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UPSC CDS Syllabus
UPSC Combined Defence Services. The complete UPSC CDS outline — 3 subjects, 6 chapters and 18 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
UPSC CDS subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
UPSC CDS flashcard decks
154 question-and-answer cards across 3 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the UPSC CDS syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: English carries 6 topics while Mathematics carries 6. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for UPSC CDS.
The ~15 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
UPSC CDS syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the UPSC CDS syllabus?
UPSC CDS covers 3 subjects: English, General Knowledge and Mathematics. Together they contain 6 chapters and 18 named topics.
How much do you have to study for UPSC CDS?
The full UPSC CDS outline breaks down into 6 chapters, 18 topics and 0 sub-topics. English is the largest single subject with 6 topics across 2 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole UPSC CDS syllabus?
Roughly 15 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 1 weeks.
Are there UPSC CDS flashcards?
Yes — 154 question-and-answer flashcards across 3 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this UPSC CDS syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the UPSC CDS syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in India and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
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