CDS Exam 2022-2023 : Notification, Exam Dates, Result

CDS II 2021 Answer key has been released. The candidates must note that this is with the reference to 2021 cycle. Recently, UPSC CDS II 2022 Admit Card has been released on 10th August 2022. The exam will be conducted on 4th September 2022. The UPSC CDS 2/2022 notification was released for a total of 339 vacancies have been released for the CDS 2 exam 2022. The interested candidates can apply online on the UPSC official website till 7th June 2022.

• Candidates are selected on the basis of a written examination and then shortlisted for an SSB interview process.
• It will be to test the intelligence as well as to conduct a personality test for the candidates.
• The shortlisted candidates will be chosen on the basis of merit and preference for the respective academies like Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, etc.
• To know more about the CDS vacancy, eligibility, application process, CDS cut off & Selection process, etc, read this article from the beginning till the end. 

What is CDS Exam?

The Union Public Service Commission holds the Combined Defence Services Examination (abbreviated as CDS Exam) twice a year for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy. The exam is normally held twice a year, in February and September. The national-level defense entrance examination attracts thousands of candidates.

Download UPSC CDS-II 2022 Recruitment Official Notification
Download CDS-I 2022 Exam Official Notification

CDS Exam Latest Updates

18th August 2022: UPSC CDS II 2021 Answer Key Out! 

The Union Public Service Commission has released UPSC CDS II 2021 Answer Key. The answer key has been released separately for Maths, GK and English. Below is the direct link to check the answer key. Below is the direct link to check the answer key.

11th August 2022: UPSC CDS II 2021 Final Result Out!

The Union Public Service Commission has released UPSC CDS II 2021 Final Result. The candidates can download the result through the direct link mentioned below.

Direct Link to Download UPSC CDS II 2021 Final Result

10th August 2022: UPSC CDS II 2022 Written Exam Admit Card Out!

The Union Public Service Commission has released UPSC CDS II 2022 Written Exam Admit Card. The exam is going to be held on 4th September 2022. Below is the direct link to download the admit card.

Direct Link to Download UPSC CDS II 2022 Written Exam Admit Card

3rd June 2022: UPSC CDS II (2021) Final Result Declared

The UPSC has declared the final result of the CDS II Examination 2021. The candidates can download the Final Result through the UPSC website or use the direct link given below.

Download UPSC CDS II 2021 Final Result

CDS Exam Highlights 2022

Given below is the overview table for CDS Exam 2022, for the candidates to be aware of all the necessary details required related to the examination.

CDS Exam Dates 2022

Given below are the exam dates for UPSC CDS Exam 2022, candidates must refer to the UPSC CDS exam dates to not miss out on anything:

CDS Vacancy 2022

A total number of 339 vacancies have been released for the CDS 1 2022 Recruitment. The detailed vacancy distribution is as follows: 

CDS (II) 2022 Vacancies

Aspirants who are appearing for the CDS II 2022 can find the detailed vacancies out for the same in the following table. Take a look over the same:

CDS (I) 2022 Vacancies

Aspirants who have already appeared for the CDS I 2022 can find the detailed vacancies out for the same in the following table. Take a glance over the same:

Check CDS online Coaching Here!

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2022

Candidates applying for the CDS II Exam 2022 should keep in mind that they have to first fulfill all the eligibility criteria like age limit, eligibility, educational qualification criteria, etc. to be applicable to apply for their desired post. 

A. CDS Age Criteria

The very first criteria are the age criteria which varies in the case of various academies like Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, etc. as mentioned below. Let us check out the table below: 

To get the detailed CDS Answer Key, candidates can visit the linked article.

Prerequisites for Various Posts under the CDS 2022

The Combined Defence Services Exam conducted by the UPSC also requires the candidates to be of certain marital status i.e. married or unmarried in case of various departments. Let us check in the table below: 

B. CDS Educational Qualification Criteria

The educational qualification criteria vary in each case as per the requirements of the respective academies like Officer Training Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, etc. The candidates should fulfill the following as given below for the CDS II examination 2022.

For details on the CDS Eligibility Criteria, refer to the linked article.

C. CDS Nationality Criteria

A candidate for the UPSC CDS recruitment exam 2022 must be one of the following:

• A Citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A subject of Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of settling permanently in India, or Indian origins who migrated to India from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Zambia, and Ethiopia, or Vietnamese origins who migrated to India with the aim of settling permanently in India.

