Most CDS book lists treat every candidate the same, but the exam doesn’t. An OTA candidate writes two papers, English and General Knowledge; an IMA, INA or AFA candidate also sits Elementary Mathematics. So the right CDS books depend on your path, and an OTA-only candidate shouldn’t buy a maths book at all. CDS (I) 2027 is on 11 April 2027, and UPSC’s calendar puts the notification on 2 December 2026. This page gives separate CDS books for each path, maps them to UPSC’s official papers, and shows each edition’s ISBN, past-paper range and dated price, plus the free UPSC papers to use first. Still in school and aiming for the NDA instead? See our NDA books guide.
By PrepPick Editorial Team · Last updated 2 November 2026
Editions checked on 27 Oct 2026; prices rechecked on 2 Nov 2026. Most Amazon prices on this page are Great Indian Festival sale prices seen on 2 Nov 2026; they may change once the sale is over, so check the price and edition on the listing before you pay.
First, pick your path
- OTA only (Short Service Commission; the only CDS entry open to women): you sit English and General Knowledge only. Don’t buy a maths book.
- IMA, INA or AFA (permanent commission): you sit English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Quick answer
- If you buy only one book (IMA/INA/AFA): Arihant’s Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam (English, ISBN 9789364376754), which covers all three papers. ₹455 on Amazon, MRP ₹825.
- Budget pick (cheapest current-edition book covering both OTA papers): PW’s CDS OTA Book 2026, English and GK past papers up to April 2026, at ₹302 on Amazon.
- Free first: UPSC’s previous question papers page has every recent CDS English, GK and Maths paper. NCERT Class 9–10 Maths covers most of Elementary Maths.
- Next exam: CDS (I) 2027 is on 11 April 2027. The notification is due on 2 December 2026, and applications close on 22 December 2026 (UPSC Calendar 2027).
How this page is built: exam facts come from UPSC’s CDS (II) 2026 notice and UPSC’s 2027 calendar, with paragraph references. Book details come from each publisher’s or retailer’s listing on 27 Oct 2026. Our methodology · About PrepPick
CDS papers by academy
The CDS (I) 2027 notice isn’t out yet. Until it is, the pattern below comes from the CDS (II) 2026 notice (Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, 20 May 2026). Check the new notice when it comes out on 2 December.
| Academy | Papers | Written marks | Interview (SSB) marks | Duration | Bilingual? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | English, GK, Elementary Maths | 300 (100 each) | 300 | 2 hours per paper | GK and Maths in Hindi and English; English paper in English | Appendix-I, A.2(a) and A.3 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | English, GK, Elementary Maths | 300 | 300 | 2 hours per paper | Same | Appendix-I, A.2(a) |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | English, GK, Elementary Maths | 300 | 300 | 2 hours per paper | Same | Appendix-I, A.2(a) |
| Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) | English, GK | 200 (100 each) | 200 | 2 hours per paper | GK in Hindi and English; English paper in English | Appendix-I, A.2(b) |
Rules that shape how you practise:
- Negative marking: one-third (0.33) of a question’s marks is cut for each wrong answer; a blank answer costs nothing (Appendix-II, para 3).
- No calculators (Appendix-I, A.7).
- Maths is at matriculation level. The other papers are set at about graduate level (Appendix-I, B).
- GK breaks ties. With equal final marks, the higher written total ranks first, then the higher GK score (para 8.1).
- Choosing both paths? A man who applies for OTA as well as IMA, INA or AFA must put OTA as his last preference, and AFA counts only as a first choice (N.B. I). If you list any of IMA, INA or AFA, you sit all three papers.
Best books for CDS, by path
OTA path (English + GK)
| Need | Book | Price on 2 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Past papers, English and GK | PW CDS OTA Book 2026, papers up to April 2026 (ISBN 9789378189944) | ₹302 Amazon. Budget pick: the cheapest current-edition book covering both OTA papers |
| Theory plus questions, English and GK | Disha Defender CDS & CDS OTA General Knowledge & English Entrance Guide, 3rd ed., 2026 (ISBN 9789371868235) | ₹394 Amazon; ₹335 Disha |
| Newest papers (2026 I and II) | Oswaal CDS 13 Years’ English (ISBN 9788166242113) and GK (ISBN 9788166242069) volumes | ₹393 Amazon + ₹545 Amazon |
For most OTA candidates, the PW book plus the free CDS (II) 2026 papers from UPSC is enough practice; add Disha’s Defender guide if you want theory notes. About Pathfinder CDS OTA: Arihant’s store still sells Pathfinder CDS OTA 2025 (ISBN 9789364371612) at ₹460, and Amazon lists the same ISBN as “(Old Edition)” at ₹290. It’s cheaper than the PW book, but it’s a 2025 edition, which is why it isn’t the budget pick. Neither listing says which years’ papers it includes, so check the contents page before you buy, and add the 2025 and 2026 papers from UPSC’s site.
