The full form of CDS is Combined Defence Services. It is a national-level exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to recruit candidates for officer posts in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The exam consists of a written test and an interview conducted by the Service Selection Board (SSB). The written test comprises three papers: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, with a total of 100 marks allotted for each paper. The minimum educational qualification needed to appear for the CDS exam is graduation from a recognized Indian university.