UPSC
Last Updated: January 2026
UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination Syllabus & Pattern
Complete syllabus and exam pattern for UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination. Detailed breakdown of all stages and subjects.
English
- Vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, error detection, idioms and phrases
General Knowledge
- Current Affairs (national & international events, sports, awards)
- History (ancient, medieval, modern India, national movement)
- Geography (physical, social, economic, India & world)
- Polity and Governance (Constitution, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights)
- Economics (basic concepts, sustainable development, poverty, inclusion)
- Science & Technology (basic concepts, applications, recent developments)
- Environment (ecology, biodiversity, climate change)
- Defense and Security issues (national security, internal/external threats)
Elementary Mathematics
- Arithmetic (number system, fractions, decimals, percentages)
- Algebra (simple equations, quadratic equations, linear inequations)
- Geometry (basic geometry and mensuration)
- Trigonometry (ratios, heights and distances)
- Statistics (averages, time-speed-distance, simple probability)