CDS Selection Process 2024: Written Test, SSB Interview for CDS 1 & 2

CDS Selection Process 2024: Written Test, SSB Interview for CDS 1 & 2

ByNaveen Singh  |  Updated on: Sep 25, 2023
CDS Selection Process 2024 is explained here in detail. CDS Selection Process 2024 involves two major stages which are the written exam and interview phase. Know the stage-wise CDS Selection Procedure along with the marking scheme details.

CDS Selection Process 2024 involves three stages in which candidates need to qualify to get the job. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the CDS exam twice a year to recruit eligible candidates in IMA, INA, and AFA. It involves three tiers - Written Test, SSB Interview, and Medical examination. Aspirants will have to clear each stage of the CDS Selection Process to be eligible for the next stage of the recruitment process. Read this post thoroughly to understand all the stages of the UPSC CDS Selection Process 2024 in depth.

CDS Selection Process 2024

It is imperative to know the CDS Selection Process 2024 for every candidate appearing for Combined Defence Service Examination 2024. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts a CDS exam to select talented and skilled applicants as officers in the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.

CDS Selection Process 2024 includes two stages- written exam and SSB interview. Each stage is an important phase of the CDS exam. Aspirants have to clear three papers to crack the written round. After that, contenders who will clear the written exam round will be invited for the SSB Interview.

The selection committee will test the aspirants' personality, intelligence, and psychological aptitude in the interview round. Candidates should clear both the stages of the selection process to get selected inCDS 1 2024.

Final selected contenders will be invited for the training at INA Ezhimala, IMA Dehradun, OTA Chennai, and AFA Hyderabad.

CDS Selection Process Written Test

As per theCDS Exam Pattern 2024, the Combined Defence Service Examination comprises three papers- English, Elementary Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Contenders have to score passing marks in all three papers to get admission to Naval, Military, and Air Force Academy.

Those applicants who submit the application form successfully will be able to appear in the written examination. If any aspirant wants to enroll in Officers' Training Academy, then he/she is required to participate in just two papers General Knowledge and English.

According to the latest CDS paper 1 exam pattern, the CDS 2024 exam contains objective-type MCQs. Candidates will get only two hours to finish each paper. After that, the selection committee will conduct an SSB interview to complete the CDS Selection Process 2024.

But remember, only those applicants will be asked to appear in the interview who qualify the stage 1.

CDS Selection Process 2024 SSB Interview

Post clearing the first stage of CDS Selection Process, you have to participate in the SSB Interview. It will be undertaken for 5 days, in which the intelligence, personality, and many other attributes of the candidates shall be tested. These tests are also divided into two stages and only those candidates who qualify the first stage will be allowed to participate in the second stage. Candidates qualifying the SSB Interview shall become eligible to get admission in OTA and Forces. We have stated the day-wise test schedule below for your ready reference.

  • Psychological Aptitude Test - Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT).
  • Intelligence Test - Group Testing Officer tasks & Conference, Psychological Test

CDS Selection Process: SSB Interview Schedule

Dates

Events

Day 1

Reporting, form filling, conducting of the Picture Perception and Description Test

Day 2

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description Test (SD).

Day 3

Group Testing Officers' Tasks (GTO). This includes Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Group Discussion (GD), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), & Individual Obstacle Task (IOT).

Day 4

Command Task, Final Group Task (FGT), Individual Obstacle Task (IOT), Personal Interview and Individual Lecturette

Day 5

Conference Session and Document Verification Process

CDS Selection Process 2024 Medical Exam

Organized by the Special Medical Board (SMB), it is the last stage of CDS Selection Process where all the candidates who have successfully sailed through the SSB Interview will be asked to undergo a medical exam. This process will be completed in 4 to 6 days, during which they may have to produce the following documents for verification. Check out the list of documents that aspirants need to carry with them for UPSC CDS Selection Procedure:

  • Passport Size Photographs
  • Proof of Residence
  • Qualification Certificates
  • Birth Certificate
  • Identity Proof (Pan Card, Aadhar Card, Voter ID, etc.)
  • Category Certificate for the Reserved Category Candidates

Candidates must note that they must carry both original documents and their photocopies with them as the authority will check the original documents and return them on the same day only. That's why aspirants are informed to bring their original documents and testimonials during the medical examination process.

Important Links:

CDS NotificationCDS Online Coaching
CDS Mock TestCDS Eligibility Criteria 2023
CDS VacancyCDS Salary 2023
CDS Syllabus 2023CDS Cut Off
CDS Question PapersCDS Books 2023

CDS Selection Process FAQs

  • Candidates who applied for CDS Exam have to clear the CDS selection process which involves three different stages which are: written test, SSB interview and Medical exam. Only after clearing these stages, candidates will be considered for the post.

  • There are three stages in the UPSC CDS selection process which are as follows:

    • Stage 1: Written Test
    • Stage 2: SSB Interview
    • Stage 3: Medical Exam

    While appearing for the last stage of CDS Selection Process i.e Medical exam, candidates will also have to verify their documents. After the conduction of all these stages, a final list of the shortlisted candidates will be shared on the official website.

  • Candidates who have qualifies all the stages of the UPSC CDS Selection Process will have to submit the following documents:

    • Photocopies of Matriculation certificate or equivalent in support of date of birth
    • Bachelor's Degree/ Provisional Degree along with mark sheets of all the years/ semesters in support of educational qualification
    • Identity Proof
    • Photographs
  • Candidates must carry their documents during their medical exam if any aspirant doesn't produce documents, then he/she will be rejected from the final CDS selection process. Also, both original and photocopies of the documents must be carried for the document verification round.

  • Every stage has its own qualifying criteria so if a candidate wants to clear the CDS Selection process then yes, candidates have to score qualifying marks individually in each stage to make it to the final merit list.

  • No, the Union Public Service Commission releases the final merit list after the conduction of the written test and SSB Interview round. Candidates who score the minimum qualifying marks will be asked to appear for the last stage of the selection procedure i.e medical exam and document verfication.

  • Every candidate who is appearing for the 1st  stage of the CDS SSB Interview 2024 will be evaluated on the basis of their memory. Through this exam, their memory retention and the abilities to comprehend situations are tested.

CDS & Defence

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