CDS Exam Guide 2026
CDS 2026 notification updates and complete exam guide. Check exam dates, vacancies, eligibility criteria, selection process, syllabus, and application details.
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📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Subjects/ Sections | Total Duration | No. of Questions | Max. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 120 | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 hours | 100 | 100 |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 2 hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 hours | 120 | 100 |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Details about the UPSC CDS Exam | Mathematics | English Exam | General Knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total marks | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Marks for Negative marking | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer | -0.33 marks for each wrong answer |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Sr. No. | Topic | Level of Difficulty | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mensuration | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| 2 | Algebra | Easy | 8 |
| 3 | SI/ CI | Easy | 5 |
| 4 | Speed and Distance | Easy | 6 |
| 5 | Number System | Easy to Moderate | 18 |
| 6 | Mixture | Easy | - |
| 7 | Percentage | Easy | 2 |
| 8 | Profit/Loss | Easy | 1 |
| 9 | Geometry | Moderate | 20 |
| 10 | Time and Work | Easy | 3 |
| 11 | Trigonometry | Moderate to Difficult | 14 |
| 12 | Mean-Median-Mode | Moderate | 4 |
| 13 | Clock | Easy | 2 |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Sr. No. | Topic | Difficulty Level | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History | Moderate | 19 |
| 2 | Science | Easy to Moderate | 27 |
| 3 | Polity | Easy | 20 |
| 4 | Ecology | Easy to Moderate | 6 |
| 5 | Military Wings/ Forces | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| 6 | Economy/Trade | Difficult | 11 |
| 7 | Geography | Moderate | 22 |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Sr. No. | Topic | Difficulty Level | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloze Test | Easy | 20 |
| 2 | Reading Comprehension | Easy to Moderate | 22 |
| 3 | Synonyms/ Antonyms | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| 4 | One Word Substitution | Moderate | 5 |
| 5 | Para-Jumble | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| 6 | Sentence-Jumble | Moderate | 7 |
| 7 | Error Detection | Easy | 20 |
| 8 | Sentence Improvement | Easy | 20 |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Name of the Book | Subject | Author/Publication | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective General English | English Language | S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications) | Best for Beginner, Solved examples & Exercises to Practice along with detailed theory. |
| Manorama Yearbook | General Awareness | Philip Mathew | Effective & recommended book for preparing General Awareness |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal | This book is best to clear various topics of maths from basics as it has many solved examples (different varieties of questions) along with practice sets (simple & tough both). |
📊 Read about other UPSC Related Exams Below:
| UPSC CDS | UPSC AE | UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC CAPF | UPSC CMS | UPSC IES/ISS Exam |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Will there be negative marking in the CDS Exam?
There will be a negative marking of 1/3rd mark for every wrong answer.
Q2.What if I choose two choices for one single question in the CDS Exam?
This will be considered as a wrong answer and will result in a deduction of 1/3rd mark.
Q3.What will be the CDS Selection Process?
The candidates will be selected based on performance in the written exam, SSB interview, and medical test.
Q4.Will there be any descriptive questions in the CDS Exam?
There will be only objective-type questions asked in the exam.
Q5.What will be the total marks for the UPSC CDS Exam?
Each section will carry a total of 100 marks.
Q6.How many stages are there in the CDS SSB Interview?
The SSB, for starters. The CDS interview is held in two stages. Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception Description Test make up Stage I. (PP&DT). Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences make up Stage II.
Q7.In the CDS exam, how many marks are allotted to each section?
The CDS exam has three sections: English Language, Elementary Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Each section has a total of 100 marks.
Q8.How are CDS scores calculated?
Candidates' CDS exam scores are determined by the number of correct and incorrect answers.
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