UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 – IMA, INA, AFA & OTA Exam Pattern

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Short Information

UPSC CDS 2026 syllabus for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA with English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics exam pattern.

Important Dates / 2026 Cycle

2026 examination cycle

Application Fee

Refer to the official notification for the applicable fee, exemptions and payment rules.

Eligibility

Eligibility varies by examination. Refer to the official notification for educational qualification, age limit, nationality and other conditions.

Exam Pattern

Academy	Paper	Questions / Marks	Duration
IMA / INA / AFA	English	100 Marks	2 Hours
IMA / INA / AFA	General Knowledge	100 Marks	2 Hours
IMA / INA / AFA	Elementary Mathematics	100 Marks	2 Hours
OTA	English	100 Marks	2 Hours
OTA	General Knowledge	100 Marks	2 Hours
SSB	Intelligence & Personality Tests	As prescribed	Multi-day

Complete Syllabus

English: Questions designed to test understanding of English and use of words. Preparation areas include grammar, vocabulary, sentence usage, comprehension, synonyms, antonyms and basic language application.
General Knowledge: Current events, everyday scientific aspects, history of India, geography and general awareness. Questions are expected to be answerable by an educated person without special study.
Elementary Mathematics: Arithmetic including number system, elementary number theory, integers, rational numbers, decimals, unitary method, time and distance, work and time, percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest; elementary geometry; mensuration; statistics and graphical representation.
SSB Intelligence and Personality: Officer Intelligence Rating tests, picture perception/discussion and psychological, group testing and interview components as prescribed by SSB.

Selection Process

Written Examination → SSB Interview/Personality Test → Document Verification → Medical Examination → final merit and academy allocation.

Important Note

This syllabus summary is prepared from the official examination scheme/notification sources. Candidates should always check the latest official notice for amendments, paper-wise marks, qualifying requirements and discipline-specific details.

How to Prepare / Apply

Read the official notification and syllabus carefully. Prepare each subject according to the latest official scheme, practise previous-year question papers, and follow the Commission/IBPS website for any corrigendum or change in examination pattern.

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