IMA, INA and AFA path (English + GK + Maths)
| Need | Book | Price on 2 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| One book for all three papers | Arihant Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam, English (ISBN 9789364376754) | ₹455 Amazon |
| Past papers, all three subjects | Arihant UPSC CDS 2026 Chapterwise 20 Solved Papers (2025–2016) (ISBN 9789373945187) | ₹426 Amazon |
| Extra Maths, if maths is weak | Disha Defender CDS Mathematics Entrance Guide, 3rd ed. (ISBN 9789371869324) | ₹336 Amazon |
CDS books compared
Prices checked on 2 Nov 2026. Most Amazon prices are Great Indian Festival sale prices and may change after the sale; check the edition, ISBN and past-paper range on the listing before you pay.
| Book (publisher) | Type | Edition / date on listing | Papers covered | Past papers inside | Language | Pages | ISBN | MRP | Price on 2 Nov 2026 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam (Arihant) | Theory + MCQs + solved papers | Published 19 Nov 2024 | Eng, GK, Maths | Solved papers 2024 and 2023, per the listing | English | 992 | 9789364376754 | ₹825 | ₹455 Amazon; ₹618 Arihant | IMA/INA/AFA, one book |
| Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam, Hindi (Arihant) | Theory + MCQs + solved papers | Published 19 Nov 2024 | Eng, GK, Maths | Solved papers 2024 and 2023, per Arihant’s store | Hindi | 1,184 | 9789364370073 | ₹965 | ₹562 Amazon | Hindi-medium, IMA/INA/AFA |
| Pathfinder CDS OTA 2025 (Arihant) | Theory + MCQs | 2025; Amazon tags it “(Old Edition)” | Eng, GK | Years not stated on the listing; check the contents page | English | 660 | 9789364371612 | ₹575 | ₹460 Arihant | OTA, only with the free 2025–26 papers |
| Defender CDS & CDS OTA GK & English Guide, 3rd ed. (Disha) | Theory + practice + PYQs | 3rd ed., published 20 Apr 2026 | Eng, GK | 2020–2026, per the publisher | English | 560 | 9789371868235 | ₹670 | ₹394 Amazon; ₹335 Disha | OTA theory |
| Defender CDS Mathematics Entrance Guide, 3rd ed. (Disha) | Theory + practice + PYQs | 3rd ed., published 20 Apr 2026 | Maths | 2020–2026, per Disha (2026 = CDS (I) only) | English | 464 | 9789371869324 | ₹560 | ₹336 Amazon | IMA/INA/AFA, weak maths |
| UPSC CDS 2026 Chapterwise 20 Solved Papers (Arihant) | Solved papers, by chapter | Published 10 Dec 2025 | Eng, GK, Maths | 2016–2025 (20 papers) | English | 760 | 9789373945187 | ₹725 | ₹426 Amazon; ₹543 Arihant | All three papers in one volume |
| CDS PYQ Book, 23 Previous Year Solved Papers (PW) | Solved papers, by chapter | Published 20 May 2026 | Eng, GK, Maths | Up to April 2026 | English | 824 | 9789378183997 | ₹749 | ₹427 Amazon | All three papers, includes CDS (I) 2026 |
| CDS OTA Book 2026, 23 Previous Year Question Papers (PW) | Solved papers, by chapter | Published 21 May 2026 | Eng, GK | Up to April 2026 | English | 564 | 9789378189944 | ₹549 | ₹302 Amazon | Budget pick: cheapest current-edition book covering both OTA papers |
| CDS 13 Years’ Chapterwise Solved Papers, GK (Oswaal) | Solved papers, by chapter | Published 14 Oct 2026; “For 2027 Exam” | GK | 2014–2026 (I & II) | English | 552 | 9788166242069 | ₹829 | ₹545 Amazon | Newest GK papers |
| Same, Elementary Mathematics (Oswaal) | Solved papers, by chapter | 14 Oct 2026 | Maths | 2014–2026 (I & II) | English | 512 | 9788166242076 | ₹779 | ₹519 Amazon | Newest Maths papers |
| Same, English (Oswaal) | Solved papers, by chapter | 14 Oct 2026 | Eng | 2014–2026 (I & II) | English | 376 | 9788166242113 | ₹579 | ₹393 Amazon | Newest English papers |
| Objective English for Defence Exams (Disha) | English practice | Published 17 Dec 2025 | Eng | NDA, CDS and AFCAT papers 2021–2025, by chapter, per Disha | English | 400 | 9789371862554 | ₹525 | ₹351 Amazon | Extra English practice |
What buyers say: on Amazon, buyers of the English Pathfinder CDS find it helpful for CDS preparation, call it a good choice for beginners and see it as worth the price. Buyers of Disha’s Objective English mention plenty of chapter-wise practice and clear explanations.