D. CDS Physical and Medical Standards

According to the UPCS rules, candidates must be physically and mentally fit. On medical grounds, a large number of qualified candidates are disqualified. As a result, candidates are highly urged to have a medical examination before applying for the CDS Exam.

Some common defects are:

• Condition of Overweight / Underweight
• Under Sized Chest
• Piles
• Wax (Ears)
• Deviated Nasal Septum
• Tonsillitis
• Gynaecomastia
• Varicocele
• Hydrocele / Phimosis
• Male candidates must be at least 157.5 centimeters tall (157 cms for Navy and 162.5 cms for Air Force). The minimum height requirement for female candidates is 152 cms. After all kinds of waivers/dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm.
• Male candidates should have a well-developed chest. After complete inspiration, the minimum range of expansion should be 5 cms.
• The Body Mass Index of the aspiring candidates should be below 25.

E. CDS Height and Weight Standards:

• Male candidates must be at least 157.5 cm tall to be considered. (The Navy's is 157 cms, while the Air Force's is 162.5 cms for Flying Branch and 157.5 cm for Ground Duty).
• The minimum permissible height for female candidates is 152 cms.
• Gorkhas and people from the hills of India's north-eastern region, such as Garhwali and Kumaon, will be allowed to be 5 cm shorter.
• The minimum permissible height for candidates from Lakshadweep can be lowered by 2 cm. After all kinds of waivers/dispensations, the minimum height for all entries is 148 cm. If not, the candidate will be labeled a dwarf.

Read About CDS interview questions here.

CDS Application Form 2022

The application process for CDS II is the first step to apply for recruitment of the Combined Defence Services. Candidates should be careful to enter the correct information here as the same will be printed on your CDS II admit cards. Go through the step-by-step procedure given below to be able to apply smoothly. 

Direct Link To Apply For The CDS II 2022 Exam

Step 1: You should first enter the official website of UPSC to apply for the CDS II Exam. 

Step 2: You have to enter your personal credentials under the heading “Part I” of your application form. 

Step 3: You should first check the eligibility criteria & then apply for the respective academy which you wish for. (Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, etc.) 

Step 4: A registration ID will be generated after “Part A” and you can proceed to “Part B” of the CDS II application form. 

Step 5: Upload all scanned documents & signatures in the specified format. (PDF, JPEG, etc.). The candidates can use the Testbook Resize Tool for this purpose.

Step 6: Finally, you need to pay the application fee and select your examination center.

Step 7: Double-check all details and finally click on “Submit”

Step 8: Keep the application number generated safely. 

Step 9: Take a print-out of the application form for future reference.

What are the Documents Required to Apply for the CDS 2 exam?

1. Candidates require ID proof like Passport, PAN Card, Aadhar Card, etc. 
2. Recent passport size photographs of the applicant
3. Signature of the applicant in the required format. (JPEG, PDF, etc.)
4. Educational Qualification mark sheets are required (10th, 12th, graduation, etc.)
5. Caste certificates(if applicable)
6. Jammu & Kashmir domicile related documents(if applicable)

For details on the UPSC CDS Apply Online, refer to the linked article.

CDS Application Fees

The CDS 2 2022 Application Form for cycle one will only be complete if you submit the application form along with an application fee. Remember the following pointers for clarity. 

• The application fee is Rs.200/- for all categories. 
• The SC/ST/females do not have to pay any fees. 
• You can pay via depositing money in SBI Bank by cash, Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment or by using internet banking facility of any Bank. 
• You can pay offline at any branch of the State Bank Of India. 

CDS Selection Process

The CDS selection procedure involves a few stages which the candidates have to clear with flying colours to go a step closer to obtaining their desired post in their desired academy like AFA, IMA, etc. The various selection stages include: 

• Written Examination: The first phase in the CDS selection procedure is the written exam. It comprises of 2-hour papers. Candidates will just have to attempt the English and General Knowledge sections of the examination. Candidates for the Indian Naval Academy, Indian Maritime Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy must pass all three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
• SSB Interview or Personality Test: The personality exam or SSB interview is the second phase in the CDS selection process. Stage I and Stage II of the SSB technique are two-stage selection processes. Only those applicants who have passed Stage I are eligible to take Stage II.
• Document Verification: In this stage, all required documents of the candidates will be verified. 
• Medical Examination: All of the shortlisted candidates will undergo a medical examination to determine whether or not they are medically fit. A Board of Service Medical Officers conducts a medical examination of the applicants nominated by the Services Selection Board. Women applicants are examined by a Medical Board made up of male and female doctors, specialists, and gynecologists. A Lady Medical Officer will also be a member of the Board. Only those candidates who have been deemed fit by the Medical Board will be allowed to the Academy.

