The Union Public Service Commission has started registration for the Combined Defence Services (CDS – II) Examination. The applications have been opened from 8th August 2018 and the last date to register for the same is 03rd September.
Apply for CDS II Examination Now
You may use the navigation guide to explore various aspects of this detailed CDS II 2018 Examination Guide:
A] About CDS II Examination 2018
B] CDS II 2018 Exam Important Dates
I] CDS II 2018 Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Process)
About CDS II Examination 2018
The CDS exam is conducted twice in a year by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment of young officers to the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Airforce. The candidates who qualify the written examination will be further called for the SSB process which occurs in two-step process i.e. Psychological Test and Intelligence Test.
CDS II 2018 Exam Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 08/08/2018 |
| Last Date for Receipt of Applications |
03/09/2018 – 6:00pm |
| Admit Card Release | ~ 3 Weeks Prior to Exam |
| Date of Commencement of Examination | 18/11/2018 |
| Duration of Examination | One Day |
CDS II 2018 Vacancies
A Combined Defence Services Examination will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on 18th November, 2018 for admission to the under mentioned courses :—
| Name of the Course | Approximate No. of Vacancies |
| 1. Indian Military Academy, Dehradun— 147th (DE) Course commencing in July, 2019 [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC `C’ Certificate (Army Wing) holders] | 100 |
| 2. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala—Course commencing in July, 2019 Executive (General Service)/Hydro [including 06 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders (Naval Wing)]. | 45 |
| 3. Air Force Academy, Hyderabad—(Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in July, 2019 i.e. No. 206 F(P) Course. [03 vacancies are reserved for NCC `C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC Spl. Entry] | 32 |
| 4. Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras)— 110th SSC (Men) Course (NT) commencing in October, 2019. (including 50 vacancies for NCC ‘C’ certificate holders for NCC Spl. Entry) | 225 |
| 5. Officers Training Academy, Chennai—24th SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in October, 2019. | 12 |
CDS II 2018 Eligibility
(A) Nationality
A candidate must be unmarried and must either be:
(i) a Citizen of India, or
(ii) a subject of Bhutan, or
(iii) a subject of Nepal, or
(iv) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
(B) Age Limits, Sex and Marital Status
(i) For IMA—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 1995 and not later than 1st July, 2000 only are eligible.
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy—Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2 nd July, 1995 and not later than 1st July, 2000 only are eligible.
(iii) For Air Force Academy— 20 to 24 years as on 1st July, 2019 i.e. born not earlier than 2nd July, 1995 and not later than 1st July, 1999 (Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 yrs. i.e. born not earlier than 2nd July, 1993 and not later than 1st July, 1999) only are eligible.
Note: Candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises.
(iv) For Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Course for men)
Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 1994 and not later than 1st July, 2000 only are eligible.
(v) For Officers’ Training Academy—(SSC Women Non-Technical Course)
Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have been born not earlier than 2nd July, 1994 and not later than 1st July, 2000.
NOTE : Male divorcee/widower candidates cannot be treated as unmarried male for the purpose of their admission in IMA/INA/AFA courses and accordingly they are not eligible for these courses.
**Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of applications will be accepted by the Commission and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.**
(C) Educational Qualifications
(i) For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy— Degree of a recognised University or equivalent.
(ii) For Indian Naval Academy—Degree in Engineering from a recognised University/Institution.
(iii) For Air Force Academy—Degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering.
Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog upto the last semester / year for which results have been declared upto the time of submission of application and they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of course to reach the IHQ of MoD (Army).
(D) Physical Standards
Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2018 as per guidelines
For detailed information about eligibility clauses, refer to the Official CDS II 2018 Notification here.
CDS II 2018 Application
I. Apply for CDS II 2018
Candidates are required to apply Online using the link www.upsconline.nic.in Detailed instructions for filling up Online Applications are available on the above mentioned website.
Application Link for CDS II 2018 Exam
II. Application Fee
Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using net banking facility of SBI, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/State Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala/State Bank of Travancore or by using Visa/Master Credit/Debit Card.
NOTE: Applicants who opt for “Pay by Cash” mode should print the system generated Pay in-slip during Part-II registration and deposit the fee at the counter of SBI Branch on the next working day only.
