CDS 2 2025 Notification and Exam Date

The UPSC has published the CDS 2 2025 notification on May 28, 2025. The CDS 2 2025 exam is scheduled to take place on September 14, 2025. As we gear up for the CDS 2 2025 exam, excitement and anticipation are building among aspiring defence officers across India. The Combined Defence Services examination, conducted by UPSC, is a gateway to prestigious military academies and a career in the armed forces.

We understand the significance of this opportunity and the impact it can have on your future, which is why we’re here to guide you through every step of the process.

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In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover all the essential aspects of CDS 2 2025. We’ll dive into the exam date and schedule, break down the eligibility criteria, and walk you through the application process.

What’s more, we’ll share effective preparation strategies to help you ace the exam. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and confidence you need to tackle this challenge head-on and take a big step towards your dream of serving the nation.

Notification Overview

The CDS 2 2025 exam is the second in the series of CDS examinations conducted by the UPSC during the year. This national-level examination is designed to select the most promising individuals for prestigious defense academies, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

Key Dates for CDS 2 2025

CDS 2 2025 EVENTS	DATES
CDS 2 2025 Application Start Date	28 May 2025
CDS 2 2025 Application Last Date	17 June 2025
CDS 2 2025 Exam Date	14 September 2025 (SUNDAY)
CDS 2 2025 Admit Card Download Date	3 weeks before the exam
CDS 2 2025 Result Date (Expected)	November – December 2025

New Change (Important)

UPSC has brought some new changes in the application process as:

UPSC has launched a new online application portal (https://upsconline.nic.in) with four parts – Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and an Exam-Specific Form.

The first three can be filled anytime, while the exam-specific form can only be filled during the dates mentioned in the exam notice.

The old One Time Registration (OTR) system is no longer valid, so all candidates must register and upload their documents afresh on the new portal. Detailed instructions are available on the homepage and within each section of the portal.

Candidates are advised to read them carefully before starting, prepare their documents in advance, and use their Aadhaar card as ID proof for smooth and easy verification.

Know More: UPSC Introduces New Online Application Portal for Exams

Vacancy Details

The CDS 2 2025 notification has revealed a total of 453 vacancies across various defense academies. The breakdown of these vacancies is as follows:

Academy	Vacancies	Course Details	Commencement Date
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun	100	161st (DE) Course	July 2026
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala	26	Executive Branch	July 2026
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad	32	Pre-Flying Training Course	July 2026
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC Men	276	124th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course	October 2026
Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women	19	38th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC)	October 2026

Eligibility Criteria for CDS 2 2025

As we prepare for the Combined Defence Services examination, it’s crucial to understand the eligibility criteria for CDS 2 2025. These requirements ensure that candidates are well-suited for a career in the armed forces. Let’s break down the key aspects of eligibility.

Nationality

• Candidates must be citizens of India, or
• Candidates must be subjects of Nepal, or
• Candidates must be persons of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia with the intention of permanent settlement.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii), above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Certificate of eligibility will not, however, be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal.

Age Limit

The age limit for CDS 2 2025 varies depending on the specific academy you’re applying to.

Academy	Eligibility	Age Limit	Marital Status
Indian Military Academy (IMA)	Unmarried male candidates	Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2002 and Not Later Than 1st July 2007	Must be unmarried
Indian Naval Academy (INA)	Unmarried male candidates	Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2002 and Not Later Than 1st July 2007	Must be unmarried
Air Force Academy	Unmarried male candidates	Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2002 and Not Later Than 1st July 2006 (Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2000 and Not Later Than 1st July 2006 if holding a Commercial Pilot Licence)	Unmarried below 25 years; married above 25 permitted but with restrictions during training
Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Men)	Unmarried male candidates	Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2002 and Not Later Than 1st July 2007	Must be unmarried
Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical)	Unmarried women, issueless widows, issueless divorcees	Not Born Earlier Than 2nd July 2002 and Not Later Than 1st July 2007	Unmarried, issueless widows, issueless divorcees (with documents)

The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University which must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Secondary School Examination or an equivalent examination certificates.

