CDS 2 Notification 2023 - Recruitment for 349 Govt Jobs
Click to get the infographics of CDS 2 Notification 2023 for Eligibility, Vacancy, Apply and Selection Process, Dates, Syllabus, Pattern etc.

Welcome, 'to-be' passionate defenders of our nation, to the electrifying launch of the CDS 2 Notification 2023 blog! Yes, you heard it right - an opportunity to have a fulfilling career in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force is now knocking at your very doorstep. The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the Combined Defence Services 2 Notification 2023 on May 17, 2023. In this blog post, we will provide you with all the necessary details directly from the official notifications. Join us as we navigate through this information step-by-step to help you get your dream job.
Overview of the CDS 2 Notification 2023
Before delving into the contents of the CDS 2 Notification 2023, let's take a brief tour of what your exam journey will entail. We've created a simplified series of infographics just for you. It will consequently provide you with all the essential information you need to be aware of. The images below will not only aid in your exam preparation journey but will also offer you a mind imprinting overview of the whole exam journey.
Now that you've been introduced to the eligibility criteria, How about we brief you about available posts, their salaries, and the total vacancies?
The above infographic has all the information pertaining to the posts, salaries, and total vacancies for the CDS 2 examination in 2023.
Hopefully, each and every step of your application process is now clear to you. Let us now learn about the exam sequence and syllabus for the CDS 2 examination.
Furthermore, we trust that the image above has provided you with a clear understanding of the preparation sequence. Consequently, your initial step is to appear for the written exam, and only upon successfully clearing it can you advance to the next stage, which is the SSB interview.
Please bear in mind that your qualification for the CDS 2 Written Exam is a prerequisite for your eligibility for the SSB Interview.
Now that you are aware of all you need to be prepared for in the CDS examination, let us proceed further.
We hope that the above series of infographics has served its entire purpose for you. The UPSC CDS 2 Exam, which stands for Union Public Service Commission Combined Defence Services Exam, had its official notification for 2023 released on May 17, 2023. Let us now proceed forward to deeply understand all the important content provided under the CDS 2 official notification 2023.
CDS 2 Notification 2023 PDF Out
Since you have a clear roadmap for your CDS2 exam journey, let's proceed with a deep understanding of all the components of the CDS 2 Notification 2023. It's vital to not only understand its table of contents but also delve into each of these sections in detail. Our blog will follow this structured order:
- Eligibility
- Vacancy
- Posts and Salary
- Exam Pattern
- Syllabus
- Marking Scheme
- Marks Normalization
- Important Dates
- Application Process
- Admit Card and Exam Center
Furthermore, the primary objective of this examination is to recruit candidates for various positions, such as the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Naval Academy, and Officer Training Academy. The registration process commenced on May 17, 2023, and applicants had the opportunity to submit their applications by June 6, 2023, until 6 p.m. Further, the UPSC has also released the dates for the CDS 2 Examination 2023, but will cater to this segment later in the blog. So stay tuned and read the entire blog.
Let us begin our exploration by first understanding your eligibility for this particular exam.
CDS 2 Eligibility Criteria 2023
With that in mind, we believe it's a good time for you to review the eligibility criteria for the Combined Defence Services examination, which covers various posts in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Naval Academy, and Officer Training Academy. So for your knowledge, we have discussed below the three major eligibility criteria for the CDS 2 Exam 2023.
Nationality:
- You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or
- You can be a person who migrated from Vietnam, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or
- You can be a migrant from the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia if your intention was to permanently settle in India.
Educational Qualifications:
The educational qualifications vary from post to post. Let us have a clear understanding of that.
- For I.M.A. and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennia: You must possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognized University or equivalent.
- For Indian Naval Academy: You must possess a degree in Engineering from a recognised University or Institution.
- For Air Force Academy: You must possess a degree of a recognised University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering.
However, the above mentioned educational qualifications should be as on 01.08.2024 for IMA and Indian Naval Academy. Moreover, for Officers' Training Academy, Chennai, it should be 01.10.2024 and for Air Force Academy, it should be 13.05.2024.
Age Limit, Sex and Marital Status:
This specific criteria also varies as per the posts:
- For IMA - Unmarried male candidates not born before 2nd July, 2000 and after 1st July, 2005 are eligible.
