The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination II 2025 notification on May 28, 2025. This is a golden opportunity for candidates who wish to serve the nation by joining the Indian Armed Forces — the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
The CDS exam is one of the most prestigious and competitive recruitment exams in India for defence aspirants. Read on for complete details about the notification, eligibility, important dates, syllabus, exam pattern, and how to apply.
Contents
📅 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | May 28, 2025 |
| Application Start Date | May 28, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | June 17, 2025 |
| Application Correction Window | June 18 to June 24 |
| Admit Card Release Date | First week of Sept |
| CDS 2 2025 Exam Date | September 14, 2025 |
| Result Declaration (Expected) | October/November 2025 |
📌 Vacancy Details (Tentative)
While the exact number of vacancies will be confirmed in the notification PDF, expected vacancies for various academies are:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun – approx. 100 seats
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala – approx. 32 seats
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad – approx. 32 seats
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men) – approx. 170 seats
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Women) – approx. 17 seats
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality:
A candidate must be:
- A citizen of India, OR
- A subject of Bhutan or Nepal, OR
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention to settle permanently in India.
Educational Qualification:
- IMA & OTA: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university.
- INA: Degree in Engineering.
- AFA: Bachelor’s Degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR Engineering Degree.
Age Limit (As on July 1, 2026):
- IMA: 19–24 years (Born between July 2, 2002, and July 1, 2007)
- INA: 19–24 years
- AFA: 20–24 years (Born between July 2, 2002, and July 1, 2006)
- OTA (Men & Women): 19–25 years (Born between July 2, 2001, and July 1, 2007)
Marital Status:
- IMA, INA, AFA: Only unmarried males.
- OTA: Unmarried males and females, issueless widows/divorcees (who have not remarried).
💵 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC Male | ₹200/- |
| SC/ST/Female | Nil |
Mode of Payment: Online using debit/credit card, UPI, net banking or via SBI bank challan.
🖥️ How to Apply for CDS 2 2025
Follow these simple steps to apply online:
- Visit the official website: https://upsconline.nic.in
- Click on “Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC”.
- Select “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025”.
- Complete Part-I Registration – enter basic details.
- Complete Part-II Registration – upload documents, pay fee, choose exam centre.
- Preview and submit the application.
- Download a copy of your application for future reference.
📚 CDS 2 2025 Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA, AFA:
| Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Math | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | — | 300 |
For OTA (Men & Women):
| Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | — | 200 |
Note: All papers are objective-type and bilingual (English and Hindi), except the English paper.
📖 Syllabus Highlights
English:
- Vocabulary, Grammar, Synonyms/Antonyms, Comprehension, Sentence Improvement
General Knowledge:
- Current Affairs, History of India, Geography, Indian Polity, Defence, Economy, Science & Tech
Elementary Mathematics (only for IMA/INA/AFA):
- Number System, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss
🧪 Selection Process
- Written Exam – Conducted by UPSC.
- SSB Interview – Two-stage process including:
- Stage I: OIR (Officers Intelligence Rating) + PPDT
- Stage II: Psychology Test, Group Testing, Personal Interview, and Conference
- Medical Examination – Only candidates who clear the SSB are tested medically.
- Final Merit List – Based on marks in the written exam and SSB interview (excluding medical).
📌 Important Points to Remember
- No negative marking for unanswered questions, but wrong answers deduct marks.
- Candidates should ensure physical fitness as per defence standards before appearing.
- Training for selected candidates will start from January 2026 at respective academies.
✅ Final Thoughts
The CDS 2 2025 exam offers a remarkable opportunity to join the armed forces and serve the nation with pride and honour. With vacancies for both male and female candidates in multiple academies, this is the ideal time to start your preparation if you meet the eligibility.
A well-planned study strategy, regular current affairs updates, and practice with mock tests can boost your chances of clearing the exam. Don’t wait — apply before June 17, 2025, and take your first step towards an exciting and noble career in the Indian defence services.
