CDS Syllabus 2026: English, GK and Maths Topic List

The CDS Syllabus 2026 covers three papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) uses the same syllabus for both CDS I and CDS II. Candidates for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) take all three papers, while Officers Training Academy (OTA) candidates take only English and General Knowledge.

UPSC publishes a detailed, unit-wise syllabus for Elementary Mathematics, but describes English and General Knowledge in just a few lines. This page sets out the official Maths units in full and builds topic lists for English and GK from questions asked in previous papers, along with where to start and how to plan your preparation for CDS I 2027.

Table of Contents

• CDS Syllabus at a Glance

• Key Points Before You Start

• CDS English Syllabus

• CDS General Knowledge Syllabus

• CDS Elementary Mathematics Syllabus

• Topic Weightage

• Syllabus for OTA vs IMA, INA and AFA

• Is There a Syllabus for the SSB Interview?

• How to Cover the CDS Syllabus

• Common Mistakes While Preparing

• Books and Study Sources

CDS Syllabus at a Glance

All three papers are objective, with one-third of a question's marks deducted for each wrong answer.

Key Points Before You Start

• Same syllabus for CDS I and CDS II: Preparation for one sitting carries over to the next, so there is no need to restart after a miss.

• Maths is pitched at Class 10 level: The paper does not include calculus, matrices or Class 11-12 topics, even though older guides sometimes list them.

• English and GK have no official topic list: UPSC describes them in broad terms. The topic lists below come from previous papers. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list.

• GK is wider than current affairs: Static subjects such as history, geography, polity and science usually make up the larger share of the paper.

• OTA skips Maths: OTA candidates take only English and GK, so they can redirect Maths hours to these two papers.

CDS English Syllabus

The official syllabus says the paper tests a candidate's understanding of English and the workmanlike use of words. In practice, every recent paper has drawn on the same set of question types.

Spotting errors, ordering questions and vocabulary together decide most of the English score. Comprehension passages reward reading speed more than grammar rules, so a daily reading habit helps here more than any single rulebook.

CDS General Knowledge Syllabus

The official description covers current events and everyday matters of observation and experience in their scientific aspects, as expected of an educated person. It also includes Indian history and geography of a nature candidates should answer without special study. Previous papers show the following areas.

History

• Ancient and medieval India: Indus Valley Civilisation, Vedic age, Buddhism and Jainism, Mauryas, Guptas, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Bhakti and Sufi movements.

• Modern India: Arrival of Europeans, British expansion, the Revolt of 1857, social reform movements, the Indian National Congress, Gandhian movements and independence.

• World history basics: Major revolutions and the two World Wars at an introductory level.

Geography

• Physical geography: Earth's structure, rocks, earthquakes and volcanoes, atmosphere, winds, ocean currents and climate types.

• Indian geography: Physiography, rivers, monsoon, soils, natural vegetation, minerals, agriculture, industries and transport.

• World geography: Continents, important straits, lakes, mountain ranges and grasslands; map-based questions are common.

Indian polity and economy

• Polity: Making of the Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles, Parliament, President, Supreme Court, emergency provisions, local government and constitutional bodies.

• Economy: National income, inflation, banking and the RBI, budget and taxation, five-year plans and NITI Aayog, and major government schemes.

General science

Current affairs and defence

• National and international events: Summits, organisations, treaties and major government decisions from the last 12 months.

• Defence: Military exercises, missiles and equipment, appointments in the armed forces and gallantry awards.

• Static GK: Books and authors, sports, awards, important days and firsts in India.

Science and history usually carry a large share of the GK paper, while current affairs questions often link back to static topics. Strong NCERT basics therefore pay off more than memorising news alone.

CDS Elementary Mathematics Syllabus

This is the only CDS paper with a detailed official syllabus. The units below follow the UPSC notification.

Arithmetic

Number system covering natural numbers, integers, rational and real numbers; fundamental operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square roots and decimal fractions; unitary method; time and distance; time and work; percentages; 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; factorisation theorem; HCF and LCM; Euclidean algorithm; logarithms to base 10, laws of logarithms and use of logarithmic tables.

Algebra

Basic operations and simple factors; remainder theorem; HCF and LCM of polynomials; solutions of quadratic equations and the relation between roots and coefficients (real roots only); simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns, solved analytically and graphically; simultaneous linear inequations in two variables; practical problems leading to these equations; set language and notation; rational expressions and conditional identities; laws of indices.

Trigonometry

Sine, cosine and tangent of angles from 0 to 90 degrees; values for 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees; simple trigonometric identities; use of trigonometric tables; simple cases of heights and distances.

Geometry

Lines and angles; plane and plane figures; theorems on angles at a point, parallel lines, sides and angles of a triangle, congruency and similarity of triangles, concurrence of medians and altitudes, properties of a parallelogram, rectangle and square, circles and their properties including tangents and normals, and loci.

Mensuration

Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles and circles, and of figures that can be split into these (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 data; graphical representation through frequency polygons, histograms, bar charts and pie charts; measures of central tendency.

CDS Topic Weightage

UPSC does not publish a topic-wise split, and the number of questions per topic changes each sitting. The table below gives the broad weight seen across recent papers, to help you order your study.

Use this as a planning guide, not a promise. Skipping a "lower weight" topic entirely is risky, because a single sitting can tilt towards it.

Syllabus for OTA vs IMA, INA and AFA

Many candidates opt for both OTA and IMA in the same application. In that case you take all three papers, and your English and GK marks count towards both merit lists, so these two papers deserve equal attention with Maths.

Is There a Syllabus for the SSB Interview?

No. The SSB has no written syllabus. It assesses officer-like qualities through a five-day process that includes the Officer Intelligence Rating test, the Picture Perception and Description Test, psychology tests, group tasks and a personal interview. AFA candidates also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System.

What helps is general awareness, clear communication and physical fitness. Keep up with news, read about the service you have chosen, and be ready to talk about your education, hobbies and reasons for joining.

How to Cover the CDS Syllabus

1. Weeks 1 to 6, build the base: Finish Class 9 and 10 Maths chapters, NCERT history, geography and science, and grammar basics. Read one editorial daily for English.

2. From week 3, add current affairs: Give 30 to 40 minutes a day to news and keep monthly notes, with a separate list for defence topics.

3. Weeks 7 to 12, practise by topic: Take topic-wise tests in each paper and shift to speed methods for arithmetic, trigonometry and mensuration. Add polity and economy in GK.

4. Weeks 13 to 16, move to sectional tests: Attempt timed papers of 30 to 40 questions and keep an error log of every mistake by topic.

5. Final phase, full-length papers: Take complete papers under the two-hour limit, analyse each one the same day, and revise from your error log before the next attempt.

Common Mistakes While Preparing the Syllabus

• Treating GK as current affairs only: Static history, geography and science questions usually outnumber news-based ones, so do not leave NCERT basics for the last month.

• Studying Maths beyond Class 10: Time spent on calculus or Class 12 algebra does not earn marks in CDS. Spend it on speed in arithmetic and trigonometry instead.

• Skipping English practice because it is a "known" language: Error spotting and sentence ordering need regular timed practice, even for candidates who speak English fluently.

• Attempting every question: With one-third negative marking, unplanned guessing can cancel out correct answers. Decide your attempt strategy during mocks, not on exam day.

Books and Study Sources

Always confirm the syllabus against the latest notification on upsc.gov.in before you plan.