- For Indian Naval Academy - Unmarried male candidates not born before 2nd July, 2000 and after 1st July, 2005 are eligible.
- For Air Force Academy - Unmarried 20 to 24 years old candidates not born before 2nd July, 2000 and after 1st July, 2004.
- For Officers' Training Academy - (SSC Course for men) unmarried male candidates not born before 2nd July, 1999 and after 1st July, 2005 are eligible.
- For Officers' Training Academy - (SSC Women Non-Technical Course) Unmarried women, or issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees (in possession of divorce documents) who have not remarried are eligible. They should have not been born before 2nd July, 1999 and after 1st July, 2005.
Indeed, we trust that the information conveyed has provided you with all the essential details concerning the eligibility criteria for the CDS 2 Examination in 2023. As you are aware of the eligibility criteria, let's provide you with a brief overview of the vacancies available for the CDS 2 Examination 2023. Know what else the UPSD has to say about CDS 2 eligibility by reading our blog, CDS 2 Exam Eligibility 2023.
CDS 2 Vacancy 2023
As per the official UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2023, the Union Public Service Commission announced a total of 349 vacancies for both male and female candidates. Out of these, 333 vacancies are for males, and the rest are for females.
Course
|
Vacancy
|
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
|
100
|
Indian Naval Academy (INA)
|
32
|
Air Force Academy (AFA)
|
32
|
Officer Training Academy - MEN
|
169
|
Officer Training Academy - WOMEN
|
16
|
TOTAL
|
349
|
In the CDS 2 Exam 2023, candidates have the opportunity to aim for prestigious positions within the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. These positions offer not only a sense of honour and duty but also attractive packages. Let's explore the various posts available and the corresponding salary structures for successful candidates in the CDS 2 Exam 2023.
CDS 2 Posts and Salary 2023
The CDS 2 salary in 2023 is contingent on the officer's rank; with higher ranks comes higher pay. Further, personnel are entitled to additional benefits and incentives tied to their posting location, in addition to the CDS 2 salary in 2023. The CDS 2 salary in 2023 varies from Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500. Refer to the table below for a better understanding.
CDS Ranks
|
Levels
|
Pay in Rs.
|
Military Service Pay
|
Lieutenant
|
Level 10
|
Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500
|
Rs. 15,500
|
Captain
|
Level 10B
|
Rs. 61,300 - Rs. 1,93,900
|
Rs. 15,500
|
Major
|
Level 11
|
Rs. 69,400 - Rs. 2,07,200
|
Rs. 15,500
|
Lt. Colonel
|
Level 12A
|
Rs. 1,21,200 - Rs. 2,12,400
|
Rs. 15,500
|
Colonel
|
Level 13
|
Rs. 1,30,600 - Rs. 2,15,900
|
Rs. 15,500
|
Lt. General
|
Level 15
|
Rs. 1,82,200 - Rs. 2,24,400
|
_
|
HAG + Scale
|
Level 16
|
Rs. 2,05,400 - Rs. 2,24,400
|
_
|
VCOAS/Army CDR/Lt. General (NFSG)
|
Level 17
|
Rs. 2,25,000 (Fixed)
|
_
|
COAS
|
Level 18
|
Rs. 2,25,000 (Fixed)
|
_
|
Also, here are the key allowances and benefits that CDS officers receive:
- Dearness Allowance (DA): It is equivalent to civilian employee DA.
- Uniform Allowance: It is Rs. 20,000 annually.
- Transport Allowance (TA): It is applicable whether using an office or personal vehicle.
- Flying Allowance (FA): Only for Aviation Corps members, Rs. 25,000 per month (only for officers with the rank of Lieutenant and higher).
- Posting/Location Allowances: Additional allowances like Field Area, High Altitude, and Siachen Allowance, are given based on the officer's posting location, in addition to the basic CDS income.
CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2023
Now that you are familiar with the well-paying aspects of this position, let us take a look at the exam pattern for the CDS 2 Exam 2023. This exam will have two levels of conduct. The first level will be a written exam, and the second level will be an interview. Now, let's comprehend some bullet points to gain a better understanding of the exam pattern.
- The question paper will consist of Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions and will be conducted offline.
