Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year to select officers for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Candidates undergo service-specific training and are commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

Official 2025 syllabus extracted from https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notifi-CDSE-I-2025-Engl-11122024.pdf

English

Understanding of English and workman-like use of words

General Knowledge

Current events

Everyday observation and experience in scientific aspect

History of India

Geography of India

Elementary Mathematics: Arithmetic

Natural numbers

Integers

Rational and real numbers

Fundamental operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

Square roots

Decimal fractions

Number System

Time and distance

Time and work

Percentages

Simple and compound interest

Profit and loss

Ratio and proportion

Variation

Unitary Method and Applications

Division algorithm

Prime and composite numbers

Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11

Multiples and factors

Factorisation theorem

HCF and LCM

Euclidean algorithm

Logarithms to base 10

Laws of logarithms

Use of logarithmic tables

Elementary Number Theory

Elementary Mathematics: Algebra

Basic operations, simple factors

Remainder theorem

Theory of polynomials

Solutions of quadratic equations

Relation between roots and coefficients (real roots only)

Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns: analytical and graphical solutions

Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables

Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations / inequations / quadratic equations

Set language and set notation

Rational expressions and conditional identities

Laws of indices

Algebra

Elementary Mathematics: Trigonometry

Sine, cosine, tangent for 0° < θ < 90°

Values of sin θ, cos θ, tan θ for θ = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°

Simple trigonometric identities

Use of trigonometric tables

Heights and distances (simple cases)

Trigonometry

Elementary Mathematics: Geometry

Lines and angles

Plane and plane figures

Properties of angles at a point

Parallel lines

Sides and angles of a triangle

Congruency of triangles

Similar triangles

Concurrence of medians and altitudes

Properties of angles, sides and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square

Circles and properties including tangents and normals

Loci

Geometry

Elementary Mathematics: Mensuration

Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangle and circle

Areas of composite 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

Mensuration

Elementary Mathematics: Statistics

Collection and tabulation of statistical data

Graphical representation: frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts

CDS Syllabus 2025, 2026 and more: Subjects, Topics, and What to Study