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Recruitment Examinations

UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination

UPSC; Entry: IMA/OTA: recognised graduation. INA: engineering degree. AFA: graduation with Class 12…; Subjects: English, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies.

Input: Review eligibility, stages and syllabus; choose PDF content.

Output: View official examination guidance and study resources; a question bank appears only when matching records are installed.

Examination overview

Conducting authorityUPSC
FrequencyTwo examination cycles annually; I and II are cycles, not stages
Reference scheme2025/2026 published scheme
Syllabus and subjectsEnglish, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies
Additional details and verification notes
VerificationRecorded stages: Written examination; SSB Stage-I screening; SSB Stage-II assessment and branch-specific testing; Medical fitness and final merit.
Important notesEntry qualification: IMA/OTA: recognised graduation. INA: engineering degree. AFA: graduation with Class 12 Physics/Maths OR BE/BTech. Recorded subjects/scope: English, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies. Selection sequence: Written examination; SSB Stage-I screening; SSB Stage-II assessment and branch-specific testing; Medical fitness and final merit.
How to check official noticesUPSC examination notifications / archives, calendars, written results and final results. PIB: All Releases, filter ministry / department or search exam name. PIB is supplementary and does not publish every advertisement.

Eligibility and qualifications

Required educationIMA/OTA: recognised graduation. INA: engineering degree. AFA: graduation with Class 12 Physics/Maths OR BE/BTech.
Marks or subjectsPass in applicable recognised degree; final-year proof deadline applies.
Additional details and verification notes
NationalityNationality / eligibility-certificate categories as specified in the notice.
Age conditionsIMA/INA about 19–24; AFA 20–24 (CPL concession up to 26); OTA about 19–25. Exact academy DOB blocks control.
Skills or registrationNo universal separate licence or skill requirement. See post-specific notes.
Other requirementsDifferent academy routes are not interchangeable. CPSS / prior flying-test restrictions and qualification dates apply.
Current-notice verificationExam-specific baseline; service/post annexures and current notice control

Selection and examination stages

The selection sequence and what happens at each stage. Written-paper structure and marking are shown separately below.

01Written examinationWritten examinationDetails

Official selection-stage reference

02SSB Stage-I screeningInterview / assessmentDetails
What happens at this stageStage category: Interview / assessment. Content: English, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies.

Official selection-stage reference

03SSB Stage-II assessment and branch-specific testingInterview / assessmentDetails
What happens at this stageStage category: Interview / assessment. Content: English, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies.

Official selection-stage reference

04Medical fitness and final meritPhysical / medicalDetails

Official selection-stage reference

Examination pattern and paper components

Written papers only: subjects, available question counts, marks, duration and marking rules. Physical, medical and final-selection stages are described above, not repeated here.

EnglishQ 120Marks 100Min 120Details
Subjects / sectionsEnglish
Questions120
Maximum marks100
Duration (minutes)120
Negative markingOne third of question marks
Paper formatMCQ
Paper-specific notesOTA candidates do not take Elementary Mathematics.

Official paper-pattern source

General KnowledgeQ 120Marks 100Min 120Details
Subjects / sectionsGeneral Knowledge
Questions120
Maximum marks100
Duration (minutes)120
Negative markingOne third of question marks
Paper formatMCQ
Paper-specific notesOTA candidates do not take Elementary Mathematics.

Official paper-pattern source

Elementary MathematicsQ 100Marks 100Min 120Details
Subjects / sectionsElementary Mathematics
Questions100
Maximum marks100
Duration (minutes)120
Negative markingOne third of question marks
Paper formatMCQ
Paper-specific notesOTA candidates do not take Elementary Mathematics.

Official paper-pattern source

Examination documents and reference resources

Previous-paper answer keys appear only when a matching official question-paper reference is available. Match the exact paper, date, language and set before using an answer key.

Official previous-question-paper archive

Open official publisher resource

Official UPSC index. Choose the exact examination, stage, year and subject; archive includes many different examinations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination scheme reference
Document or resource typeOfficial reference / discovery page

Open official publisher resource

Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 / General Knowledge
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025 / General Knowledge
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025 / General Knowledge
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2024 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2024 / General Knowledge
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2024 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024 / General Knowledge
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2023 / Elementary Mathematics
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2023 / English
Document or resource typePrevious question paper PDF

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UPSC official previous-year papers (select this examination and year)
Document or resource typeOfficial previous-year question-paper archive / index

Open official publisher resource

Official sources and current-notice checks

Open the relevant publisher or authority page to confirm the latest examination cycle, eligibility, syllabus, fees, dates and selection rules. Catalogue URLs are not monitored live.

UPSC current exam calendarwww.upsc.gov.in
UPSC exam notifications archivewww.upsc.gov.in
Official examination / programme portalwww.upsc.gov.in
Conducting organisation websitewww.upsc.gov.in
Previous-year question papers — official archivecms.upsc.gov.in
Catalogue verification notes (2)
  • Fixed school-standard range is provisional; not an official syllabus
  • School-foundation question bank disabled: Catalogue entry qualification includes a degree-level or professional degree route: IMA/OTA: recognised graduation. INA: engineering degree. AFA: graduation with Class 12 Physics/Maths OR BE/BTech.

Source review: automated catalogue checks on 4 November 2026, plus selected publisher-page checks. This is not confirmation that every listed URL or examination detail is current.

Official examination / application dates

Dates can change between recruitment or admission cycles. Results are unverified until checked against the official notice.

Frequently Asked Questions about UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination

Who conducts UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination?

UPSC. Confirm the current conducting authority and registration portal on the official notice.

What is the eligibility for UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination?

IMA/OTA: recognised graduation. INA: engineering degree. AFA: graduation with Class 12 Physics/Maths OR BE/BTech. Apply the latest official notice for age, nationality, reservations, professional registration and qualification details.

Which subjects should I prepare?

English, general knowledge and mathematics for applicable academies The PDF syllabus guide presents the available register information, not an independently certified syllabus.

What is the selection or paper pattern?

Written examination. View the listed selection stages and examination pattern records on this tool; verify paper format and marking rules with the authority.

How can I download UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination materials?

A question bank is displayed only where an applicable configured school-standard range and local question records are available. Specialist examinations require a separate verified bank; school-class questions are not substituted. Textbook links remain separate where published.

Where are the latest UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination dates?

Open the official source and use Check publisher dates for unverified date mentions. Application windows and exams can change; only a current official notice confirms them.

Disclaimer — UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination

This UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination recruitment overview is for educational preparation only. The current official notification from UPSC controls eligibility, age limits and relaxations, reservations, examination stages, syllabus, marks, negative marking, fees, application dates, documents and final selection or admission. Historical reference schemes and indicative stages may not match the current cycle.

Latest and updated information should always be obtained from the concerned official website. GSETOOLS is not the recruiting authority, examination board, admission office or scholarship provider.