Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is going to release the notification for CDS 2020 tomorrow, on October 30, 2019. The notification as well as online application form for Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2020 will be released at upsc.gov.in. In print, notification shall be issued in leading dailies and employment news as well .
The commission has already published its year 2020 calendar, which confirms that the last date to apply for CDS 2020 will be November 11, 2019. The exam will be held on February 2, 2020.
Tomorrow, at a time decided by the commission, the notification will be published at upsc.gov.in. Direct link for the same will display under the what’s new section of upsc.gov.in, as well as under active examinations, and most probably on the active examinations page also.
Whereas to apply, candidates will have to go to the apply online page of upsc.gov.in, and there, click online application for various examinations. Or, one can directly go to upsconline.nic.in.
Through CDS I 2020, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will offer admission to its different courses. UPSC CDS is one of the modes of joining the defence forces of India. Admission will be offered at 150th (DE) course at Indian Military Academy Dehradun, Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala course, Air Force Academy Hyderabad training course, 113th SSC Men NT in Officers Training Academy Chennai, and 27th SSC Women NT in Officers Training Academy Chennai. In IMA, INA, AFA, courses shall commence in January 20201. Whereas in OTA Chennai, the course shall commence in April 2021.
Unlike SSC exams, in UPSC exams the number of vacancies are published in the notification itself. In the last two exams – CDS 1 2019, and CDS 2 2019 – there were 417 vacancies each time. There were 100 in IMA, 45 in INA, 32 in AFA, 225 in OTA Men, and 15 in OTA Women.
Candidates with graduation in any stream can apply for CDS to get entry in IMA, OTA. Whereas for INA, one should have engineering degree. And for AFA, candidates should have graduation and also studied physics and maths in 10+2 level, or have bachelors in engineering.
Before the notification releases, per the previous notifications, it is expected that only unmarried male candidates born between 2nd Jan 1997 and 1st Jan 2002 can apply for IMA, and INA. For AFA, candidates should be born between 2nd Jan 1997 and 1st Jaan 2001. CPC issued by DGCA holders can be upto 26 years of age, and those above 25 years can be married as well.
Selection for IMA, INA, AFA, OTA are through UPSC CDS exam, and SSB interviews. The exam comprises of three papers namely english, general knowledge, elementary mathematics for IMA, INA, AFA. Whereas for OTA, there are only two papers namely english and general knowledge. Each paper is of 100 marks, 2 hour.
In CDS 2 2018, which is the latest CDS for which cut off is available, the cut off in written exam for IMA, INA, AFA, OTA Men, and OTA Women were respectively 116, 102, 131, 80, 80. Also, candidates needed at least 20% in each subject. The final cut off after SSB for them were respectively 242, 228, 253, 162, 163.
It may also be noted that the result for CDS 2 2019 is awaited. The exam was held on September 8, 2019, and its result will be announced either in November or December.
The most UPSC notifications issued most recently include that for IES 2020, for which online applications were received until October 15, 2019, and Combined Geo Scientist 2020, for which also applications were accepted until the same deadline. The exam for the former will be held on January 5, 2020, and that for the latter will be on January 19, 2020.