UPSC CDS Previous Year Papers

The UPSC CDS, or Union Public Service Commission Combined Defence Services Examination, is a competitive examination in India conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). This article provides UPSC CDS previous year papers that were held in the past. It’s held twice a year and is designed to recruit eligible candidates into the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.

1.UPSC CDS Eligibility

a.) Nationality

• a citizen of India, or
• a subject of Nepal, and
• check the official notification for more details.

b.) Age Limits

• Minimum Age – 20 years
• Maximum Age – 24 years

Note: Candidates 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 the training period they will neither be provided with married accommodation nor can they live with family outside of the premises.

c.) Educational Qualifications

(i) For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai — 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.

d.) Physical Standards

• Check out the official notification for more physical standards details.

2. Fee

• Rs 200 /- (Rupees Two Hundred Only)
• Candidates Female/SC/ST are exempted from the payment of the fees.

3. Scheme of Examination

This competitive examination comprises a written exam and an Interview for intelligence and personality tests.

a.) Written Examination

1.) For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy: —

2.) For Admission to Officers’ Training Academy: —

b.) Syllabus of Examination

Standard

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.

UPSC CDS Syllabus

English (Code No. 11)

The question paper will be designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.

General Knowledge (Code No. 12)

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 the History of India and the Geography of nature which the candidate should be able to answer without special study.

Elementary Mathematics (Code No. 13)

Arithmetic

Number System—Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers. Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, 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

Algebra

Basic Operations, simple factors, Remainder Theorem, H.C.F., L.C.M., Theory of polynomials, solutions of quadratic equations, the 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 variable & their solutions. Set language and set notation, Rational expressions and conditional identities, and Laws of indices.

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.

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.

Mensuration

Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles and circles. Areas of figures that 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.

Statistics

Collection and tabulation of statistical data, Graphical representation frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts, pie charts etc. Measures of central tendency.

UPSC CDS Notification Download

UPSC CDS Previous Year Papers