📝 UPSC CDS 2026 – Army Entry Overview

Balasahana Suresh
The Combined Defence services (CDS) Exam is conducted by the Union Public service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. Candidates selected can join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), air Force Academy (AFA), and Naval Academy (NA).

Since your focus is on joining the Army, the main path is via IMA.

📚 CDS Exam Structure for army (IMA)

The CDS exam for the Indian Army consists of two written papers and a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview:

1️⃣ Written Examination

For Army/IMA, the written exam has two papers:

Paper

Duration

Marks

Subjects

English

2 hours

100

English comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion

General Knowledge

2 hours

100

Current affairs, history, geography, polity, science, environment, economics

Note: Mathematics paper is only for nda and Naval/IAF entries, not for Army/IMA via CDS.

2️⃣ Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview

  • Conducted after clearing the written exam.
  • Duration: 4–5 days
  • Tests include:
    • Psychological Tests: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
    • Group Testing: Group discussion, group planning exercise, outdoor leadership tasks
    • Personal Interview
    • Medical Examination
Clearing the SSB is mandatory for army commission.

🧠 Syllabus Breakdown for CDS 2026 (Army Entry)

1. English

  • Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word substitution
  • Grammar: Error spotting, Sentence correction, Fill in the blanks
  • Comprehension: Reading passages, answering questions, precise writing
  • Common themes: Official/army-related terminology
2. General Knowledge

  • History: Modern indian history, Freedom Struggle, World history basics
  • Geography: Physical, indian, and World Geography basics
  • Polity: indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Parliament
  • Economics: Basics of indian economy, budget, planning, current affairs
  • Science & Technology: Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics, recent developments
  • Current Affairs: National & international events, defence news, awards, government schemes
  • Environment & Ecology: Biodiversity, pollution, climate change
Focus on understanding concepts rather than rote memorization.

📌 Recommended Books & Resources

Subject

Books/Resources

English

Wren & Martin (Grammar), Word Power Made Easy (Vocabulary), NCERT 9–10 English

History

NCERT 6–12 history, Spectrum Modern History

Geography

NCERT 6–12 Geography, GC Leong Physical Geography

Polity

M. Laxmikanth “Indian Polity”

Economics

NCERT 11–12, Ramesh Singh (Basics)

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

The Hindu/Indian Express (Daily), Yearbook 2026, PIB updates

📅 Preparation Tips

Plan a Study Schedule: 2–3 hours daily for GK + 1 hour for English.

Focus on Past Papers: Solve at least 5–10 years of CDS papers.

Current Affairs: Make short notes of important defence, national, and international events.

Mock Tests: Take online CDS mock tests for speed and accuracy.

SSB Preparation: Practice communication skills, leadership, confidence-building, and mental aptitude tests.

Medical & Fitness: Keep physically fit; army entry requires strict medical standards.

🏋️ Physical Fitness Requirement (Army/IMA)

  • Height: Minimum 157.5 cm
  • Chest: 81 cm (expansion 5 cm)
  • Running / Endurance: Must be able to run 2.4 km in ~15 min
  • Push-ups / Sit-ups / Pull-ups: Basic tests during SSB and medical check-up
  • Vision & Hearing: 6/6 distant vision (may allow minor correction for some entries)
Physical fitness is as important as academic preparation.

 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.

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