CDS OTA Syllabus 2023: Check Subject-wise Detailed Syllabus PDF
Combined Defence Services Exam 2025 ( CDS )
Registration - 10 Dec '25 - 30 Dec '25
CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 is released by the UPSC along with the CDS notification 2023. CDS 2 2023 exam is scheduled to be conducted on September 3, 2023. Candidates can check the latest CDS OTA Syllabus in this article and download the CDS OTA Syllabus PDF through the link provided below.
UPSC CDS OTA Syllabus 2023
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declares the UPSC CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 on the official website. CDS OTA Syllabus is released along with the CDS Notification. Candidates can check the CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 in this article and download the CDS OTA Syllabus PDF here. CDS 2 2023 exam is scheduled to be conducted on September 3, 2023. Candidates who are preparing for CDS OTA exam should read the CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 carefully first before preparing for the CDS exam.
The Combined Defence Services Examination, commonly known as CDS, is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exam is held twice a year, usually in February and September.
- CDS OTA Syllabus 2023
- CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 PDF
- CDS OTA Exam Pattern 2023
- CDS OTA Syllabus 2023: Best Books for Preparation
- CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 FAQs
CDS OTA Syllabus 2023
The CDS OTA syllabus has two sections English and general knowledge. CDS OTA syllabus does not have a mathematics section. The topic-wise syllabus for the OTA has been provided for the candidates. Aspirants who are willing to appear for the OTA can go through the topic-wise syllabus for OTA CDS below on the page.
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
15 Sep '25 - 9 Oct '25
11 Oct '25
13 Oct '25
14 Oct '25
26 Sep '25 - 16 Oct '25
18 Oct '25
20 Sep '25 - 24 Oct '25
30 Sep '25 - 31 Oct '25
CTET
9 Oct '25 - 7 Nov '25
CDS OTA Syllabus for English
The syllabus for English subjects has been given below for the candidates. However, the English syllabus is quite similar to IMA, INA, and AFA. But the candidates should go through the syllabus to know accurate information about the English syllabus for OTA CDS:
- Sentence Arrangement
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Jumble Words
- Idioms and Phrases
- Ordering Sentences
- Ordering Words
- Fill up the blanks
Also Read: CDS 2 Application Form 2023
CDS OTA Syllabus for General Ability Test
The General Ability Test (GAT) is taken to analyse the candidate's awareness about different topics that are currently going on, subjects that he or she has studied earlier, social awareness, and more. The candidates must go through the CDS GAT OTA syllabus given below to understand the syllabus:
- Current Affairs
- History
- Polity
- Geography
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Sociology
- Defence Related Awareness
- Sports and Culture
- Environmental Studies
Also Read: CDS 2024 Syllabus
CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 PDF
Candidates can check and download the CDS OTA Syllabus PDF through the link provided below.
CDS OTA Syllabus PDF- Click_Here
CDS OTA Exam Pattern 2023
Candidates can check CDS OTA Exam Pattern 2023 in the table below.
| Subjects | No. of question | Maximum marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
| General knowledge | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
Also Read: CDS Notification 2023
CDS OTA Syllabus 2023: Best Books for Preparation
Compiled below are the section-wise books that will help candidates to prepare for the CDS OTA Syllabus 2023:
| Name of Books | Author/ Publication House |
|---|---|
| Objective General English | S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications) |
| High School English Grammer & Composition | Wren and Martin |
| General Awareness | Manohar Panday (Arihant Publications) |
| Newspapers | Hindu, The Indian Express, The Economic Times |
Read More:
CDS OTA Syllabus 2023 FAQs
Q. What is the selection process of CDS OTA Exam?
A. The selection process of the CDS - OTA consists of 2 stages first, the written exam and the second, the SSB interview. The aspirants who qualified written exam followed by an SSB interview. And after qualifying for the interview the aspirants need to go for document verification and medical examination for the final selection.
Q. What is CDS OTA Syllabus 2023?
A. The OTA syllabus has two sections English and general knowledge. OTA exam syllabus does not have a Maths section. The topic-wise syllabus for the OTA has been provided for the candidates.
1) English
- Sentence Arrangement
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Jumble Words
- Idioms and Phrases
- Ordering Sentences
- Ordering Words
2) GAT (General Ability Test)
- Current Affairs
- History
- Polity
- Geography
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Sociology
- Defence Related Awareness
- Sports and Culture
- Environmental Studies
Q. Where can I download the CDS OTA syllabus?
A. The complete syllabus of the CDS OTA written exam is available on the official website of the CDS and UPSC board. Aspirants can easily download the CDS- OTA syllabus 2023 pdf from there. The official website is www.upsc.gov.in and www.upsconline.nic.in.
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
6 Oct '25 - 12 Oct '25 | IBPS PO 2025 Prelims Scorecard |
12 Oct '25 | IBPS PO Main Exam 2025 |
31 Jan '25 | RBI Assistant 2025 Notificatio... |
31 Dec '23 | RBI Assistant mains exam 2023 |
23 Aug '25 - 25 Aug '25 | AFCAT 2 2025 exam date |
19 Aug '25 - 25 Aug '25 | AFCAT 2 admit card 2025 |
26 Aug '25 | RPF SI Final Result |
22 Jun '25 - 2 Jul '25 | Physical Test Date |
6 Aug '25 - 8 Aug '25 | SSC Stenographer exam dates 20... |
29 Jul '25 | SSC Stenographer notification ... |
10 Dec '25 | NDA 1 Notification 2026 |
10 Dec '25 - 30 Dec '25 | NDA 1 Application Form 2026 |
14 Oct '25 | SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I Re-Schedul... |
Oct '25 | SSC CGL Tier 1 Answer Key 2025 |
12 Jan '23 | Tier 2 exam date for STA-B |
6 Jan '23 - 11 Jan '23 | Tier 1 exam date for Tech A po... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
Yes. In the CDS exam there is a negative marking. One-third mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. No mark will be deducted for unanswered questions.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The CDS exam is conducted in an offline mode that is in a pen-paper mode. The exam consists of objective type questions and need to mark their answers in an OMR sheet.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Apart from the salary, CDS officers receive several allowances, including DA, high altitude allowance, uniform allowance, transport allowance, medical aid, accommodation, children's education allowance, etc. It depends upon the amount of salary, and it varies depending on the designation and academy
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Candidates can check below the CDS 2 2025 age limit:
- IMA: Candidates for IMA should be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than July 2, 2002, and not later than July 1, 2007.
- INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2002, and not later than July 1, 2007, can apply for INA
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes, the CDS 2 application last date to apply was extended to June 20 from June 17, 2025. A one-time extension was provided by the commission. The application correction window was opened from July 7 to July 9, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
No, the CDS 1 2025 result will be released after the conduction of an exam on the official website. The result will be released in the form of a PDF and consists of the roll numbers of candidates who have qualified for the SSB interview.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Is there a negative marking in the CDS exam?