Which books include the CDS (II) 2026 papers? Of the books above, only Oswaal’s 13 Years’ volumes marked “2014–2026 (I & II)” (published 14 Oct 2026) list both 2026 papers. Disha’s Defender GK & English guide says it has solved questions from 2020–2026, but it was published on 20 Apr 2026, so its 2026 questions can only be from CDS (I) 2026 (held on 12 Apr 2026). PW’s books stop at April 2026 and Arihant’s solved papers stop at 2025. Older Oswaal listings say “Includes 2026 Paper-I” only, so look for “(I & II)”.
CDS Pathfinder: latest edition and is it enough?
What is the latest edition of the CDS Pathfinder? On 27 Oct 2026, Arihant’s own store sells Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam under ISBN 9789364376754 (English) and 9789364370073 (Hindi). Amazon lists both with a publication date of 19 Nov 2024, and the English listing mentions solved papers for 2024 and 2023. So Pathfinder suits theory and topic practice; for recent questions, add the free 2025 and 2026 papers from UPSC or one newer solved-papers book. Match the ISBN on any listing to the publisher’s store, and skip listings tagged “(Old Edition)” or with no ISBN.
CDS English books
The notice says the English paper tests “understanding of English and workmanlike use of words”. It’s set at about graduate level and printed in English only.
| Skill tested (plain-English summary) | Where to practise |
|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | Official papers; Pathfinder or Disha Defender English section |
| Grammar: spotting errors, sentence improvement | Disha Objective English for Defence Exams; our English grammar and vocabulary books |
| Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, idioms | Same; the SSC English books guide for deeper vocabulary practice |
| Sentence order and cloze passages | Oswaal’s English volume (2014–2026 papers by topic) |
CDS General Knowledge books
GK covers current events, everyday science, and the history and geography of India, “of a nature which candidate should be able to answer without special study” (notice, Appendix-I B). Both paths sit this paper.
| Area | Free base (NCERT) | Book |
|---|---|---|
| History, including modern India | NCERT books for history, geography and science (Class 8–12 history) | Pathfinder or Defender GK section; Spectrum for deeper modern history is optional |
| Geography | NCERT Class 11 physical geography and India geography | Guide book |
| Polity | NCERT Class 9–11 political science | Guide book; Laxmikanth for deeper polity is optional |
| Everyday science | NCERT Class 9–10 Science | Guide book |
| Static GK revision | — | Lucent GK for static GK |
| Current events | Newspapers, last 12 months | A current-affairs source |
CDS Maths books (IMA, INA and AFA only)
Which book is best for CDS maths? Start with what the notice says: Elementary Mathematics is set at matriculation level. So you don’t need Class 11–12 or JEE books. NCERT Class 9–10 plus an arithmetic practice book fits better.
