Combined Defense Services Exams


Combined Defence Service Exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission as part of the recruitment in Military, Naval and Air Force Services. The exam is conducted twice a year, usually during November and February. Female are recruited for Non-technical services and unmarried men are for the others services.

Why to Take the Combined Defence Service Exam?

The exam is aimed by candidates to join in the courses in respective academies – Indian Military Academy or Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy. Women candidates are eligible for Officers Training Academy, Chennai, for women and for Non-Technical Courses. Clearing the exam is the eligibility for the Intelligence and Personality test conducted by Services Selection Board. After the completion of courses, candidates are recruited in respective fields.

Combined Defence Service Exam Eligibility

The age eligibility for Indian Military Academy and for Indian Naval Academy is 18 to 23 years. For Air Force Academy, it is 20 to 24 and for Officer’s Training Academy, it is 18 to 24 years. For women candidates, age eligibility is 18 to 24.

The Male and Female candidates are expected to be unmarried except for Air Force Academy. Male candidates who are divorcee or widower are not eligible. Women who are not remarried without any issue considered as eligible.

Degree is the educational qualification for Indian Military Academy and Officer’s Training Academy. Degree in Engineering is required for Indian Naval Academy. Degree with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or Bachelor of Engineering is required for Air Force Academy. Final Year candidates are also eligible for attempting the exam.

Candidates are expected to be physically fit and meet the physical standards.

Combined Defence Service Exam structure

Examination is conducted in objective type. Major subjects tested are English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Each subject carry 100 marks each and the total marks are 300. For Officers’ Training Academy, only English and General Knowledge are tested for 200 marks. The standard of the Elementary Mathematics is Matriculation level and of other subjects is of Graduation. The duration of the exam is 2 hours for each subject. There is negative marking for wrong answers.

How to Apply Combined Defence Service Exam

Candidates have to apply only through online registration from official website. Two stages process is followed to apply. Candidate must be ready with the scanned copy of passport sized photograph duly signed and valid email address before filling the application. Fee must be paid through online payment mode or Pay by Cash, which provides Pay- in- slip that should be deposited on the next working day itself. Eligible Candidates get e-Admit Card three weeks before the exam date to the mentioned email address.

How to Prepare Combined Defence Service Exam

Reading English news paper not only enhances the knowledge of English but also general knowledge. Listening to radio and watching news in T.V. also help in doing so. Several publications provide the subject materials for better guidance. Mathematics covers the topics like Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry, Arithmetic etc. Revising the High school Mathematic text book is advisable.

Practice papers are available in market through several publications and even in several online websites. Websites also provide mock tests. Practicing the previous papers and taking mock tests improve the knowledge on questioning pattern and also improve the time management.

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