The Union Public Service Commission is going to conduct the exam of Combined Defence Services II on 14 September 2025. Candidates who have successfully submitted the application form must download the admit card in advance from the official website of the UPSC.
The Combined Defence Service 2 exam is held twice a year by UPSC and it helps people join the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Anyone with a graduation degree and an age below 25 years can apply for this exam. The exam consists of three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. Each paper is for two hours, and the questions are of a multiple-choice format. Candidates are required to score well to get selected and after the written test, there is an interview round followed by the medical check.
Important Dates of CDS II 2025
Event
Date
Notification Release
May 28, 2025
Application Start Date
May 28, 2025
Last Date to Apply
June 20, 2025
Application Correction Window
July 9, 2025
Admit Card Release
September 4, 2025
Exam Date
September 14, 2025
Result Announcement
To be announced
Important Exam Day Guidelines
Arrive on time for your exam- The candidates should plan to get to their exam centre at least half an hour before the reporting time.
Bring a printed exam admission/candidate card- Candidates must bring both their admit card and a photo ID to the exam to ensure compliance with the described requirements.
No electronic device- Candidates must not take mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, or any electronic device into the exam hall.
Black ballpoint pen required- Candidates should fill the OMR sheet according to the instructions of the invigilator using a black ballpoint pen.
Dress simply- Candidates should wear simple clothing without any accessories that could cause suspicion when they are checked.
Listen to the exam invigilator instructions- Candidates must listen to the instructions from their invigilators for exam protocol and must maintain discipline during the exam.
Know where the exam center is located- If they are able to, they can visit their exam center the day before their test day, so they have knowledge of the route they will take, and are aware of their area's traffic patterns for exam day.
Don't panic- If candidates find one or several difficult questions, they should not panic to fix those stalled questions. They should skip the difficult question and go back to it later because time management will be the skill they need most.
UPSC CDS II Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The CDS 2 exam is conducted by the UPSC in offline mode using pen and paper mode. All the questions are objective type, meaning they follow a multiple-choice format and candidates are required to choose from one of the four options. Mathematics is included only for candidates applying to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA). Those applying for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) do not have to take the Mathematics paper. To move forward in the selection process, candidates are required to first clear the written exam and only then will they be called for the SSB interview, which tests their personality, leadership skills, and overall suitability for a career in the armed forces.
