CDS coaching for graduates who want an officer’s commission
The Combined Defence Services Examination is the graduate’s route into the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad and the Officers Training Academy at Chennai. Four academies, one UPSC written exam and then a Services Selection Board: that is the structure behind every CDS plan. Candidates are often final-year students or recent graduates who are balancing college, a job or a gap year, and they need a plan that is tight, realistic and honest about the odds.
Our CDS coaching in Dehradun is designed for that student. Classes are held in person on Subharti Road, Nanda Ki Chowki, Lower Kolhupani. The written syllabus (English, general knowledge and elementary mathematics) is taught alongside SSB preparation, so the student who clears the paper is not starting from zero at the board. Since Dehradun is also home to the IMA, a graduate who trains here is close to the culture they hope to join. We do not offer online classes.
You might be a good fit if you:
- are in the final year of a degree, or have already graduated, and want to attempt the CDS for the first time
- have appeared once and want a better-structured second attempt
- are a woman who wants to apply for the OTA short service commission, which is open to women candidates
- are coming from outside Uttarakhand and need accommodation near the classroom
Graduates who prefer a longer runway can look at the CDS foundation course, which starts earlier in the academic year. Candidates whose written result is already declared can join the stand-alone SSB interview coaching.
CDS eligibility: age and qualification by academy
UPSC publishes separate conditions for each academy. The table below is taken from the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 notification, issued on 20 May 2026. The birth-date windows change with each cycle, so use them as a guide to the rules, and confirm against the notification for the exam you plan to write.
| Entry | Age and birth-date window | Qualification and status |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | 19 to 24 years; unmarried men born not earlier than 1 July 2003 and not later than 1 July 2008 | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Indian Naval Academy | 19 to 24 years, with the same birth-date window as the IMA | A degree in Engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level |
| Air Force Academy | 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027; upper limit relaxable to 26 for holders of a valid DGCA commercial pilot licence | Degree of a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering |
| Officers Training Academy (men, SSC non-technical) | 19 to 25 years; unmarried men born not earlier than 1 July 2002 and not later than 1 July 2008 | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
| Officers Training Academy (women, SSC non-technical) | 19 to 25 years; unmarried women, and issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried | Degree of a recognised university or equivalent |
Final-year degree students can apply, but must be studying in the final year at the time of application. Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried, and marriage is not permitted during training. The notification names the Indian Military Academy as being at Dehradun, with this cycle’s course commencing in July 2027.
Medical standards and physical requirements are separate from this list, and each academy sets its own. Our eligibility checker is a quick first step, and our counsellors can explain what to check in the notification.
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CDS exam pattern and marks
For the CDS-II 2026 examination, held on 13 September 2026, the written papers were all objective type and were taken on a single day. Each paper is of 100 marks and two hours.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
The Elementary Mathematics paper applies to the IMA, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy entries. OTA candidates sit the English and General Knowledge papers. The written examination and the SSB each carry a fixed number of marks:
| Academy | Written marks | SSB marks |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | 300 | 300 |
| Indian Naval Academy | 300 | 300 |
| Air Force Academy | 300 | 300 |
| Officers Training Academy | 200 | 200 |
Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in the written examination and in the SSB, both fixed by the Commission and the Service Selection Board in their discretion. Wrong answers attract negative marking: one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to the question is deducted, and a question marked with more than one answer counts as wrong. For preparation, this means an accuracy-first approach, particularly in the English paper where several answers can feel plausible.
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The SSB after the written paper
UPSC’s notification describes a two-stage SSB procedure. Stage I comprises the Officer Intelligence Rating test and the Picture Perception and Discussion Test, and only those who clear it go on to Stage II, which has the interview, group testing officer tasks, psychology tests and the conference over four days. Because the SSB carries as many marks as the written exam, a candidate who is average in the paper can still be recommended on the strength of the board, and the reverse is equally true.
We introduce the SSB in the first month of the batch and build it up in parallel with the written syllabus. Students practise picture-based stories, word-association and situation-reaction tests, group discussions, planning exercises and outdoor group tasks, and have mock interviews with a mentor. Graduates tend to have the advantage of a broader life experience, and we help them put it into words clearly and honestly. For more detail on how the board is structured, read our SSB interview coaching page.
How the CDS batch is organised
The plan is simple. The batch is designed for people who often have commitments beyond coaching, so the schedule favours depth and repetition over volume.
- English: grammar, sentence correction, vocabulary, comprehension and ordering of sentences, with timed practice sets
- General knowledge: history, geography, polity, economy, general science and current affairs, built through regular reading and tests
- Elementary mathematics: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and mensuration, with shortcuts only after concepts are clear
- SSB sessions: psychology writing, group tasks and interview practice, scheduled alongside the written syllabus
- Fitness: physical training, because physical standards matter at the academy
- Mock tests: papers in the exam format, with analysis, aligned with the UPSC pattern of three papers
We recommend that students who are still in college talk to the counsellor about timings before enrolling, since batch schedules differ across the year.
Fees for the CDS course
The fee table for the CDS course is shown further down this page. The CDS and AFCAT courses have separate pages, and the fee structure page lists the options for both, along with registration, hostel and mess charges. Speak to the counsellor if you want to compare batch durations before choosing one.
Hostel and mess for CDS aspirants
Many graduates prefer to stay in the academy’s hostel so that they can focus on study, physical training and SSB practice without a daily commute. The academy has separate boys’ and girls’ hostels and a mess, and day scholars from Dehradun are equally welcome. For more details on rooms, meals and monthly charges, see the hostel and mess page.
CDS coaching: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWho can apply for the CDS exam?
Graduates can apply for the IMA and OTA entries, and final-year degree students are allowed if they are in the last year of study. The Naval Academy needs an engineering degree or a B.Sc. with Physics, and the Air Force Academy needs a degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a B.E., according to the UPSC notification.
Can women apply through the CDS?
Yes, for the OTA short service commission for women, which is non-technical. The current notification lists unmarried women, issueless widows and issueless divorcees who have not remarried.
Is the same written paper used for all academies?
The English and General Knowledge papers are common. The Elementary Mathematics paper applies to the IMA, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy entries, while OTA candidates take the other two papers.
Does the course include SSB preparation?
Yes. SSB practice is part of the batch from the first month, and the stand-alone SSB course is available for those who have already cleared the written paper.
Do you offer online CDS classes?
No. Our CDS coaching is classroom-based in Dehradun.
Where is the written exam held?
UPSC allots examination centres to candidates, based on its list of cities for the cycle. Check the notification and your admit card for your allotted centre.
Related courses
- CDS foundation course for an earlier start
- SSB interview coaching after the written result
- AFCAT coaching in Dehradun for the Air Force entry
- NDA coaching for students still in Class 12
- Merchant Navy coaching for those weighing a career at sea
