CDS Selection Process: Written Test and Interview Methods

CDS I 2021 exam is scheduled for February 7, 2021. All the candidates who will successfully qualify in the written exam are required to register themselves online on the Indian Army Recruiting website joinindianarmy.nic.in within two weeks of announcement of written result. After that, candidates will be allotted Selection Centres and SSB Interview Dates. Check  CDS Result

CDS Selection Process comprises of two stages i.e. Written test and SSB Interview round.

• In the first stage (written exam), candidates have to attempt three papers for selection in IMA, INA, and AFA whereas OTA candidates have to attempt only 2 papers.
• In the second stage of selection, they have to appear for an Interview which will test their intelligence, personality and psychological aptitude. In order to be eligible for CDS 2021, the candidate has to qualify both stage 1 and stage 2.
• UPSC will release the final cut-offs for the CDS I 2021 examination soon after the conclusion of the whole process. 

CDS Selection Process 2021 - Highlights

Also Check  CDS Eligibility Criteria

CDS Selection Process: Stage 1

• The first stage of the CDS 2021 selection process is the written test which includes three papers - English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics for admission in Indian Military, Naval, and Air Force Academy.
• For admission in Officers’ Training Academy, candidates have to appear for two papers only – English and General Knowledge.
• CDS written exam will be objective in nature, with time allotment of 2 hours for each paper.
• A candidate who will qualify for the written test will become eligible for the second stage of CDS i.e. Interview.

Also, Check CDS Exam Pattern

CDS Selection Process: Stage 2

• The second stage of CDS Selection Process is SSB Interview.
• CDS Interview 2021 is a 5-day process which involves intense scrutinization of candidates covering all the major aspects of the overall personality.
• Candidates are judged physically, mentally and psychologically as well. However, before undergoing the stage 2, candidates must appear for stage 1 tests. 
• The Officer Intelligence Rating & PPDT is a 1-day program. Candidates are scrutinized for their verbal and non-verbal abilities.

Officer Intelligence Rating

Officer Intelligence Rating-test is the first part of the Stage 2 selection via CDS Interview 2021. The test comprises two sections- Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning. In this test, candidates have to answer some 55-60 questions from both the sections combinedly.

Verbal Reasoning Section: The total number of questions asked in the Verbal Ability Reasoning section in the OIR test is 50. Candidates will be given 30 minutes to complete the test and then proceed to Non Verbal Reasoning Section.

Non- Verbal Reasoning Section: In this section of CDS Interview Stage 2, candidates are asked to attempt 50 questions in the time period of 25 to 30 minutes.

Once done with this test, the second set of the test is given to the applicants, i.e., Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT).

Picture Perception and Description Test

This section of Stage 1 CDS Interview is quite challenging since it examines candidate’s memory retention along with the abilities to comprehend situations. This screening test is interesting to attempt as candidates are given only 30 seconds to observe a hazy picture and expound on it within 3 minutes. Within this limited time frame, candidates have to focus upon seven basic parameters-

• Age
• Sex
• Mood
• Character
• Past (what happened in the picture situation just before the click)
• Present (what events currently take place)
• Future (what will happen next in the picture)

CDS 2021: Daywise Interview Schedule

• Requests for postponing the interview will only be considered only for very genuine circumstances. It will be considered if it is convenient for which Army headquarters /Air Headquarter /Naval HQ will be the sole deciding authority. Such kinds of requests should be sent to the Selection Centre/ from where the call for interview has been received.
• Navy candidates can download their call up letters from the naval website www.nausena-bharti.nic.in or send email at officer-navy"nic.in 3 weeks after the declaration of CDS 2021 results.

Note: In case a qualified candidates does not get the interview call letter before the date then candidates should write to-

Army HQ/Rtg. (CDSE Entry/ SSC Women Entry for Officers Training Academy)

175, West Block-III,

Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi- 110066

OR contact on telephone No. 26176028

For similar query by the Navy/Air Force candidates, having first choice should write to Naval HQ or Air HQ (in case of non-receipt of call letter).

What after CDS Interview 2021?

After the interview process of CDS 2021 is completed, candidate’s verification takes place which includes the document verification. Candidates who qualify the interview will have to present their required set of original documents along with the 2 self-attested copies at SSC (Services Selection Center) after interview. Given below is the list of documents that are to be carried at the time of selection process.

Original certificates will be returned after the verification. Certified true copies or Photostat copies of the certificates will not be accepted in any case.

• Qualification Certificates
• Proof of Identity (Pan Card, Aadhar Card, Voter ID, etc.)
• Birth Certificate
• Passport Size Photographs
• Category Certificate for the Reserved Category Candidates
• Proof of Residence

Medical Examination is the last but very important step. This step is held to verify that the selected aspirant is physically fit for the officer cadre or not. This verification is must. For final recruitment, you have to clear all the verification formalities.

Change in Communication Address

Selected candidates, who have changed their communication address as mentioned on the CDS 2021 Application Form are recommended to notify the changed address soon after the declaration of CDS 2021 result. Candidates have to notify at the following address along with the unstamped self-addressed envelope-

1. For IMA/SSC as the first choice

Army Headquarters,

A.G's Branch, Rtg. (CDSE Entry Section for males & SSC Women Entry Section for women candidates)

West Block-III, Ground Floor, Wing 1,

Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi-110066

2. For Navy as the first choice

IHQ of MOD (Navy) DMPR (OI&R Section),

Room No. 204, 'C' Wing,

Sena Bhawan, New Delhi-110011

3. For Air Force as the first choice

PO 3 (A) Air HQS. 'J' Block,

Room No. 17, Opp. Vayu Bhawan,

Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi-110011

Failure to comply with this instruction will deprive the candidates of any claim to deliberation in the event of their not receiving the call letter for interview by the .

For all the queries regarding the allotment of centers, date of interview, merit list, Joining Instructions, and any other relevant information regarding the CDS 2021 selection process, candidates can visit website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in Candidates can contact to Recruiting Directorate on Telephone No- 011-26173215 and Fax No- 011-26196205 between 2PM to 5PM on all working days in case candidates having IMA or OTA as their 1^st choice.

Disqualification Criteria

1. Candidates who were admitted at the Air Force Academy, Indian Military Academy, National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai but were removed due to objectionable behavior, will not be considered for getting into the Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy or for Short Service Commission in the Army.
2. Candidates who have been withdrawn from the Indian Military Academy for the lack of Officer-Like Qualities (OLQ) will not be admitted to the Indian Military Academy.
3. Candidates who have previously selected as Special Entry Naval Cadets but have withdrawn from the National Defence Academy or from the Naval Training Establishments for lacking in Officer-like qualities, will not be eligible for admission to the Indian Navy Academy.
4. Candidates who have withdrawn from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), NCC, and Graduate course for lacking in Officer-like qualities will not be considered for grant of Short Service Commission in the Army.