UPSC CDS 2026: What do you need to study to join the army through CDS? Check the topic-wise syllabus..
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026: CDS is considered one of the best career options for becoming an officer in the armed forces. This exam is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Through this, candidates can fulfill their dream of becoming an officer in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Air Force. But cracking the exam is crucial. Applications for CDS I 2026 have closed. The exam date has also been announced. The exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026.
For this, knowing the syllabus is very important. Only then will you be able to qualify for the first stage of the CDS. For admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (IAF), questions worth 100 marks each are asked from English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. While in the Officers Training Academy (OTA), questions are asked only from two subjects: English and General Knowledge.
UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026: Topic-wise
Subject Topics
English Spotting Errors, Sentence Arrangement, Synonyms and Antonyms, Word Selection, Sentence Sequencing, Reading Comprehension Questions, Word Order in Sentences, Fill in the Blanks, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Improvement or Sentence Correction, etc. The question paper will be designed to assess the candidate's understanding of English.
General Knowledge (GK) Economics, Physics, Current Affairs, Politics, Chemistry, Sociology, History, Defence Awards, Geography, Environment, Sports, Biology, Culture, Books, Authors, etc.
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, Percentage, Applications of 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. Factor theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, and use of logarithmic tables.
Algebra - Basic operations, simple factorization, remainder theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., theory of polynomials, solution of quadratic equations, relation between its roots and coefficients (only real roots will be considered). Linear equations—analytical and graphical. Linear inequalities and their solutions. Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequalities in two variables, or quadratic equations in one variable, and their solutions. Set language and set notation, rational expressions and conditional identities, laws of indices, sine x, cosine x, tangent x when 0° < x < 90°, values of sin x, cos x, and tan x for x = 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) congruence of triangles, (v) similar triangles, (vi) concurrency of medians and altitudes, (vii) properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) circle and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) loci. Mensuration: Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and circles. Area of figures that can be divided into these shapes (field book), surface area and volume of a cuboid, lateral surface area and volume of a right circular cone and cylinder, surface area and volume of a sphere. Collection and tabulation of statistical data, graphical representation: frequency polygon, histogram, bar chart, pie chart, etc.
The SSB will be conducted in two stages after the written examination. Candidates who clear Stage I will be eligible to appear for Stage II. Stage II will consist of an interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, psychology tests, and a conference. This test will last for 4 days.
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