- There are 3 sections for the posts of IMA, INA and AFA. On the other hand, there are 2 sections for the post of OTA.
- The questions on General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be available in Hindi and English languages.
- Thus, you will be given 2 hours for each section of the test.
Level 1 - Written Exam
Here are the required subjects and important exam details pertaining to these subjects, which are necessary to understand for your successful admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy.
Section
|
Duration
|
Number of Questions
|
Maximum Marks
|
English
|
2 hours
|
120
|
100
|
General Knowledge
|
2 hours
|
120
|
100
|
Elementary Mathematics
|
2 hours
|
100
|
100
|
Now we will discuss the required subjects, total number of questions, maximum marks, and the maximum time allotted for admission to the Officer's Training Academy.
Section
|
Duration
|
Number of Questions
|
Maximum Marks
|
English
|
2 hours
|
120
|
100
|
General Knowledge
|
2 hours
|
120
|
100
|
Level 2 - SSB Interview
Phase 2, or level 2, of the selection process, i.e., the Service Selection Board Interview, is conducted in two stages:
1. OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating Test), PP (Picture Perception), and DT (Description Test).
2. Interviews, group tasks, psychological tests, and conferences
Now, let's delve into the key points about the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview:
Maximum Marks -
- For IMA, INA & AFA - 300 marks
- For OTA - 200 marks
Assessors -
- Three officers will assess the candidate's performance: Interviewing Officer (IO), Psychologist, and Group Testing Officer (GTO).
Weightage -
-
There is no separate weightage assigned to each test. Marks are allocated by assessors after considering the candidate's overall performance in all the tests.
Since the SSB interview is conducted in two stages, let us explain to you each one of them for your better understanding.
SSB - Stage 1
- OIR Test: Moreover, the Official Intelligence Rating test assesses the candidate's general intelligence, logical reasoning, and time management abilities.
- PP and DT: The Picture Perception and Description Test will evaluate the candidate's communication abilities.
SSB - Stage 2
- Interview
- Group Officers Tasks
- Psychology Tests
- Conference
Since you are aware of the exam pattern, it is now important to know about the syllabus in detail, as it guides you towards a more strategic preparation process. Furthermore, refer to our blog, CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2023, to further learn about this section of the blog.
CDS 2 Syllabus 2023
You must first comprehend the exam pattern before learning the subjects for which you must study. And since we are already through with that, it is now crucial to thoroughly understand the syllabus because it directs your study efforts, resource selection, and time management, resulting in a more organised and strategic preparation process. The CDS 2 exam in 2023 covers the following three subjects:
- English
- General Knowledge
- Elementary Mathematics
Let us now understand the intent behind choosing the above mentioned subjects for the CDS recruitment examination:
- In the English section, you will be evaluated on your comprehension of English and its proficient use. The expected level of English proficiency is equivalent to that of a graduate from an Indian University.
- In the General Knowledge section, the questions will be set at a level that aligns with the knowledge expected from an educated individual who has not specialized in scientific subjects. The topics covered in this section include:
- Current events
- Everyday observations
- Scientific aspects as understood by a layperson
- Indian history
- Geography
- In the Elementary Mathematics section, the questions will stick to the standard expected at the Matriculation level. This section may cover topics such as:
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Statistics
For more information, stay tuned to our website, i.e., KD LIVE. Moreover, to learn about the topic wise weightages of these subjects, read our blog, CDS 2 Syllabus 2023.
CDS 2 Marking Scheme 202
Here are the key points regarding the marking scheme for the CDS 2 Examination mentioned under the CDS 2 Notification 2023:
- Each and every question will have four options.
- For every incorrect answer, a deduction of 1/3rd of the assigned mark for that question will be made.
- If multiple choices are marked as answers, the same 1/3rd mark deduction will apply.
- There will be no penalty for leaving questions unattempted.
Now that you have understood the marking scheme for the CDS 2 examination, it is important for you to even understand mark normalisation and the formula used for that.
CDS 2 Marks Normalization 2023
We are here to help you learn about the mark normalisation process. Normalisation is typically used when multiple sessions or shifts are conducted for a particular examination to ensure fairness in the evaluation process. It helps in compensating for any variations in the difficulty levels of different question papers or shifts.
