Introduction
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of India’s most prestigious exams for entry into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The General Knowledge (GK) and General Studies (GS) section of the General Ability Test (GAT) plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s overall score and merit position. This section tests not only factual knowledge but also the candidate’s understanding of current events, science, history, geography, polity, economy, and defence-related affairs. The following structured five-month plan—from October 2025 to February 2026—is designed to help aspirants build a strong foundation, master key topics, and achieve maximum marks in the GK & GS section of CDS 1 2026.
🎯 1. Exam Overview (GK + GS)
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Paper Name | General Knowledge (Part of GAT) |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Question Type | Objective (MCQs) |
| Level | Graduation level with NCERT foundation |
| Medium | English & Hindi |
🧭 2. Detailed GK + GS Pattern
| Topic Area | Weightage (Approx.) | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 20–25% | National & International events, Sports, Awards, Defence exercises, Govt Schemes |
| History | 15–20% | Freedom struggle, Important movements, British policies, Ancient & Medieval culture |
| Geography | 15% | Indian & World Geography, Climate, Physical features, Agriculture, Environment |
| Polity | 10–15% | Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Parliament, President, PM, Important Amendments |
| Economy | 10% | Basic concepts, Budget, Economic terms, Government schemes |
| Science | 15–20% | Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Class 6–10 level), space, tech & defence science |
| Miscellaneous/Static GK | 5–10% | Books, Sports, Defence HQs, Organizations, Important Days |
📚 3. Recommended Books & Sources
🏛️ Static GK & GS
| Subject | Source |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge (All-in-One) | Lucent’s General Knowledge (Latest Edition) |
| History | Spectrum – A Brief History of Modern India + NCERT (6–12) |
| Geography | NCERT (Class 9–12) + Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong |
| Polity | M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity (selected chapters) |
| Economy | NCERT Class 11–12 + Ramesh Singh (selected topics) |
| Science | NCERT Science (6–10) + Lucent Science section |
| Environment & Ecology | Shankar IAS Book (selective reading) |
🌍 Current Affairs
- Monthly Magazines: Vision IAS / AffairsCloud / GKToday / StudyIQ Monthly PDFs
- Newspapers: The Hindu or The Indian Express (focus on national, defence, and economy)
- Websites: PIB, DD News, DefenceAdda247, SSBCrackExams
- YouTube: Channels for Daily Current Affairs revision (Drishti IAS, StudyIQ Defence, etc.)
🗓️ 4. Month-Wise Study Plan (Oct 2025 – Feb 2026)
📅 October 2025 – Foundation Phase
Goal: Build strong NCERT base and start current affairs.
Tasks:
- Read NCERT 6–10 Science, History & Geography (2 chapters/day).
- Start Lucent GK → 2 chapters per week.
- Begin Current Affairs from June–October 2025.
- Create short notes for History & Geography.
Weekly Target:
- History (Ancient + Medieval basics)
- Science (Physics & Biology basics)
- 1 Monthly Current Affairs PDF
📅 November 2025 – Concept Strengthening
Goal: Deepen subject knowledge & link static + current topics.
Tasks:
- Start Spectrum Modern History (2–3 chapters/week).
- Polity: Laxmikanth (Union Govt, Parliament, Rights, President).
- Geography: Indian rivers, soils, monsoon, world climate zones.
- Current Affairs: July–November 2025.
Weekly Target:
- 1 Mock Test (GS only).
- 1 Sunday revision of week’s notes.
📅 December 2025 – Comprehensive Coverage
Goal: Complete syllabus & integrate static + dynamic learning.
Tasks:
- Polity (Citizenship, Amendments, Local Govt).
- Economy (Budget, Inflation, GDP, Schemes).
- Science (Physics, Chemistry, Tech & Defence).
- Current Affairs: Aug–Dec 2025.
- Start Shankar IAS Environment (important chapters).
Weekly Target:
- 2 mock tests/week.
- Revise previous NCERT notes.
📅 January 2026 – Revision + Mock Phase
Goal: Strengthen memory & time management.
Tasks:
- Revise all major subjects through short notes.
- Focus on Polity, History, Current Affairs (high-weightage areas).
- Current Affairs: Sept 2025 – Jan 2026.
- Attempt previous year GK papers (2018–2025).
Weekly Target:
- 3 full-length GK mock tests.
- Analyze mistakes and revise weak topics.
📅 February 2026 – Final Touch & Quick Revision
Goal: Brush-up and consolidate for exam day.
Tasks:
- Last 6 months Current Affairs (Aug 2025 – Feb 2026).
- Quick read-through Lucent GK one-liners.
- Revise Spectrum & Polity notes.
- Practice 5 previous CDS GK papers under timed conditions.
Final 10 Days:
- Focus on defence news, government schemes, important days, recent awards.
- Avoid new topics; emphasize accuracy.
🗓️ 5. Sample Weekly Study Schedule
| Day | Morning (2 hrs) | Afternoon (2 hrs) | Evening (1 hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Polity (Laxmikanth) | Geography (NCERT) | Current Affairs |
| Tue | History (Spectrum) | Science (NCERT) | Revise Lucent facts |
| Wed | Economy basics | Polity Revision | Practice MCQs |
| Thu | Geography (World) | History (Freedom Struggle) | CA notes update |
| Fri | Environment (Shankar IAS) | Polity + History Test | Revise test |
| Sat | Static GK topics | Defence & Misc GK | Newspaper summary |
| Sun | Full revision + Weekly Mock Test | – | Rest/Analysis |
💡 6. Final Tips for GK + GS
- Revise Lucent & NCERTs repeatedly — 60% of CDS GK questions come from here.
- Focus more on Current Affairs (6–8 months before exam).
- Attempt PYQs (Previous Year Questions) — topics and question styles repeat.
- Make concise handwritten notes for the final month.
- Use one or two reliable sources only — avoid confusion with too many materials.
- Simulate real exam conditions while attempting mocks in January–February.
🏁 7. Conclusion
Success in the CDS GK + GS paper depends on discipline, revision, and smart selection of sources. This 5-month plan strategically blends NCERT fundamentals, Lucent summaries, and Current Affairs updates to ensure well-rounded preparation. If followed with consistency and regular mock testing, this plan can help you achieve 70+ marks in the GK section, strengthening your overall CDS 1 2026 performance and bringing you closer to your goal of joining the Indian Armed Forces.
