Latest update — 6 October 2026
This guide supports CDS 2026–27 preparation using the latest published CDS II scheme and official papers. CDS I 2027 is provisionally scheduled for 11 April; its notification is planned for 2 December 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest examination | CDS II 2026, held 13 September |
| Next calendar date | CDS I 2027, 11 April; tentative |
| Current syllabus reference | CDS II 2026 official notification; recheck the next notification |
| Academy choice | OTA uses English and GK; IMA/INA/AFA also require Mathematics |
What to use for the current session
Use the most recent official syllabus and the actual question papers for practice. Keep academy-specific eligibility and paper combinations together. The 2027 calendar supplies planning dates; it does not confirm new vacancies or carry forward birth-date cut-offs.
Official notification and syllabus PDF
Detailed guide: CDS 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Detailed guide: CDS General Knowledge Preparation 2026–27: Syllabus & Revision
CDS official detailed notification and Appendix I
CDS written papers at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| IMA, INA and AFA | English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; 100 marks and 2 hours for each paper |
| OTA | English and General Knowledge only; 100 marks and 2 hours each |
| Question format | Objective; GK and Mathematics booklets are in Hindi and English |
| Wrong-answer penalty | One-third of the marks assigned to the question; no penalty for a blank answer |
Related guides and official practice papers
Current CDS eligibility · Complete examination pattern · Subject syllabus · Official previous-paper library.
Choose the correct year, session and subject. An official question paper is not automatically an answer key. Keep coaching explanations separate from UPSC-issued keys, and do not carry an old application deadline into a future study plan.
English checklist
Use official papers to test comprehension, grammar in context, vocabulary and accurate use of words. Keep a list of recurring errors with an example sentence and correction. These are study categories derived from the syllabus purpose; UPSC does not promise a fixed number of questions in each category.
General Knowledge checklist
Cover Indian history, geography, current events and everyday scientific understanding. For each current event, connect the news to a underlying concept rather than memorising an isolated headline. The official syllabus does not prescribe one fixed current-affairs look-back window.
Mathematics checklist
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Number systems, operations, percentages, ratio, interest, time/work/distance |
| Number theory and algebra | Divisibility, HCF/LCM, logarithms, polynomials, equations, inequalities and indices |
| Trigonometry and geometry | Ratios, identities, heights/distances, lines, triangles, quadrilaterals and circles |
| Mensuration | Areas, surface areas and volumes of specified figures and solids |
| Statistics | Tables, graphs and measures of central tendency |
Turn the checklist into a study record
Mark each topic as not started, concept reviewed, untimed practice completed or timed practice reviewed. A topic is not mastered merely because a video has been watched. Return to repeated mistakes and use mixed papers to test whether you can recognise which method applies.
Where the checklist stops
Read Appendix I for the full detailed scope. Medical standards, eligibility and SSB assessment are separate requirements; a syllabus checklist cannot determine those. For the next cycle, compare the new official syllabus before assuming there are no changes.
2027 session planning
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CDS I / NDA I notification | 2 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I application deadline | 22 December 2026 |
| CDS I / NDA I examination | 11 April 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II notification | 12 May 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II application deadline | 1 June 2027 |
| CDS II / NDA II examination | 19 September 2027 |
The calendar provides dates. The next notification must establish its vacancies, eligibility cut-offs and application rules.
Related preparation resources
CDS previous-year papers · CDS syllabus checklist · 3- and 6-month study plans · CDS cut-off guide. Begin with the academy-specific paper combination, then practise official questions under each paper’s time limit.
Official sources
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a preparation plan guarantee selection?
No. Written qualification, SSB, medical suitability, eligibility and available vacancies all matter.
Is Mathematics required for OTA?
Not in the OTA written examination. Candidates seeking IMA, INA or AFA take it under the cited scheme.
Can I use the same rules for a later examination?
Use this as preparation guidance and recheck the notification for the actual session you enter.