UPSC CDS 2025 Syllabus PDF - Download Latest UPSC CDS Syllabus for All Subjects

UPSC CDS 2025 Syllabus

UPSC CDS Syllabus for the CDS 1 exam 2025 includes subjects such as English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CDS 2025 exam calendar. The CDS 1 exam 2025 is scheduled for April 13, 2025. Students who wish to appear for the CDS exam 2025 must take note of the syllabus and eligibility criteria for UPSC CDS 2025. UPSC conducts the CDS exam, also known as the Combined Defence Services exam twice a year to recruit able candidates for the Indian Military, Air Force, and Navy.

Students should know that through the UPSC CDS 2025 exam, able candidates are recruited for the Officer's Training Academy (OTA) as well. Both men and women can apply for the CDS OTA examination. The UPSC CDS Exam Pattern for the CDS OTA exam is slightly different from the other CDS examinations. Students must be thoroughly familiar with the syllabus for CDS if they wish to sit for the CDS 1 exam in the upcoming academic year. Scroll through this page to look at the detailed syllabus for CDS, OTA CDS syllabus, exam pattern, and much more.

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025: English

Check out the topics covered under the CDS English section syllabus:

• Spotting Errors Questions
• Sentence Arrangement Questions
• Synonyms & Antonyms
• Selecting Words
• Ordering of Sentence
• Comprehension Questions
• Ordering of Words in a Sentence
• Fill in the Blanks Questions
• Idioms and Phrases

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025: Elementary Mathematics

The detailed syllabus for CDS 2025 Mathematics section is given below:

• Arithmetic: Number System, Natural numbers, Rational and Real numbers, Integers, Square roots, Decimal fractions, Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Unitary method, time and distance, ratio and proportion, variation, time and work, percentages, applications to simple and compound interest, profit and loss.

• Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm. Prime and composite numbers, Euclidean algorithm, Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 11, Multiples and factors, and Factorisation Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Logarithms to base 10, use of logarithmic tables, laws of logarithms.

• Algebra: Basic Operations, H.C.F., L.C.M., simple factors, Remainder Theorem, Theory of polynomials, Laws of indices, 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. Rational expressions and conditional identities, 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.

• Trigonometry
  • cosine ×, Sine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°, cos × and tan ×.
  • Simple cases of heights and distances
  • Use of trigonometric tables
  • Simple trigonometric identities
• Geometry: Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Congruency of triangles, Theorems on Properties of angles at a point, Properties of angles, Parallel lines, Sides and angles of a triangle, Similar triangles, sides, and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle, and square, Concurrence of medians and altitudes, Loci, Circles and its properties including tangents and normals.

• Mensuration: Areas of squares, rectangles, lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders, triangle and circle, parallelograms. Areas of figures can be split up into these figures (Field Book), Surface area and volume of cuboids, surface area and volume of spheres.

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

UPSC CDS Syllabus 2025: General Knowledge

UPSC CDS syllabus 2025 for General Knowledge is given as follows:

• Economics
• Physics
• Current Affairs
• Politics
• Chemistry
• Sociology
• History
• Defense-related Award
• Geography
• Environment
• Sport
• Biology
• Cultural
• Book
• Statement
• True and False

UPSC CDS Syllabus OTA

As a UPSC CDS aspirant, you should be aware that the exam pattern for the CDS exam is different for the OTA CDS exam and other CDS exams, such as IMA, INA, and AFA. As for the OTA CDS syllabus, questions from English and General Knowledge are asked in the CDS entrance exam. Students can check out the detailed syllabus for CDS exam as follows:

OTA CDS Syllabus: English

Students must work hard to score good marks in the English section of the CDS exam to secure a good rank. Check out the detailed syllabus for the English section for CDS 2025 as follows:

• Sentence Arrangement
• Spotting Error
• Selecting Words
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Comprehension
• Ordering of Sentence
• Ordering of Words
• Idioms and Phrases
• Fill up the Blanks

OTA CDS Syllabus: General Ability Test 

The last section for the OTA CDS 2025 exam is the General Ability or the General Knowledge section. Check out the list of topics frequently asked in the CDS exam from the General Knowledge section:

• Current Affairs
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Geography
• History
• Politics
• Sociology
• Economics
• Defence Related Awards
• Sports and Culture
• Environmental Science