UPSC CDS mock tests

Union Public Service Commission, Combined Defence Services Examination

Free practice tests

About UPSC CDS

The Combined Defence Services Examination recruits for the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai. Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, dated 20 May 2026, was for courses starting in 2027 and was held on 13 September 2026. The notice gave about 451 vacancies: 100 for IMA (including 13 for NCC 'C' certificate holders of the Army wing), 26 for the Naval Academy executive branch (including 6 for Naval wing NCC and 1 for Hydro), 32 for the Air Force Academy pre-flying course (including 3 for Air wing NCC), 275 for the SSC (Non-Technical) course for men at OTA, and 18 for the SSC (Non-Technical) course for women at OTA. Those figures are tentative.

A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from the countries named in the notice and holds a certificate of eligibility. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need that certificate. For IMA and the Naval Academy the age band is 19 to 24 years: unmarried men born not earlier than 1 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2008. For the Air Force Academy the age is 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 (born not earlier than 1 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2007), with a relaxation up to 26 years for a current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by the DGCA. For OTA the age is 19 to 25 years (born not earlier than 1 July 2002 and not later than 1 July 2008). OTA for men is for unmarried men. OTA for women is for unmarried women, and for issueless widows and issueless divorcees who have not remarried. Women are considered only for OTA. Male divorcees and widowers are not treated as unmarried.

IMA and OTA ask for a degree of a recognised university or equivalent. The Naval Academy asks for an engineering degree, or a B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, and Physics and Mathematics at 10+2. The Air Force Academy asks for a degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, or a Bachelor of Engineering. A candidate in the final year may apply and must produce proof of the degree by the date in the notice. The fee is ₹200. Women and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates do not pay it. OBC and EWS candidates pay the full fee.

The written examination is objective, with four choices for every question. For IMA, INA and AFA there are three papers, each of 100 marks and two hours: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. For OTA there are only English and General Knowledge, 100 marks and two hours each. OTA candidates do not sit Mathematics. On 13 September 2026 the sittings were 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (English), 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (General Knowledge) and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Elementary Mathematics). A wrong answer costs one-third of the marks of that question. A blank answer costs nothing. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are set in Hindi and English. English is an English paper. Calculators are not allowed, and a scribe is not allowed. The interview for intelligence and personality, held by a Services Selection Board, carries the same maximum as the written examination: 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 for OTA. Written marks and interview marks are added for the final result. The Commission may fix qualifying marks in any subject.

UPSC CDS (IMA, INA and AFA) exam pattern

6 hours (2 hours for each paper)

CDS OTA exam pattern

4 hours (2 hours for each paper)