The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India for the recruitment of officers into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The selection process for the CDS exam is multi-stage and includes both written and interview assessments.
Stages of the CDS Selection Process
The selection process for the CDS exam typically involves three stages:
1. Written Examination
The first stage of the CDS selection process is the written exam, which is a pen-and-paper-based test. This stage is crucial as it determines if the candidates are eligible to move on to the subsequent stage of the selection process.
Eligibility: The candidate must meet the educational qualifications and age requirements for the specific academy they are applying for.
Subjects: The written exam consists of the following papers:
Cut-off Marks: A candidate must secure a minimum of 20% in each paper and also achieve the required cutoff marks in the overall examination to qualify for the next stage.
2. SSB Interview (Services Selection Board Interview)
Candidates who successfully clear the written examination are invited for the SSB Interview. This stage is conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) and assesses the psychological and physical suitability of candidates for a career in the Indian Armed Forces.
Duration: The SSB interview usually lasts for 5 days.
Stages of SSB Interview:
- Day 1: Screening Test (Includes the OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) and PPDT (Picture Perception and Description Test)) to assess a candidate's suitability. Those who pass are moved to the next stage.
- Day 2-4: Psychological Tests (such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description Test (SDT)). These are designed to evaluate the mental and emotional stability of the candidate.
- Group Testing: Includes tasks like Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Command Task, Final Group Task (FGT), and others to assess the candidate’s leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills.
- Personal Interview (PI): An individual interview to assess the candidate’s personality, motivations, and reasons for joining the Armed Forces.
Final Recommendation: Based on the performance in the various tests, the SSB evaluates candidates and issues a recommendation list for further medical examination and final selection.
3. Medical Examination
After the successful completion of the SSB interview, the next stage is the medical examination, which is conducted at designated military hospitals.
Medical Fitness: Candidates must meet the medical standards laid out by the Armed Forces for the respective academy (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA).
Common Medical Standards: Includes the candidate’s height, weight, vision, hearing, and overall physical fitness. Any medical conditions that might hinder military duties, such as color blindness, physical deformities, or chronic health issues, will lead to disqualification.
Rejection or Clearance: If a candidate passes the medical test, they are eligible for final selection. However, if found unfit, they may appeal for a re-examination.
Final Selection and Merit List
Once the medical examination is cleared, the final merit list is prepared. This list is based on the candidate's performance in the written exam, SSB interview, and medical test. The final merit list will consider the combined marks from the written exam and the SSB interview (with SSB interview marks being more important than the written exam marks).
- Joining Instructions: Candidates who make it to the final list will receive joining instructions for the respective academies (IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA). After the completion of training, they are commissioned as officers into the Indian Armed Forces.
Summary of Stages
The overall selection process for CDS consists of 3 major stages:
- Written Examination: Tests English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.
- SSB Interview: Psychological, physical, and personality assessments.
- Medical Examination: Medical fitness evaluation.
The candidate who successfully completes all these stages and appears in the final merit list will be selected for training at the respective Academy.
Additional Notes
- CDS Examination Frequency: The CDS exam is conducted twice a year, in February and November.
- Age Criteria: The age limit for CDS varies by academy:
- IMA: 19 to 24 years
- INA: 19 to 22 years
- AFA: 19 to 23 years
- OTA: 19 to 25 years
- Training Duration: The duration of training also varies by academy:
- IMA: 1 year
- INA: 3 years
- AFA: 1 year
- OTA: 1 year
This selection process ensures that only the best and most capable candidates are chosen to become officers in the Indian Armed Forces.