Note: A final merit list will be prepared for the shortlisted candidates who clear all these stages successfully. 

What is the CDS Exam Selection & Interview Procedure? 

Only candidates who clear the written examination stage will proceed to the UPSC CDS interview round. It will comprise of two stages as given below: 

Stage I: This stage will involve a Picture Perception & Description Test which will basically test the Officer’s Intelligence. 

Stage II: This stage will test how the minds of the candidates work via psychological tests, interview round, group testing office tasks as well as a conference round. 

Note: You have to qualify for the personality tests mentioned above to proceed to the document verification and medical test rounds. 

To get the detailed CDS Selection Process, candidates can visit the linked article.

CDS Exam Pattern 2022 - Written Test

The candidates who are applying to these respectable academies as mentioned above should be well-aware of the latest examination pattern to have a well-informed idea about the important topics and sub-topics from an examination point of view. 

The written exam pattern for the CDS II Examination varies in the case of the OTA or Officer Training Academy and other academies (Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy, Indian Air Force, etc). Let us look at the tabulated forms below for a better idea. 

CDS Exam Interview

The CDS SSB Interview will be held for candidates who pass the written exams. The CDS SSB Interview is divided into two stages, each of which includes an intelligence and personality test:

• Officer Intelligence Rating, Picture Perception, and Description Test make up Stage 1.
• Interview, Group Testing Officer Task, Psychology Test, and Conference are all part of Stage 2.
• The CDS SSB Interview lasts four days. During the interview round, candidates are assessed physically, mentally, and psychologically.

CDS Syllabus 2022

Candidates willing to apply for this examination should be well aware of the comprehensive syllabus for the CDS 2022 Exam. It includes the following subjects of which they should know the important topics and sub-topics as given below: 

General Knowledge

Questions on History, Physics, Biology, Geography, Political Science, and current affairs from all the happenings around the world, Defence-related news, Environment-related, Sociology, etc.

To get the detailed UPSC CDS Syllabus, candidates can visit the linked article. 

English

Questions will be asked on Grammar, Synonyms & Antonyms, Reading Comprehension Solving, Error Spotting, Para Jumbles, Direct and Indirect Speech, Idioms and Phrases, Active and Passive Voice, etc. 

Elementary Mathematics

Questions will be asked on Prime & composite numbers, Simple & compound interest, Areas of Squares, Rectangles, Parallelograms, Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Circles and its properties including tangents and normals and LociHCF & LCM, Euclidean algorithm, Geometry, Logarithms, Trigonometry, Statistics, Ratio and proportion, Variation, Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm, Prime and composite numbers, etc.

CDS Admit Card 2022

Candidates must download the CDS Admit Card 2022 without any hassle or confusion. Recently, the board has released the UPSC CDS Admit Card for Advt No: 02/2022. Given below are the steps to download the CDS Admit Card:

Step 1: Visit the official website to download your Admit Card.

Step 2: Search for the UPSC CDS Admit Card.

Step 3: The admit card will appear in front of you. After reading all the instructions, select the option of downloading the admit card through Registration ID or Roll Number.

Step 4: After that, fill in your date of birth and captcha. Click the Submit button.

Step 5: Print the Admit Card on a clear sheet and keep it safe.

To get the detailed UPSC CDS Admit Card, candidates can visit the linked article.

CDS Cut Off 2022

Candidates who took the CDS recruitment 2022 written examination should know how to check the cut off marks. To do so, follow the steps outlined below to determine the UPSC CDS cut off marks for 2022.

Step 1: Visit the official website to download the CDS Cut-Off.

Step 2: Press on the examination tab.

Step 3: Now go to the "Cut Off Marks" dropdown.

Step 4: Now find the link for CDS Cut off marks in the recent link.

Step 5: Click on the download link and save for future reference.

Exam Centers for the UPSC CDS 2022

The CDS written exam will be held in 75 different cities. The CDS exam centre information will be printed on the admit card. Candidates will choose their exam centres when filling out the application form. Candidates were assigned CDS exam centres on a first-come, first-served basis.

