Combined Defence Services Examination. CDS selects candidates for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Three papers: English (120 Q), Elementary Mathematics (100 Q), and General Knowledge (120 Q), each 120 minutes. Negative marking of 1/3 applies. OTA candidates take English and GK only.
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| # | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | English | 120 | 120 min |
| 02 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 120 min |
| 03 | General Knowledge | 120 | 120 min |
3 papers (OTA: 2 papers). Each paper 100 marks, 120 min. Negative marking: −1/3 per wrong answer. Offline (pen and paper) OMR test. Followed by SSB (Services Selection Board) interview. IMA/INA/AFA: all 3 papers. OTA: English + GK only.
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