Educational Qualifications

Candidates vying for the CDS 2 2025 exam must possess a degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. The specific educational requirements vary based on the defense academy they are applying for:

Academy	Educational Requirement	Notes
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun	Degree of a recognized university or equivalent	Final year students can apply if no backlogs
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai	Degree of a recognized university or equivalent	Final year students can apply if no backlogs
Indian Naval Academy	Degree in Engineering from a recognized university/institution	Final year students can apply if no backlogs
Air Force Academy	Degree of a recognized university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering	Final year students can apply if no backlogs

Candidates who are in the final year or semester of their degree course and have not yet passed the final examination are also eligible to apply. However, they must submit proof of having passed the degree examination at the time of commencement of the course. The proof must be sent to the appropriate address based on their first preference, as follows:

For candidates whose first choice is IMA or SSC, the document must be sent to:

Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army),
Recruiting ‘A’, CDSE Entry,
West Block III, R. K. Puram,
New Delhi – 110066.

For candidates whose first choice is the Indian Navy, the document must be sent to:

Naval Headquarters “DMPR” (OI & R Section),
Room No. 204, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhawan,
New Delhi – 110011.

For candidates whose first choice is the Air Force, the document must be sent to:

Directorate of Personnel (Officers),
Kasturba Gandhi Marg,
New Delhi – 110001.
Phone: 23010231, Extn. 7645/7646/7610

The proof of passing the degree examination must be received by the following deadlines:

• For IMA: On or before 1st July 2026
• For Indian Naval Academy: On or before 1st July 2026
• For Air Force Academy: On or before 13th May 2026
• For Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: On or before 1st October 2026

Failure to submit the required proof by the respective deadline will result in cancellation of candidature.

Physical Standards

Meeting the physical standards is crucial for a career in the defence services. For male candidates, the minimum acceptable height is 157.5 cm, with slight variations for different branches (157 cm for Navy and 162.5 cm for Air Force). Female candidates must have a minimum height of 152 cm. These standards ensure that candidates can handle the physical demands of military training and service.

It’s worth noting that there are some relaxations in height requirements for candidates from specific regions. For instance, candidates from the North-Eastern regions, Garhwal, and Kumaon may have a 5 cm relaxation in the minimum height requirement .

Fee

Candidates (excepting SC/ST candidates/female candidates / Wards of JCOs/NCOs/ORs specified in Notification are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 200.

For the applicants in whose case payments details have not been received from the bank, they will be treated as fictitious payment cases and their applications will be rejected in the first instance.

A list of all such applicants shall be made available on the Commission’s website within two weeks after the last day of submission of online application.

The applicants shall be required to submit the proof of their fee payment within 10 days from the date of such communication either by hand or by speed post to the Commission. On receipt of documentary proof, genuine fee payment cases will be considered and their applications will be revived, if they are otherwise eligible.

Application Process

The CDS Application Process is conducted online through the UPSC official website https://upsconline.nic.in., candidates must complete their applications within the specified deadline to avoid disqualification.

Steps to Apply:

Before applying, check the new changes that have been brought as mentioned above.

1. Registration: Visit the official website, https://upsconline.nic.in with four parts – Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and an Exam-Specific Form.
2. Fill Application Form: Provide personal details, educational qualifications, and preferences for the armed forces.
3. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and ID proof.
4. Pay Application Fee: Submit the fee online using debit/credit cards or net banking.
5. Submit Form: Review the details and submit the form.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The CDS 2 2025 examination will consist of three papers: English, General Knowledge (GK), and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper will have a duration of 2 hours, with the exam timings as follows:

Academy	Subject	Code	Duration	Maximum Marks
IMA	English	11	2 Hours	100
	General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100
	Elementary Mathematics	13	2 Hours	100
INA	English	11	2 Hours	100
	General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100
	Elementary Mathematics	13	2 Hours	100
AFA	English	11	2 Hours	100
	General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100
	Elementary Mathematics	13	2 Hours	100
OTA	English	11	2 Hours	100
	General Knowledge	12	2 Hours	100

The syllabus for the CDS 2 2025 exam covers a wide range of topics, including:

