UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts various prestigious exams and among them, the most popular exam is UPSC CDS 2023 Exam. Through this exam, candidates are admitted to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy for military training.
The exam is conducted offline and as per the UPSC CDS 2023 Syllabus, the exam consists of various sections such as Elementary Mathematics, English, and General Knowledge. Candidates can check the weightage of each section in the article below.
CDS 2023 Exam Pattern Highlights
To get an overview of the UPSC CDS 2023 Exam Pattern, candidates can check the details in the table below.
| Specifications | Details |
| Mode of UPSC CDS 2023 Exam | Offline |
| Number of Sections | IMA, IAFA, INA: 3 Sections OTA: 2 Sections |
| Languages | Hindi and English |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours/Section |
| Total Marks | IMA, INA, IAF: 300 Marks OTA: 200 Marks |
| Type of Questions | Objective-Type Questions |
Note: The exam pattern for the Officers Training Academy is different. The written test conducted for IMA, IAFA, and INA comprises 3 sections, while the exam conducted for OTA consists of 2 sections.
INA, IMA, and IAFA 2023 Exam Pattern
The UPSC CDS 2023 Selection Process and exam pattern for the Indian National Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy is similar. Candidates applying for these three military academies will have to clear a written test comprising 3 major sections as mentioned in the table below.
| Sections | Exam Duration | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 | 100 |
Officers Training Academy 2023 Exam Pattern
Candidates applying for the Officers Training Academy will have to appear in the Written Test that will be conducted offline. The exam will consist of 2 sections and there will be no questions from Elementary Section as discussed in the table below.
| Sections | Exam Duration | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| English | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 120 | 100 |
CDS 2023 Marking Scheme
- There will be a negative marking scheme in the UPSC CDS 2023 Written test.
- The question will consist of 4 objective-type options.
- For every wrong attempt, 0.33 marks will be deducted.
- The question which is not attempted by the candidates will lead to no deduction in marks.
CDS 2023 SSB Interview
The Service Selection Board Interview is conducted for all military training academies. The weightage of IMA, INA, and IAFA is different than that of OTA. Candidates must check the information in the table below.
| Branches | Total Marks | Stages |
| IMA, INA, and IAFA | 300 | Stage 1 1. Officer Intelligence Test 2. Picture Perception and Description Test Stage 2 1. Interview 2. Group Testing Officers Task 3. Psychology Test 4. Conference |
| OTA (Officers Training Academy) | 200 | Stage 1 1. Officer Intelligence Test 2. Picture Perception and Description Test Stage 2 1. Interview 2. Group Testing Officers Task 3. Psychology Test 4. Conference |
Key Points
- Candidates will be evaluated by three recruiting officers, Interviewing Officers, Psychologists, and Group Testing Officers.
- Candidates must use a black ballpoint pen for filling out the answer sheet.
- In the SSB Interview Round, there is no sectional weightage. The marks will be given holistically.
CDS 2023 Exam Pattern FAQs
0.33 Marks will be deducted for the wrong attempt.
No, there will be no negative marking.
There are 2 stages in CDS SSB Interview Round.
The SSB Round conducted for IMA, INA, and IAFA consists of 300 Marks, while, for OTA it is 200 Marks.
No, the questions will be objective in nature.
What is the CDS 2023 marking schedule?
The paper is divided into three divisions, each of which contains 100 questions, for the Indian Navy, Indian Military, and Indian Air Force Academies. For each accurate response, one mark will be given, and for each incorrect response, one-third of the mark will be taken away.
There are two portions for the OTA, each with 100 questions. Again, one mark will be given for each accurate response, and one-third of the mark will be subtracted for each incorrect response.
I accidentally marked two alternatives in the answer. Will I receive any points for answering that question?
For that specific question, there won’t be any points awarded. The right response can only be chosen from one choice.
Can I use a pencil to omit an answer on the test?
Only a black ballpoint pen may be used to remove circles and write specifics like the centre, subject code, roll number, etc
What are the sections of the written CDS 2023 exam?
There are three divisions for the Indian Naval, Indian Military, and Indian Air Force academies: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
There are two categories for OTA: English and General Knowledge.
What is the process for the CDS SSB Interview?
Candidates must pass a battery of personality tests after passing the written examination. To assess a person’s personality, the SSB interview, often known as the “SSB,” uses a variety of tests.
Understanding and describing images Group testing officer tasks, an interview, a conference, and a psychological test.