CDS/OTA is an excellent career option for anyone who wants to get into Indian Armed

Forces -Army, AirForce and Navy.

Caution:-> This exam could be an extremely challenging one. Vastness of syllabus, 5

day gruelling SSB interview procedure may not just be cup of tea for all. Further,
a rigorous, highly disciplined life (in Indian Armed Forces) therefater may not
suit everyone. But then, if anyone loves challenges, anyone who has a burning
desire to be a part of Army/Navy/AirForce, then just read on.

Before I get into the details regarding the preparation strategy for the exam,
let�s get into some of the key aspects.

a) Frequency -> twice (usually in the months of Feb and Nov)

b) Number of test takers (per exam) -> 1.5 lakhs -2 lakhs

c) Eligibility:-> Graduate (or anyone in the final year)

d) Eligibility (Age) -> 19 -25 years

The CDS/OTA exam comprises the following two stages.

Written exam -conducted by UPSC

SSB Interview procedure (which has two stages)
Usually, about 1.5 lakh-2 lakh candidates appear for the exam. Number of candidates
who are shorlisted for the Second stage (SSB Interview -conducted by Ministry of
Defence) is around 9000. Finally usually about 450 candidates are recommended for
(CDS/OTA).

Q-1 What is the difference between CDS and OTA ?

I) CDS (Combined Defence Services) would provide one with the opportunity to be
there with the Indian Armed Forces till the age of retirement -59 years (Permanent
Commission)

In contrast OTA (Officer�s Traning Academy) is a Short Service Commission (Period

of appointment is 10 years which can be extended by another 4 years).

II) If anyone is opting for CDS, he would have to write three papers -Maths,
English and GK. Each paper for 2 hours. However, for OTA, ONLY two papers -English
& GK.

At a crude level (in terms of the first stage -Written Test), one can say,

CDS -Maths = OTA

Q-2 Preparation Strategy for OTA ?

This implies one would have to prepare for two test areas only -English and GK.

A) English is a relatively simple area. There will be 120 qs and a total of 100
marks (to be attempted in 2 hrs). Each question carries equal marks and there is a
negative mark (of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question).

So, Marks per question = 0.833

Negative marks (per question) = 0.33 X 0.833 = 0.277
Nature of qs (English):->

120 questions (all MCQ -4 options) are from following areas ->
a) Synonyms

b) Antonyms

c) Fill in the Blanks

d) Reading Comprehension (per passage not more than 200 words)

e) Cloze passage

f) Parajumbles

g) Error Spotting

h) Sentence Correction

Note: All the qs are easy. With a good deal of practice, one can score at least 70%
marks.

Summary (for English) =Vocabulary + Grammar + Reading Comprehension Skills

*******************************************

B) General Knowledge.

This could be tricky area. Paper is designed by UPSC. Qs are NOT easy. They are
MODERATE -DIFFICULT. There are 120 qs and they come from following areas

Current Affairs
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
History -Ancient, Medieval, Modern
Geography -Physical & World
Geography -Indian (Location, Monsoon, Rainfall, Crops, Irrigation, Power,
Industries, Natural Vegetation etc)
Indian Polity & Constitution (Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State
policy, Union & State Governments, Panchayati Raj, Election Commission, Judicial
System in India etc)
Economy (Planning, NITI AAYOG, Money, Banking, Public Finance, MicroEconomics etc)
Environmental Issues
Note:-> Any net score of above 50% marks in GK is a top class performance.

So, how should one go about preparing for CDS -GK ?

Following is the bare minimum expected of a CDS/OTA aspirant

a) Download last 10 years� actual papers (available in Public domain/UPSC website)

b) Get access to NCERT Books (Class 8th/9th/10th books)

c) Prepare a study plan - Daily 3 hrs on GK is required (for about 50- 60 days).
That implies about 150 hrs of preparation for GK alone is required. Keep reviewing
your plan on a weekly basis.

Pointers for Study Plan:->

Since the qs come from 10 areas as highlighted above, you could design your stduy
plan something like this.

Note The plan given below is a rough guideline. Exact plan will vary from person to
person (depending on one�s existing level of knowledge/skills).

Total days (for GK alone)=50�60 (each day = 2�3 hrs of study)

Science (Physics -> Mechanics, Optics, Electricity, Magnetism, etc) =4�5 days
Science (Chemistry -> Physics, Inorganic, Organic) = 4�5 days
Science (Biology) =4�5 days
History (Ancient) -> 4�5 days
History (Medieval) -> 4�5 days
History (Modern) -> 5�6 days
Geography (Physical & World) -> 4�5 days
Geography (Indian) -> 4�5 days
Economy -> 5�6 days
Polity & Consttitution -> 5�6 days
Current Affairs:-> Go through the last 6 months of key events. One should read and
make notes and revise those thoroughly. (Daily spend about 1 hr on the same).
Whenever you complete any chapter, write topic wise test (about 20 mins duration)
to understand your strengths/weaknesses. Appear for MOCK Tests (and analyze the
questions -attempted and unattempted ones very thoroughly).

Note: Final selection is made on the basis of total marks (Marks in Written Test +
Marks in SSB Interviews)

Types of qs:->

UPSC has a very peculiar way of designing qs. The qs are NOT straightforward. Those
are anaytical in nature. The qs belong to usually one of the following types

a) Single statement

b) Multiple statements -> A question followed by 2/3/4 statements and you would
have to figure out which statements are TRUE/FALSE etc.

Options would be like a) Only 1& 3 b) Only 2& 3 etc

c) Assertion & Reason:-> For this type, there are two statements -I and II. The
options are like. (A) is true and (R) is the correct explanation for the same and
so on.

d) Match the column

e) Graphs/Maps:-> For e.g, a question could be related to �Distance Time graph� and
you have to find the nature of the same ? Constant speed, increasing speed etc OR
the map of India may be provided. You will have to identify the prominent locations
-Industries/cities,

So, the vastness of syllabus and the offbeat presentation type make GK questions
very challenging.

Key points to be taken care of while studying:->

Be thorough in your studies. For example If you are studying any area -(say
Physics) , be thorough with all the necessary models. 2 to 3 Qs may just involve
basic numerical calculations. However, the other qs will test you on fundamentals.
The idea is to be aware of the basic natural phenomenon around. Try and get an
awareness of the concepts like ? �Units & Dimensions, Kinematics (speed, velocity,
acceleration, scalar, vector quantities, MOtion in one dimension, Motion in two
dimension (Projectiles, Circular Motion), Laws of Motion, Conservation of Momentum,
Work, Energy, Power, Gravitation, Fluid Dynamics, etc etc�.

So, with the above �modular approach�(dividing a bigger topic into small areas and
then again dividing a small area into even more smaller parts) and preparing a
study plan by yourself -by observing your strengths/weaknesses will come handy.

All the best !!