New Delhi, March 28, 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the timetable for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 Examination 2025, which is scheduled to be conducted on April 13, 2025. The exam will be held in three shifts across various centers.
UPSC CDS (1) 2025 Timetable
✅ Shift 1: English Paper – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
✅ Shift 2: General Knowledge Paper – 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
✅ Shift 3: Elementary Mathematics Paper – 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Important Details for Candidates
- Purpose of the Exam:
The UPSC CDS examination is conducted for admission to the following academies:- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
- Number of Vacancies:
This year, the exam is being conducted to fill 457 vacancies across all academies. - Paper Requirement for Different Academies:
- Candidates applying for IMA, INA, and AFA must appear for all three papers—English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
- Candidates applying for OTA need to attempt only English and General Knowledge papers.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus
- Objective-Type Questions:
All papers will consist of objective-type questions. - Bilingual Question Papers:
The question papers for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be set in both Hindi and English. - Metric System Usage:
Wherever applicable, questions will use the metric system of weights and measures.
Standard of Examination
- English Paper:
Designed to assess candidates’ understanding of English language and their ability to use words effectively. - General Knowledge Paper:
Covers current events, matters of everyday observation, and general knowledge in scientific aspects. It will also include questions on the History of India and Geography. - Elementary Mathematics Paper:
The questions will be set at the Matriculation (Class 10) level.
Prohibited Practices During the Exam
🚫 Candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering objective-type papers.
🚫 Scribes are not allowed for any candidate during the CDS examination.
How to Check Exam Notification and Syllabus
For a detailed syllabus and other information, candidates can visit the official UPSC website:
➡️ upsc.gov.in
Candidates are advised to stay updated with the official website for further notifications and instructions regarding the examination.