Moreover, the UPSC claims that it employs "statistical moderation by linear transformation wherever considered necessary." Thus, there is no standardised mark normalisation formula followed by the UPSC. We have given you an indepth knowledge about all the things that will help you clear this exam, so how about we now help you out with the basic information like exam dates, the application process, and so on?
CDS 2 Important Dates 2023
Before diving too deep into the preparation mode, just like other aspirants, you must also be curious about important dates pertaining to the CDS 2 examination. And rightly so, it is very important to know the important dates for the UPSC CDS 2 Examination for the year 2023. Thus, for your reference and better understanding, we have provided you with a table below with all the important details as mentioned in its official notification.
Events | Dates |
Notification Release Date | 17 May 2023 |
Last Date to Apply | 6 June 2023 |
Last Date to Submit Fee | 6 June 2023 |
Correction Facility | 7 June 2023 to 13 June 2023 |
Exam Date | 3 September 2023 |
Admit Card |
10 August 2023 |
Well, what should come after knowing the dates of the application process? We are sure that you must now be in search of the CDS 2 application form. So why don't we cater to that in the next segment?
CDS 2 Application Form Link 2023
On the 17th of May 2023, the Union Public Service Commission released the official notification for the CDS 2 examination. Further, the application link will close on 6th June 2023. Make sure you fill in all necessary details correctly to avoid a headache later. You can click on the embedded link to fill out the CDS 2 Application Form for 2023. Now that we have given you the link to where you can apply for the CDS 2 examination in 2023. Let us brief you a little about its application fees.
Application Fees for 2023 CDS 2 Recruitment
The application fee for the CDS 2 exam is Rs. 200, but not everybody is liable to pay that amount. There are some who are exempted from paying the fee. Below is the list of those who are exempt:
- Women candidates
- Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Ex-Servicemen (ESM).
CDS Apply Online - Step by Step Approach
To successfully submit the CDS 2 application form for 2023, kindly follow these steps:
- Visit UPSC's official website.
- Click on the 'One-time registration (OTR) for examinations of UPSC and online application' option on the homepage.
- Select the 'New Registration' option.
- Fill in the required details.
- Enter the security code and click 'Submit'.
- An OTP (one-time password) will be sent to your registered email ID and mobile number.
- Log back into your account, reset the password if necessary, and access the UPSC CDS 2 Application Link.
Please note that these steps are a general guideline, and it's essential to refer to the official UPSC website and the specific CDS 2 Notification 2023 for the most accurate and up-to-date application instructions and deadlines.
CDS 2 Admit Card and Exam Centers 2023
You shall be issued an e-Admit Card three weeks before the commencement of the examination. Moreover, the e-Admit Card will be made available on the UPSC website to download. Remember that no e-Admit Card will be sent by post. Thus, you are required to provide a valid and active email address while filling out the online application form, as the UPSC may use electronic mode for contacting them.
While filling out the online application form (ANS), you need to indicate the examination center(s) for which they intend to appear. Also, the official notification has detailed information regarding the examination centres and the respectiveregionall offices. To get a list of these centres in detail, you can click on the embedded link.
We hope that this blog was informative and has offered you a sense of clarity regarding the CDS 2 Notification 2023. Additionally, we will keep updating you through our blog page on KD Live. We wish you all the best for your future endeavours and a fruitful journey ahead.
CDS 2 Notification 2023 FAQs
When was the official notification for the CDS 2 Examination for the year 2023 released?
The official notification for CDS 2 Exam 2023 was released on 17 May 2023.
When can I apply for the CDS 2 Exam 2023?
The application form was released on 17th May and was active till 6th June 2023 for the CDS 2 Exam 2023 by UPSC.
When is the CDS 2 Exam for the year 2023?
The Combined Defence Services 2 Exam for the year 2023 was held on 3 September 2023.
How many vacancies were released in the CDS 2 official notification 2023?
A total of 349 vacancies were released in the CDS 2 official notification 2023.
How many ranks are there in CDS?
The list of all the ranks under CDS are given below in the table:
Lieutenant
|
Captain
|
Major
|
Lt. Colonel
|
Colonel
|
Lt. General
|
HAG + Scale
|
VCOAS/Army CDR/Lt. General (NFSG)
|
COAS
|
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