CDS Books for Preparation

The candidates who apply for the CDS recruitment should always have access to proper study material. Most students are confused about the books they should buy or refer to while preparing for the exam. In the below-given table, we have provided the list of books candidates can use to prepare for the examination.

Check CDS for girls in detail here.

For details on the UPSC CDS Books, refer to the linked article.

CDS Answer Key 2022

If you applied for the CDS Recruitment, you must understand how to use the CDS Answer key as well as the procedure for downloading it.

After the exam, the answer key is posted on the UPSC's official website.

Step 1: Visit the official website to download the CDS Answer Key.

Step 2: Once on the site search for the answer key and download it.

Step 3: Save the answer key for future references

Step 4: Check your answers from the UPSC CDS Answer Key 

CDS Salary 2022

Those who pass the CDS exam will be paid a stipend during their training days. They will be paid a stipend of Rs 21,000 per month. The candidates who qualify for this prestigious UPSC CDS examination will receive a handsome salary as per the 7th pay Commission. It is quite sought after by the commissioned officers recruited via CDS. The CDS salary range varies rank-wise and also with the years of service rendered by the officers. Let us look at the table below for a better understanding: 

CDS 2022 Salary: Additional Benefits

Aspirants who are aiming to become future Indian Army Officer can go through the following through the additional perks that an Army Officer earns:

• CDS officers can encash their leaves.
• Free medical services are provided for the officers and their dependents.
• Canteen benefits for officers and their dependents. 
• Accommodation, house on rent, and family assistance services are provided to officers’ dependents. 
• Children’s Education Allowance, Field Area Allowance, Dearness allowance, Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Uniform Allowance, High Attitude Allowance, and Siachen Allowance are provided for Officers serving at Fields..

CDS 2022 Roles and Responsibilities

• Choosing Armed Force is a lifestyle and not a profession.
• Adventurous Job profile with high-risk as well as honor.
• Candidates need to be disciplined and organized and must possess essential Officer-Like Qualities
• Candidates must possess 15 Officer-Like Qualities. 
• Candidates who are retiring will enjoy paid allowance of the rank they retired.

To get the detailed UPSC CDS Salary & Job Profile, candidates can visit the linked article.

Preparation Tips for CDS Exam 2022

Aspirants who wish to crack the CDS exam must know a few tips and strategies on how they can prepare better for the exam. Below we have provided a few preparation tips for the UPSC CSE exam. Check the points mentioned below.

• Know the Syllabus & Exam Pattern Well
• Prepare with the help of previous years' question papers.
• Focus on important topics.
• Have an idea about all the topics.
• Know the basics.
• Set a proper study plan.

CDS Results 2022

The UPSC has released the CDS II 2021 Final Result on 3rd June 2022. The UPSC CDS Exam results help you check your final cumulative scores as well as serve as a final confirmation of if you finally bagged your desired position or not. Go through the steps below to make sure you know how to download the results: 

Step 1: The first step is to visit the official website of UPSC as given above.

Step 2: Navigate to the “CDS Results 2022” link on the homepage and click on it. 

Step 3: The login page will ask for personal credentials in order to enter your registration number and password. 

Step 4: The results are to be downloaded in PDF format.

Step 5: Save and print a hard-copy for future reference. 

CDS 2022: Exam Day Guidelines 

Candidates are advised to follow the below-mentioned guidelines/instructions on the day of the examination. 

• Applicants must carry a hard copy of their admit card & copies of passport size photographs as proof of identity on the day of the examination.
• Applicants won’t be allowed to attempt the examination without an admit card.
• Applicants can carry items like a writing pad, blue/black ball pen to the examination centre.
• Rough work material will be provided to the candidates during the examination.
• Applicants should not carry any items like electronic gadgets, books, rough pages, calculators, smartwatches, log tables to the centre.

CDS 2022: Advantages for NCC Certificate Holders

Candidates who participated in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) throughout their college years and received a “C” certificate will have an advantage in the UPSC CDS entrance test. Read the given below points to see how!

• Candidates can apply for the SES (Special Entry Scheme), which entails being chosen for the SSB (Interview) round without having to take the written exam.
• Applicants can attend IMA because a limited amount of seats are designated for holders of NCC certificates (“C”).
• NCC “C” certificate holders who attempt the CDS written test shall receive bonus marks

Check CDS Exam paper Analysis Here.

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