Note on Class 9: the Class 9 chapter names in this table (marked “Old Class 9”) are from NCERT’s earlier Class 9 Mathematics textbook. NCERT’s Class 9 maths file on ncert.nic.in is now Ganita Manjari Part I (first edition, April 2026), which arranges the topics differently, in chapters such as “The World of Numbers” and “Measuring Space: Perimeter and Area”. If you have the new book, match the topics in the left column, not the chapter names.
| Official maths topic (CDS notice) | NCERT base (free; Class 9 = old textbook) | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic: number system, unitary method, time and distance, time and work, percentages, interest, profit and loss, ratio, variation | Old Class 9 Number Systems; Class 10 Real Numbers | Matric-level arithmetic practice; SSC maths books |
| Elementary number theory: primes, divisibility tests, HCF and LCM, Euclidean algorithm, logarithms to base 10 | Class 10 Real Numbers (logarithms are not in current NCERT Class 10 or in the chapter list of Class 9 Ganita Manjari Part I) | Disha Defender CDS Maths; Pathfinder |
| Algebra: remainder theorem, polynomials, quadratic equations, linear equations and inequations in two variables, sets, laws of indices | Old Class 9 and Class 10 Polynomials, Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations | Arithmetic, algebra and geometry practice books |
| Trigonometry: ratios from 0° to 90°, standard values, simple identities, heights and distances | Class 10 Introduction to Trigonometry, Some Applications of Trigonometry | Solved papers |
| Geometry: lines and angles, triangles, congruence, similarity, quadrilaterals, circles, tangents, loci | Old Class 9 Lines and Angles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles; Class 10 Triangles, Circles | Solved papers; the geometry practice books above |
| Mensuration: areas, surface area and volume of cuboids, cones, cylinders and spheres | Old Class 9 Heron’s Formula, Surface Areas and Volumes; Class 10 Areas Related to Circles, Surface Areas and Volumes | Solved papers |
| Statistics: tables, graphs, mean, median, mode | Old Class 9 and Class 10 Statistics | Solved papers |
If you’ve studied for SSC exams, your arithmetic and geometry books carry over almost entirely. Add Oswaal’s Maths volume (₹519, with both 2026 papers) or Arihant’s 20 Solved Papers (₹426) to see how UPSC words the questions.
Hindi-medium CDS books (CDS book in Hindi)
The GK and Elementary Maths papers are printed in both Hindi and English, but the English paper is in English only (notice, Appendix-I A.3). So a Hindi-medium candidate still needs English practice.
| Book | ISBN | Price on 2 Nov 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder CDS Entrance Exam (Hindi), Arihant | 9789364370073 | ₹562 Amazon; ₹772 Arihant | Covers all three papers |
| Free official papers | — | Free on UPSC | GK and Maths papers are bilingual |
हिंदी में सारांश: CDS में OTA के उम्मीदवार केवल दो पेपर देते हैं: अंग्रेज़ी और सामान्य ज्ञान (100-100 अंक, 2-2 घंटे)। IMA, INA और AFA के उम्मीदवार तीसरा पेपर, प्रारंभिक गणित (100 अंक), भी देते हैं, जिसका स्तर मैट्रिक का है। सामान्य ज्ञान और गणित के प्रश्नपत्र हिंदी और अंग्रेज़ी दोनों में आते हैं, पर अंग्रेज़ी का पेपर केवल अंग्रेज़ी में होता है। हर गलत उत्तर पर एक-तिहाई अंक कटते हैं। हिंदी माध्यम के लिए Arihant की Pathfinder CDS (हिंदी, ₹562) तीनों पेपर कवर करती है; पिछले प्रश्नपत्र UPSC की वेबसाइट पर मुफ़्त हैं। CDS (I) 2027 की अधिसूचना 2 दिसंबर 2026 को और परीक्षा 11 अप्रैल 2027 को है (UPSC कैलेंडर 2027)।
Free official CDS papers vs solved-paper books
UPSC’s previous question papers page lists the English, GK and Elementary Mathematics papers for CDS (II) 2026, (I) 2026, (II) 2025, (I) 2025, (II) 2024 and (I) 2024, with older years further down. The CDS (II) 2026 exam page added all three papers on 14 Sep 2026.
| Need | Free official source | When a solved book helps |
|---|---|---|
| The newest questions (2026) | UPSC papers page | Only Oswaal’s (I & II) volumes list both 2026 papers |
| Practice by topic | NCERT exercises (Maths, science) | Chapterwise books group 10–20 years of questions by topic |
| Answers and explanations | Not on UPSC’s papers page | Every solved book listed here has solutions |
| Timed full papers | Print the UPSC paper and time yourself (2 hours) | Saves printing |
How to prepare for CDS (I) 2027 with these books
Count back from 11 April 2027, about 23 weeks from 2 Nov 2026.