III. Application Documents
| Scanned Document in .jpg format | File Size |
| Photograph Scan | 7kB to 40 kB |
| Signature Scan | 5kB to 40 kB |
CDS II 2018 Admit Card
I. For Written Exam
The eligible candidates shall be issued an e-Admit Card three weeks before the commencement of the examination. The e-Admit Card will be made available on the UPSC website [www.upsc.gov.in] for downloading by candidates. No Admit Card will be sent by post.
Admit Card Link to be Updated Here
II. For SSB Process
CANDIDATES WHO HAVE QUALIFIED IN THE WRITTEN EXAM. ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER THEMSELVES ON THE RECRUITING DIRECTORATE WEBSITE WWW.JOININDIANARMY.NIC.IN IN ORDER TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE CALL UP FOR SSB INTERVIEW.
The email ID registered with DG Recruiting Website i.e. www. joinindianarmy.nic.in and that given to UPSC must be same and unique to the applicant.
CDS II 2018 Exam Pattern
A. SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
The Competitive examination comprises:
(a) Written examination
(b) Interview for intelligence and personality test of such candidates as may be called for interview at one of the Services Selection Centres.
Written Examination Details
(a) For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy:—
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
(b) For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy :—
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be equal for each course i.e. the maximum marks allotted to the written examination and to the interviews will be 300, 300, 300 and 200 each for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy respectively.
Other Features of the Exam:
The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only.
The question papers (Test Booklets) of General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set bilingually in Hindi as well as English.
In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the metric system of Weights and Measures only will be set.
Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write answers for them.
The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
The candidates are not permitted to use calculator for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets).
CDS II 2018 Exam Syllabus
I. Standard of the Exam
The standard of the papers in Elementary Mathematics will be of Matriculation level.
The standard of papers in other subjects will approximately be such as may be expected of a graduate of an Indian University.
II. Syllabus for CDS II 2018 Exam
i) English Syllabus (Code No. 01)
The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
ii) General Knowledge Syllabus (Code No. 02)
General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper will also include questions on History of India and Geography of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study.
iii) Elementary Mathematics Syllabus (Code No. 03)
a) Arithmetic
Number System—Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, substraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions. Unitary method, time and distance, time and work, percentages, applications to simple and compound interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, variation. Elementary Number Theory—Division algorithm. Prime and composite numbers. Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Multiples and factors. Factorisation Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.
b) Algebra
Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., Theory of polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered). Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions. Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions. Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one 21 variable & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions and conditional identities, Laws of indices.
c) Trigonometry
Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos × and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° Simple trigonometric identities. Use of trigonometric tables. Simple cases of heights and distances.
d) Geometry
Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on (i) Properties of angles at a point, (ii) Parallel lines, (iii) Sides and angles of a triangle, (iv) Congruency of triangles, (v) Similar triangles, (vi) Concurrence of medians and altitudes, (vii) Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, (viii) Circles and its properties including tangents and normals, (ix) Loci.
e) Mensuration
Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangle and circle. Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book), Surface area and volume of cuboids, lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, surface area and volume of spheres.
f) Statistics
Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc. Measures of central tendency.
CDS II 2018 Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Process)
The SSB procedure consists of two stage Selection process – Stage-I and Stage-II. Only those candidates who clear the Stage-I are permitted to appear for Stage-II.
(a) Stage I Details
Stage I comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).
The candidates will be shortlisted based on combination of performance in OIR Test and PP&DT.
(b) Stage II Details
- Stage II comprises of Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference. These tests are conducted over 4 days. The details of these tests are given on the website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
- The personality of a candidate is assessed by three different assessors viz. The Interviewing Officer (IO), Group Testing Officer (GTO) and the Psychologist.
- There are no separate weightage for each test.
- The marks are allotted by assessors only after taking into consideration the performance of the candidate holistically in all the test.
- In addition, marks for Conference are also allotted based on the initial performance of the Candidate in the three techniques and decision of the Board. All these have equal weightage.
- The various tests of IO, GTO and Psych are designed to bring out the presence/absence of Officer Like Qualities and their trainability in a candidate. Accordingly candidates are Recommended or Not Recommended at the SSB.
For complete details about CDS Examination, refer to the Official CDS II 2018 Notification