Subject	Code	Syllabus
English	01	Designed to test understanding of English and effective use of words.
General Knowledge	02	General knowledge of current events, scientific aspects of everyday life, and basic history and geography.
Elementary Mathematics	03	Arithmetic: Number system, fundamental operations, time & distance, percentages, interest, profit & loss, ratio & proportion. Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm, prime numbers, H.C.F., L.C.M., logarithms. Algebra: Operations, quadratic equations, set theory, laws of indices. Trigonometry: Sine, cosine, tangent, trigonometric identities, heights & distances. Geometry: Lines, angles, triangles, congruency, parallelograms, circles, loci. Mensuration: Areas and volumes of common geometric shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles, cuboids, cylinders, cones, etc.). Statistics: Data collection, graphical representation, measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode).

Candidates are advised to thoroughly prepare for the examination by referring to the official syllabus and practicing previous year’s question papers to familiarize themselves with the exam pattern and the types of questions asked.

Admit Card

The admit card for CDS 2 2025 will be released by UPSC on their official website. Candidates can download the admit card using their registration number or roll number. The admit card will contain important details such as the exam date, time, venue, and instructions for the examination. It is mandatory for candidates to carry the admit card to the exam center along with a valid photo ID proof.

Result

The result of CDS 2 2025 will be declared by UPSC on their official website. Candidates can check their results by entering their roll number or name. The result will display the candidate’s qualifying status, marks will only be published after the final result of CDS 2 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be eligible to appear for the SSB interview.

Candidate Helpline for Assistance

UPSC has set up a dedicated helpline to support candidates during the application process.

• Helpline Number: 011-24041001
• Working Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Working Days: Monday to Friday (except holidays)
• Active From: 28th May 2025
• Active Till: 17th June 2025

Candidates can call this helpline for help with:

• Filling the application form
• Fee payment issues
• Uploading documents
• Any other application-related queries

Selection Process

The selection process for CDS 2 2025 consists of two stages: the written examination and the SSB interview.

• Written Examination: Candidates who qualify the written examination are shortlisted for the SSB interview based on their performance in the exam.
• SSB Interview: The SSB interview is conducted in multiple stages, including psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews. Candidates are assessed on various parameters such as leadership qualities, communication skills, and physical fitness.
• Medical Examination: . This comprehensive check ensures you meet the strict physical and mental fitness standards required for officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
• Final Selection: Based on the combined performance in the written exam and SSB interview, the UPSC will prepare the final selection list and announce the successful candidates.

Preparing for CDS 2 2025: Tips and Strategies

Securing a seat in the prestigious defense academies through the CDS 2 2025 exam requires a well-crafted preparation strategy. Here are some tips and strategies to help aspirants maximize their chances of success:

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Syllabus: Thoroughly understand the CDS 2 2025 syllabus and the weightage assigned to each subject. This will help you prioritize your preparation and allocate your time effectively.
2. Enhance Your English Proficiency: The CDS 2 2025 exam places a strong emphasis on English language skills. Invest time in improving your reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar to excel in the English paper.
3. Strengthen Your General Knowledge: Stay updated with current affairs, historical events, and important developments in science, technology, and Indian polity. Regularly read reputable news sources and reference books to build a strong foundation in GK.
4. Practice Extensively: Solve previous year’s question papers and mock tests to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and the types of questions asked. This will help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and areas that require more attention.
5. Develop a Holistic Approach: In addition to academic preparation, focus on developing your physical fitness, leadership qualities, and problem-solving abilities. These attributes are crucial for success in the SSB interview.
6. Seek Guidance and Mentorship: Connect with experienced defense aspirants, coaching institutes, or UPSC experts to gain valuable insights and strategies for excelling in the CDS 2 2025 exam.

Conclusion

The CDS 2 2025 notification presents a golden opportunity for young aspirants to join the esteemed National Defence Academy and serve the nation with pride. Make sure to carefully read and understand the official notification, fulfill the eligibility criteria, and prepare diligently for the exam. With dedication and hard work, you can pave the way for a successful career in the defence forces. Good luck!

FAQs about CDS 2 2025