| Weeks | Dates | English and GK (both paths) | Maths (IMA/INA/AFA only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Now – 30 Nov 2026 | Grammar basics; NCERT history and polity | Arithmetic and number theory |
| 6–8 | 1–22 Dec 2026 | Vocabulary; geography. Apply between 2 and 22 Dec | Algebra |
| 9–13 | 23 Dec 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | Comprehension practice; everyday science | Geometry and trigonometry |
| 14–17 | 1–28 Feb 2027 | Chapterwise past questions; current events | Mensuration, statistics; chapterwise past questions |
| 18–21 | 1–28 Mar 2027 | One full official paper of each subject a week, 2 hours, no calculator | Same |
| 22–23 | 29 Mar – 10 Apr 2027 | Revise wrong answers and current events | Revise wrong answers |
Fakes, old editions and “CDS books PDF” sites
- Match the ISBN to the publisher’s store. A real ISBN has 10 or 13 digits.
- Read the year range, not the cover year. A “2026” title can stop at 2025 papers; the range in the title (such as “2014–2026 (I & II)”) is what counts.
- Watch “(Old Edition)” tags. Amazon marks some Pathfinder CDS listings this way, including a Hindi 2020 edition.
- Skip “CDS books PDF” sites. Scans of paid books are often old editions and breach copyright. The official papers are free on UPSC’s site.
FAQs
What is the UPSC CDS exam?
The Combined Defence Services exam is a UPSC written exam for graduates and final-year degree students, followed by an SSB interview, for entry to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy. It’s held twice a year; the CDS (II) 2026 notice listed about 451 vacancies across these courses.
Which book is best for CDS maths?
Elementary Maths is set at matriculation level, so NCERT Class 9–10 plus an arithmetic practice book covers it. For CDS-style questions, add Disha’s Defender CDS Mathematics (₹336) or a solved-papers book such as Oswaal’s Maths volume (₹519), which includes both 2026 papers.
Is Pathfinder enough for CDS?
It covers all three papers in one volume, which suits IMA, INA and AFA candidates on a first attempt. Its listing mentions solved papers only for 2024 and 2023, so add the free 2025 and 2026 papers from UPSC’s site.
Do OTA candidates need to study maths for CDS?
No. OTA candidates write only English and General Knowledge, 100 marks each, per the CDS (II) 2026 notice. If you also list IMA, INA or AFA as a preference, you write the Elementary Maths paper too.
Are CDS papers available in Hindi?
The General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics papers are printed in both Hindi and English. The English paper is in English only, per the CDS (II) 2026 notice.
What is the latest edition of CDS Pathfinder?
On 27 Oct 2026, Arihant’s store sells the English edition under ISBN 9789364376754 and the Hindi edition under ISBN 9789364370073; Amazon gives both a publication date of 19 November 2024. Check the ISBN on any listing against the publisher’s store before you buy.
Where can I get official CDS question papers?
From UPSC’s previous question papers page at upsc.gov.in, which lists the CDS English, GK and Elementary Mathematics papers from 2026 back to earlier years. The CDS (II) 2026 papers were added on 14 September 2026.
When is the CDS (I) 2027 exam?
11 April 2027, per UPSC’s Calendar 2027. The notification is due on 2 December 2026 and the last date to apply is 22 December 2026. UPSC says these dates can change, so check upsc.gov.in.
Sources (checked 27 Oct 2026)
- UPSC: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 notice (Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, 20 May 2026): scheme, syllabus, negative marking, preferences, tie-breaking
- UPSC: CDS (II), 2026 exam page (papers 14 Sep 2026; results 19 and 26 Oct 2026)
- UPSC: Previous year question papers
- UPSC: Calendar 2027 (as on 20 May 2026)
- Book details and prices: Amazon.in (Great Indian Festival sale prices), Arihant Books and Disha Publication product pages, 27 Oct 2026; prices rechecked 2 Nov 2026. NCERT: Class 9 Ganita Manjari Part I (first edition, April 2026) and the earlier Class 9 Mathematics textbook, from ncert.nic.in. How we check prices and editions
Updated 27 Oct 2026: what changed
- New page: CDS books for 2026–27, with separate picks for OTA and IMA/INA/AFA, the paper pattern from UPSC’s CDS (II) 2026 notice, the CDS (I) 2027 dates from UPSC’s 2027 calendar, 12 editions compared with ISBNs, past-paper ranges and dated prices, the full Elementary Maths topic list mapped to NCERT, Hindi-medium options and a plan counting back to 11 April 2027.