UPSC CDS 2 Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern PDF

UPSC CDS 2 Syllabus 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2 Examination for 2026 is a highly competitive gateway for candidates aspiring to serve as commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Gaining admission into the country’s premier defense academies requires a precise understanding of the examination structure, standard, and curriculum. This comprehensive article serves as an all-in-one guide, detailing the required selection criteria, the latest exam patterns, a complete topic-wise syllabus breakdown, and vital preparation strategies to help you clear the exam with flying colors.

UPSC Combined Defence Services II 2026 Syllabus

UPSC CDS Phase II Selection Process

The recruitment process for UPSC CDS 2 is designed to test both academic aptitude and psychological fitness through a strict two-stage framework. Candidates must first sit for and clear the competitive written examination by meeting the qualifying cut-off marks set by the Commission. Those who qualify are then called to appear before a Services Selection Board (SSB) at one of the designated centers for an Intelligence and Personality Test. The SSB process spans multiple days and is divided into two phases:

Stage I, which includes the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT);

and

Stage II, which comprises an Interview, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Psychology Tests, and a final Board Conference. Candidates are holistically evaluated across all components to judge the presence and trainability of vital “Officer Like Qualities”.

UPSC CDS 2 Exam Pattern

The written examination consists exclusively of objective-type question papers. To maintain a level playing field, the question papers (Test Booklets) for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are framed bilingually in Hindi and English. Candidates must mark their answers in their own handwriting with a black ballpoint pen, and tools such as calculators or electronic devices are strictly prohibited. Accuracy is paramount: a negative marking penalty applies where one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every wrong answer, or if a candidate marks more than one option for a single question. The structure varies depending on the chosen entry profile:

Note on Weightage: The maximum marks allotted to the written examination and the SSB interviews are equal for each course (e.g., a total pool of 300 marks for written and 300 marks for interview for IMA/INA/AFA, and 200 marks each for OTA).

UPSC CDS II 2026 Syllabus

The difficulty standard of the Elementary Mathematics paper is strictly mapped to the Matriculation (Class 10) level. For English and General Knowledge, the standard is roughly comparable to what is expected of a graduate from an Indian University. Below is the comprehensive, itemized breakdown of topics across all subjects.

UPSC CDS Syllabus: English

Designed to evaluate the candidate’s understanding of English grammar, vocabulary, usage, and a workmanlike command of words.

• Spelling Test.
• Sentence Arrangement.
• Error Correction (Underlined Part).
• Transformation
• Passage Completion.
• prepositions
• Sentence Improvement.
• Spotting Errors.
• Antonyms
• Homonyms,
• synonyms
• Word Formation
• Direct and Indirect speech
• Active and Passive Voice.
• Para Completion.
• Idioms and Phrases.
• substitution
• Joining Sentences.
• Theme Detection,
• Topic rearrangement of passage
• Error Correction (Phrase in Bold).
• Fill in the blanks.
• Data Interpretation.
• Spelling Test.
• Sentence Completion.
• Sentence Arrangement

Union PSC CDS II Syllabus – General Knowledge

Knowledge of current events, everyday observations, and basic scientific aspects expected of an educated person without a special study of science. Includes dedicated questions on the History of India and Geography.

• About India.
• History – India & World.
• Cultural Heritage.
• General Science.
• Space & IT.
• Indian Constitution.
• National news (current).
• Indian Culture.
• Economy.
• Political Science.
• Indian National Movement.
• Indian Polity & Governance.
• Science & Technology.
• Scientific observations.
• International issues.
• Abbreviations.
• Economic Scene.
• Everyday Science.
• Sports and Games.
• Science – Inventions & Discoveries.
• Important Days.
• General Knowledge of Karnataka.
• Important Financial & Economic News.
• Current Affairs – National & International.
• Indian Constitution.
• History.
• General Politics.
• Awards and Honors.
• Culture.
• Books and Authors.
• Current events.
• Geography.
• Current Affairs.
• Social Science.
• Inventions in the World.
• Indian Economy.
• Indian Parliament.
• Botany.
• Chemistry.
• Indian Politics.
• Sports.
• Zoology.
• Environment.
• Basic Computer.
• Indian History.
• Famous Days & Dates.
• Famous Books & Authors.
• Geography.
• Physics.
• Indian Culture.

UPSC CDS II Syllabus Pdf – Elementary mathematics 

Arithmetic

• Number System—Natural numbers, Integers, Rational and Real numbers.
• Fundamental operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Square roots, Decimal fractions. Unitary method, time and distance, time and work, percentages, applications to simple and compound interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, variation.
• Elementary Number Theory—Division algorithm. Prime and composite numbers. Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Multiples and factors. Factorization Theorem. H.C.F. and L.C.M. Euclidean algorithm. Logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms, use of logarithmic tables.

Algebra

• Basic Operations
• simple factors
• Remainder Theorem
• C.F., L.C.M.
• Theory of polynomials
• solutions of quadratic equations
• the relation between its roots and coefficients (Only real roots to be considered).
• Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns—analytical and graphical solutions.
• Simultaneous linear inequations in two variables and their solutions.
• Practical problems leading to two simultaneous linear equations or inequations in two variables or quadratic equations in one variable & their solutions.
• Set language and set notation, Rational expressions, and conditional identities, Laws of indices.

Trigonometry

• Sine ×, cosine ×, Tangent × when 0° < × < 90° Values of sin ×, cos ×, and tan ×, for × = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°
• Simple trigonometric identities.
• Use of trigonometric tables.
• Simple cases of heights and distances.

Geometry

Lines and angles, Plane and plane figures, Theorems on

• Properties of angles at a point
• Parallel lines
• Sides and angles of a triangle
• Congruency of triangles
• Similar triangles
• The concurrence of medians and altitudes,
• Properties of angles, sides, and diagonals of a parallelogram, rectangle and square
• Circles and its properties including tangents and normals

Mensuration

• Areas of squares
• Rectangles
• Parallelograms
• triangle and circle

Areas of figures which can be split up into these figures (Field Book)

• Surface area and volume of cuboids
• lateral surface and volume of right circular cones and cylinders
• Surface area and volume of spheres.

Statistics

• Collection and tabulation of statistical data
• Graphical representation frequency polygons,  Histograms,  bar charts,  pie charts, etc.
• Measures of central tendency.

UPSC CDS II Syllabus Pdf 2026 – Intelligence and personality test

Phase-1 :– Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT).
Phase-II:–

• Interview
• Group Testing
• Officer Tasks
• Psychology Tests
• Conference

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