CDS Selection Process 2024, Written Exam and Interview

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is a pivotal process for those aspiring to join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as commissioned officers. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers this examination. The CDS selection process involves two primary stages: the written examination and the SSB (Service Selection Board) interview. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricate details of the CDS selection process for 2024.

Overview of CDS Selection Process 2024

Name of the Exam: Combined Defence Services (CDS)
Conducting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Conducted in A Year: Twice
Mode of Examination: Offline
Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Medium: Hindi or English
Number of Questions:

• IMA/INA/AFA: 300
• OTA: 200
  Time Duration: 2 hours for each paper
  Negative Marking: Yes (1/3rd deducted for every wrong answer)

Stages of CDS Selection Process

1. Written Examination: Candidates must first participate in a written examination.
2. SSB Interview: Successful candidates from the written exam will proceed to the SSB interview stage.
3. Medical Verification: Following the SSB interview, candidates will undergo a medical examination to verify their medical fitness.

Table: Overview of CDS Written Exam Pattern

Academy	Subjects	Duration	Maximum Marks
IMA/INA/AFA	English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics	2 hours each	300
OTA	English, General Knowledge	2 hours each	200

CDS Written Examination

The written examination is the first stage of the CDS selection process. It includes different papers depending on the academy preference of the candidate.

IMA, INA, AFA Written Exam Pattern

The written test for IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), and AFA (Air Force Academy) includes three papers:

1. English
2. General Knowledge
3. Elementary Mathematics

Each paper is objective type and lasts for two hours. The marks distribution and duration for each paper are as follows:

Subject	Maximum Marks	Duration
English	100	2 hours
General Knowledge	100	2 hours
Elementary Mathematics	100	2 hours

OTA Written Exam Pattern

For candidates opting for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), the written exam comprises two papers:

1. English
2. General Knowledge

Each paper is also objective type and lasts for two hours.

Subject	Maximum Marks	Duration
English	100	2 hours
General Knowledge	100	2 hours

Negative Marking

There is a penalty for wrong answers. One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted for every incorrect response. If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer, even if one of the given answers happens to be correct.

SSB Interview Process

Candidates who qualify in the written examination will be invited to the SSB interview. This interview process is rigorous and spans over multiple days, testing various aspects of a candidate’s personality and abilities.

Stages of SSB Interview

The SSB interview consists of two stages:

1. Stage 1: Screening Test
   • Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)
   • Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT)
2. Stage 2: Detailed Assessment
   • Psychological Tests
   • Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
   • Personal Interview
   • Conference

Stage 1: Screening Test

Day 1: The initial phase of the SSB interview is designed to screen out candidates who do not meet the basic requirements.

• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR): This test assesses the candidate’s basic intelligence.
• Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT): Candidates are shown a picture and asked to write a story based on their perception. This is followed by a group discussion on the picture.

Stage 2: Detailed Assessment

Candidates who clear the Stage 1 screening proceed to Stage 2, which includes several days of comprehensive testing.

Day 2: Psychological Tests

The psychological test is crucial and involves the following components:

1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Candidates write stories based on pictures shown to them.
2. Word Association Test (WAT): Candidates respond to words shown to them with the first thought that comes to mind.
3. Situation Reaction Test (SRT): Candidates write their reactions to various hypothetical situations.
4. Self Description Test (SDT): Candidates describe themselves through various perspectives (e.g., how friends, family, and themselves see them).

Day 3 & 4: Group Testing (GTO Tasks)

The GTO tasks assess the candidates’ ability to work in a team and their leadership skills. These tasks include:

• Group Discussion: Topics of current affairs or abstract concepts are discussed in groups.
• Group Planning Exercise: Candidates are given a situation and need to plan collectively to solve it.
• Progressive Group Tasks (PGT): Series of obstacles that the group must navigate together.
• Half Group Tasks: Similar to PGT but with fewer group members.
• Individual Obstacles: Candidates navigate a set of obstacles individually.
• Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race): A competitive group activity involving obstacles.
• Command Task: Each candidate commands a group to solve a task.
• Lecturette: Candidates deliver a short lecture on a given topic.
• Final Group Task: One final task involving all group members.

Day 5: Conference

The final day involves a conference where all assessors review the candidates’ performance. Each candidate may be asked a few questions to clarify certain aspects of their performance.

SSB Interview: Scoring and Assessment

The SSB interview is scored out of a total of 300 marks for OTA candidates and 200 marks for IMA, INA, and AFA candidates. The interview process assesses intelligence, personality, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for a career in the armed forces.

Medical Examination

Candidates who clear the SSB interview undergo a detailed medical examination to ensure they meet the medical standards required for military service. This examination includes:

• General physical check-up
• Vision and hearing tests
• Blood and urine tests
• X-rays
• ECG (for certain candidates)

Female candidates will have a Medical Board that includes female medical officers and specialists.

Disqualification Criteria

Certain conditions disqualify candidates from being selected. These include:

• Previous dismissal from military academies due to misconduct.
• Voluntarily leaving an academy due to lack of Officer-Like Qualities (OLQ).
• Withdrawal from training due to lack of OLQ.
• Previous rejections from academies on medical grounds if the issue persists.

After CDS Selection

Training Academies

Candidates who successfully pass the selection process are sent to the respective training academies:

1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officer Training Academy (OTA):
   • Training Duration: 18 months (IMA)
   • Cadets receive a stipend of INR 56,100 during training.
   • Commissioned as Lieutenant upon successful completion.
2. Indian Naval Academy (INA):
   • Training Duration: Approximately 18 months.
   • Cadets are under probation during initial training.
   • Commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant upon successful completion.
3. Air Force Academy (AFA) – Flying Branch (Pilots):
   • Training Duration: 74 weeks.
   • Prepares candidates for roles in the flying branch.

Table: Post-Selection Training Details

Academy	Stipend	Training Duration	Rank Upon Commission
IMA	INR 56,100	18 months	Lieutenant
OTA	INR 56,100	18 months	Lieutenant
INA	Probation Period	~18 months	Sub-Lieutenant
AFA (Pilots)	As per AFA policies	74 weeks	Flying Officer

Responsibilities and Roles

Upon completion of training, candidates take on roles as officers in their respective branches, fulfilling duties that include leading troops, managing resources, and executing military operations.

Conclusion

The CDS selection process is a rigorous and comprehensive assessment designed to identify and train the next generation of officers for the Indian Armed Forces. With a combination of written exams, interviews, and medical evaluations, the process ensures that only the most capable and dedicated candidates are selected. Understanding the detailed steps and preparing thoroughly for each stage can significantly enhance a candidate’s chances of success in the CDS examination.

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