scheme (SES), i.e getting selected for the SSB (Interview) round without appearing in the written exam

  2. Can get into IMA as a certain percentage of seats are reserved for NCC certificate holders (“C”)

  3. Benefit in marks for those NCC “C” certificate holders who appears in the UPSC CDS written examination

Best Books for UPSC CDS 2023

CDS Books for English Language

BooksAuthor
Objective General EnglishS.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications)
High School English Grammar & CompositionWren and Martin
Word Power Made EasyNorman Lewis

CDS Books for General Knowledge 

BooksAuthor
General AwarenessManohar Panday (Arihant Publications)
Manorama YearbookPhilip Mathew
Pratiyogita Darpan (Magazines)Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team

 CDS Books for Mathematics

BooksAuthor
Mathematics for C.D.S.R.S. Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive ExaminationsR.S. Aggarwal
Pathfinder for CDSArihant Publications

UPSC CDS Conducting Body

The Union Public Service Commission is responsible for conducting the Combined Defence Services Examination. UPSC is India's central recruiting agency that takes care of appointments to and examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services. The Commission conducts various examinations including the popular Civil Services Exam, NDA & NA Exam, etc.

Important Dates

UPSC CDS 2023 Important EventsDates

Want to know more about UPSC CDS

FAQs about UPSC CDS

How to apply for Examinations conducted by the UPSC?

Candidates can apply online for the UPSC Examinations by accessing the online portal hosted on the UPSC’s website (https://upsconline.nic.in).

What happens if a candidate submits multiple online applications for UPSC CDS?

In that scenario, the data submitted in the final application is accepted by the commission and all the applications submitted before are ignored as this will lead to amalgamation with the previous applications and the final application

Which category of candidates is exempted from payment of Examination fee conducted by UPSC?

For all the Examinations conducted by the Commission, Female candidates, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories are exempted from payment of Examination Fee.

Can a candidate change the Date of Birth from what he/she has submitted in the online application?

No, UPSC does not allow change of Date of Birth that has been furnished by a candidate and recorded by the Commission in the submitted application.

Can candidate request for change of centre/venue given in UPSC CDS exam?

No, candidates can not submit request for change in exam centre or venue which has been provided by the UPSC to them

What is meant by Part I and Part II of the Application Form that needs to filled for UPSC CDS examination?

Online Application Form consists of two parts i.e. Part I and Part II.

  •  Part I of the Application has personal details like name, father’s/mother’s name, date of birth, address, educational qualification, age relaxation, scribe details (only for PwBD candidates opting for scribe) and preferences of particular Examination etc. The applicants are also required to mention the number of Photo ID Card.
  • Part II of the Application consists of payment option for Examination Fee (only for those who are not exempted from payment of fee), Centre of Examination along with uploading of photo, signature and photo ID card of the candidate.

Candidate has to complete both Part I and Part II and submit finally to be a candidate of the said Examination.

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