UPSC CDS is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is a Offline (OMR/Pen & Paper) exam consisting of 120 questions for 100 marks with a duration of 120 minutes.
There is a negative marking of 0.33 per wrong answer. The minimum qualifying score is As per academy-wise cut-off.
| Section | Questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern & Freedom Struggle) | 22 | 18% |
| Geography (India & World, Physical/Social/Economic) | 20 | 17% |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | 18 | 15% |
| Economy | 14 | 12% |
| General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 26 | 22% |
| Current Affairs & General Awareness | 14 | 12% |
| Defence & Static GK | 6 | 5% |
| Total | 120 | 100% |
