How many candidates clear CDS exam and SSB interview

How many aspirants apply for CDS every year

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, conducted by UPSC attracts a significant number of candidates annually as the competitive exam serves as a gateway for individuals aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces as officers in various branches, including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).
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More than 5 lakh people apply for the UPSC CDS exam each time and since the exam is held twice a year, this results in more than 10 lakh candidates every year. As the CDS Selection process is rigorous, requiring candidates to demonstrate not only academic proficiency but also physical fitness and leadership qualities, only a small fraction of candidates clear the exam every year.

How many Candidates clear the CDS written exam and SSC interview?

Even though a huge number of candidates register for the exam every year, fewer candidates actually show up for the exam and even fewer pass the written exam. Previous year CDS results show that only 7000-8000 candidates qualify the CDS written exam. The table below shows the number of candidates who qualified the UPSC CDS exam in the previous years.

How many candidates clear CDS exam and SSB interview
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Total No. of candidates who cleared the CDS written exam from 2017- 2022:

Exam

No. of candidates applied for exam

No. of candidates appeared for exam

No. of candidates clear the CDS written exam

CDS 2 2022

225740

116387

6658

CDS 1 2022

313892

155441

6622

CDS 2 2021

255044

135707

6845

CDS 1 2021

245065

117285

6552

CDS 2 2020

234343

118250

6727

CDS 1 2020

235290

119892

7081

CDS 2 2019

195532

101453

8120

CDS 1 2019

238983

124659

7953

CDS 2 2018

236248

120579

7650

CDS 1 2018

244164

115658

8261

CDS 2 2017

266102

127326

8692

CDS 1 2017

261309

126830

8548

How many Candidates qualify the CDS SSB interview?

Passing the CDS SSB interview is challenging with a very low success rate. Only 5-6 candidates out of every 100 qualify the interview. 60% of candidates fail the SSB screening tests like OIR Test and PPDT. The number of candidates who qualify the CDS SSB interview is tabulated below.

No. of candidates who cleared the CDS written and SSB interview from 2017- 2022:

Exam

No. of candidates clear the CDS written exam

No. of candidates clear CDS SSB interview

CDS 2 2022

6658

153 (IMA+AFA+INA+OTA) & 198 (*145 + ^58) OTA Men and Women

CDS 1 2022

6622

164 (IMA+AFA+INA+OTA) & 198 (*135 + ^63) OTA Men and Women

CDS 2 2021

6845

142 (81 + 47 + 14) (IMA INA AFA) & 214 (*139 + ^75 ) OTA Men and Women

CDS 1 2021

6552

154 (85 +58 +11) (IMA INA AFA) & 169 (*113 + ^56 ) OTA Men and Women

CDS 2 2020

6727

129 (71 + 49 + 09) (IMA INA AFA) & 192 (*141 + ^51 ) OTA Men and Women

CDS 1 2020

7081

95 (50+39+6) (IMA INA AFA) & 147 (*96 + ^51 ) OTA Men and Women

CDS 2 2019

8120

196 (106+76+14) (IMA INA AFA) & 241 (*174 + ^67 ) OTA Men and Women

CDS 1 2019

7953

129(IMA AFA INA) + 267 OTA

CDS 2 2018

7650

295

CDS 1 2018

8261

272

CDS 2 2017

8692

419

CDS 1 2017

8548

441

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Tips for clearing the CDS SSB interview

Cracking the CDS SSB interview requires a well-rounded approach and here are some tips to clear this final steps in the CDS selection process:

  • Develop your creative problem-solving skills by tackling diverse scenarios.
  •  Hone your teamwork abilities through social interaction, boosting confidence and communication.
  • Stay updated on current affairs and build a strong foundation in general knowledge across various domains.
  • Self-awareness is crucial. Analyse your strengths and weaknesses, amplifying the former and improving the latter.
  • Finally, remember, physical fitness is a key aspect. A healthy regime leaves a positive impression.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - How many candidates apply for CDS every year?


1. What is the success rate of the UPSC CDS exam?
Ans:
According to the previous years' analysis, the success rate of the UPSC CDS Exam is 2-5%.

2. How many candidates clear the CDS written exam?
Ans:
Around 4 to 5 lakh students appear for the CDS written exam every year out of which 7000 to 8000 students clear the exam.

3. How many seats are in CDS?
Ans:
The CDS 2 2024 exam is offering 459 vacancies across various defence services.

4. What are the passing marks in the CDS exam?
Ans:
The minimum qualifying marks in each subject are 20 marks, i.e. 20%.

5. How many attempts are there for the CDS exam?
Ans:
There is no attempt limit in the CDS exam.

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