UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination Syllabus
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Exam pattern
Written — IMA, INA and Air Force Academy
English (code 11) 100 marks, General Knowledge (code 12) 100 marks and Elementary Mathematics (code 13) 100 marks, each of two hours. All papers are objective type. General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are set in both Hindi and English.
Written — Officers Training Academy
English (code 11) 100 marks and General Knowledge (code 12) 100 marks, each of two hours.
SSB Interview
Carries marks equal to the written examination — 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, 200 for OTA. The Commission may fix qualifying marks at its discretion.
Topic-wise syllabus
English (Code 11)
Designed to test the candidate’s understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.
General Knowledge (Code 12)
General knowledge including current events and matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects, as expected of an educated person who has not specialised in any scientific subject. Also includes questions on the History of India and Geography that a candidate should answer without special study.
Elementary Mathematics (Code 13)
Matriculation standard. Covers Arithmetic (number system and applications), Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics. Not set for the Officers Training Academy.