The CDS 2026 written exam syllabus covers up to three papers depending on the academy. OTA candidates write only English and GK. IMA, INA, and AFA candidates additionally write Elementary Mathematics. All papers are at broadly Class 10+2 standard.
Paper-Wise Syllabus
| Paper | Applicable For | Marks | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | All Academies (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) | 100 | Spotting Errors, Sentence Arrangement, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms, Antonyms, Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Idioms & Phrases, Ordering of Sentences |
| General Knowledge | All Academies (IMA, INA, AFA, OTA) | 100 | Current Events, History of India & Freedom Movement, Geography (India + World), Indian Polity & Constitution, Economy, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Sports, Awards, Important Dates |
| Elementary Mathematics | IMA, INA, AFA only (NOT OTA) | 100 | Arithmetic: Number System, LCM/HCF, Percentage, SI/CI, Time & Distance, Work; Algebra: Quadratic Equations; Trigonometry: Ratios, Heights & Distances; Geometry: Lines, Angles, Circles; Mensuration: Area, Volume; Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode |
GK Subject-Wise Breakdown
- History & Freedom Movement (20%): Ancient, Medieval, Modern Indian History; key leaders and events of the Independence Movement
- Geography (20%): Physical Geography of the world; India's rivers, climate, soil, resources; important world physical features
- Polity & Constitution (15%): Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Parliament, Judiciary, President's powers, Panchayati Raj
- Defence & Science (15%): Recent defence acquisitions, space missions, scientific discoveries, technology developments
- Economy (10%): Budget basics, government schemes, fiscal policy, GDP concepts
- Current Affairs (20%): National and international events of the past 12 months, sports, awards, government schemes
English Focus Areas
- Grammar: Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Voice, Narration
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One Word Substitution, Idioms & Phrases
- Comprehension: Passage-based questions (inferential + factual)
- Sentence Skills: Error Spotting, Para Jumbles, Ordering of Sentences