Notification Highlights
Selection Process & Stages
Objective test of English, GK, and Math (300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA; 200 marks for OTA without Math).
Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PPDT) on Day 1.
Psychological Battery (TAT, WAT, SRT, SDT), Group Testing Officer (GTO) Obstacle Tasks, and Personal Interview.
Rigorous medical examination at military command hospitals covering vision, physical deformities, and clinical tests.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (IMA, INA, AFA & OTA) | 120 | 100 | 2 Hours (120 Mins) | 0.33 Negative Deduction |
| General Knowledge (IMA, INA, AFA & OTA) | 120 | 100 | 2 Hours (120 Mins) | 0.33 Negative Deduction |
| Elementary Mathematics (IMA, INA & AFA only) | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours (120 Mins) | 0.33 Negative Deduction |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Reading Comprehension passages, Spotting errors, Ordering of words in a sentence, Ordering of sentences (Jumbled paras)
- Idioms and Phrases, Synonyms and Antonyms, Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions and vocabulary, Parts of speech
- Current events of national and international importance, military warfare technology, and joint bilateral drills
- History of India and Indian National Movement; Physical, Political, and Economic Geography of India
- Indian Constitution, Parliament, President powers, Supreme Court rulings; NCERT Class 9-10 Physics, Chemistry, Biology
- Number System, Unitary method, Time & Distance, Time & Work, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest
- Basic algebraic identities, Remainder theorem, HCF & LCM of polynomials, Linear equations, Quadratic equations
- Trigonometry (Sin x, Cos x, Tan x, Simple heights & distances), Plane geometry (Theorems on triangles, circles, tangents)
- Mensuration: Areas of squares, rectangles, triangles, circles; Surface areas and volumes of spheres, cones, cylinders
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 CDS-II Written (Indian Military Academy - IMA) | 126.00 | 126.00 | 126.00 | 126.00 | 126.00 | 300 |
| 2023 CDS-II Written (Indian Naval Academy - INA) | 118.00 | 118.00 | 118.00 | 118.00 | 118.00 | 300 |
| 2023 CDS-II Written (Air Force Academy - AFA) | 142.00 | 142.00 | 142.00 | 142.00 | 142.00 | 300 |
| 2023 CDS-II Written (Officers Training Academy - OTA Men) | 98.00 | 98.00 | 98.00 | 98.00 | 98.00 | 200 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Candidates who appeared in the Combined Defence Services (II) written examination and whose roll numbers appear in the qualified list for IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA.
- Aspirants preparing for the 5-day Services Selection Board (SSB) interview process including Stage-I Screening (OIR & PPDT), Psychological Testing, GTO tasks, and Personal Interview.
- Candidates who did not clear the minimum 20% sectional qualifying mark in each paper (English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics) or the aggregate cutoff.
- Candidates exceeding the maximum upper age limit for specific academies (24 for IMA/INA/AFA, 25 for OTA).
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- Failing to register on official service portals: Candidates MUST register on joinindianarmy.nic.in within 2 weeks of result declaration; failure forfeits SSB call-up.
- Discrepancies in Matriculation Date of Birth or Degree mark sheets.
- Failing medical standard checks (permanent tattoos outside forearm guidelines or vision defects outside academy limits).
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- CDS-II Written Exam Roll Number and Admit Card.
- Original Matriculation Certificate & Mark Sheet (DOB verification).
- Original Degree Certificate or provisional degree passing certificate.
- 20 recent passport-size photographs on plain white background for SSB documentation.
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Download and print the official gazette syllabus to tick off every individual sub-topic systematically during your study schedule.
Dedicate the first 2 hours of daily study to your weakest subject before moving to familiar revision topics.
Conduct weekly timed self-assessment tests and compute your net score strictly applying the official negative marking formula.
Review official commission corrigenda and model answer keys to understand recurring question structures and accepted representations.
Ensure all mandatory identity documents and category certificates are renewed within the prescribed financial year validity window.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC))
What is the mandatory next step after clearing the CDS-II written exam?
Candidates who cleared the written examination must register online on the Indian Army recruiting website joinindianarmy.nic.in within two weeks of result declaration. Candidates failing to register on the service portal will NOT be allotted SSB interview dates.
What is the sectional qualifying cut-off mark in each CDS paper?
UPSC mandates a strict minimum score of 20% in EACH individual paper (English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics). Even if your aggregate exceeds the cutoff, failing to score at least 20% in any single paper leads to disqualification.
How is final merit computed for CDS commissioning?
Final merit is determined by combining marks scored in the UPSC Written Examination (300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 marks for OTA) and marks awarded in the 5-day SSB Interview (300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 marks for OTA).
Can candidates apply for OTA without studying Mathematics?
Yes. Candidates opting solely for the Officers Training Academy (OTA) are required to appear for only two papers: English (100 Marks) and General Knowledge (100 Marks). Mathematics is not included in the OTA examination syllabus.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Union Public Service Commission Written Results Desk
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
This notice was audited by the GovIndiaNews Editorial Desk against primary gazette releases and official portal bulletins. Review sign-off conducted under our transparent Fact-Checking Policy. Found a discrepancy? Submit a notice revision via our public Corrections Desk.