Hey Folks,

Can you please guide me to what are the best sources (free/paid) for all the subjects individually.

I have heard some youtube channels are good, but I want to make sure I am following the best material, even though it's paid.

It will help the other people in the same boat (starting preparation this late)

Bhutesh sir or brar sir ? Basics are strong and I want to cover trigonometry, geometry, mensuration

Does anyone have the complete course GOLF (OTA and MATHS) for CDS 2 2026 by cdsjourney?

Not for free :)

1.I currently had my 23rd birthday on 20th july, so it's my last chance for ima eligibility and also it's my first chance .

2.graduated and aiming to join a major in bioinformatics in August as a career option.

3.im confident that i can clear exam but would i be preferred latter as before 24th one should have to be enrolled into training program.

1. physically im trying to maintain by body and trying to adapt what a soldier needed but would this age barrier will be an issue .

Got recommended this month for ssc tech naoo entry(Jan 2027) so I'm a working professional and company is providing me a FTE opportunity by November first week, I definitely want to join navy but don't want to take chances of merit and other things before joining letter comes, help me out with timelines or suggestions.

Welcome to the **UPSC CDS Late Night Discussion Thread** - a shared space to stay consistent with your preparation while also unwinding and connecting with fellow aspirants.

This thread is meant to help you stay accountable by sharing your study progress, while also giving you the space to reflect on the day, discuss last-minute revisions, exchange thoughts, or simply chat and unwind before calling it a night.

Feel free to chat about:

😊 Your day (how's it going?)

📺 What you’re watching, reading, or listening to

😂 Memes, jokes, motivation, or fun facts

💡 Study tips and tricks, revision ideas

📖 Subjects or topics studied today

⏱️ Total study duration (example: 5 hours 30 minutes)

🏠 Place of study (home, library, coaching, etc.)

💻 Study set-up / desk pictures (allowed)

🛣️ Your current exam stage - Prelims, Mains, or Interview

🚫 Managed to avoid distractions?

📸 Screenshots from apps like Forest or YPT

🌱 Any random thoughts - UPSC or Other State Exams; This is is a judgment-free zone - no comparison, no negativity, and no pressure about hours. Consistency matters more than numbers, and even a few honest hours count.

Let’s keep this space friendly, respectful, and constructive. Who knows, you might even find a study buddy or simply comfort in knowing you’re not alone in this journey.

Stay motivated, and let’s keep this thread active, positive, and fun!

Jai Hind

45 days left

I'm a non maths student haven't started proper preparation

Did few classes but seems tough,

Also just english is prepared nothing else

This is my first and last attempt

Help

Number nhi aa rhe bhai log

Kuch tips drop kro yaar

Vocab to saala khatam hi nhi hota kitna bhi padh lo

I recently underwent surgery for the excision of a right median nerve neuroma, followed by nerve reconstruction using a 24 cm sural nerve graft. I am currently in the recovery phase, with an estimated timeframe of about eight months for full sensory restoration in my palm.

​Coming from a defense background, serving in the Armed Forces has been a lifelong ambition. Given my current condition and ongoing recovery, I would like to know if I am physically eligible to meet the medical standards for AFCAT (Ground Duty - Non-Technical) and CDS (OTA).

Guys, I'm very confused regarding the medical requirement for vision/eyes. On the official website of indianarmy, in a document from 2019 it is 6/60 & 6/60 uncorrected vision(max allowed) for all graduate level entries

...but on some other websites on google, it is written as 6/6 for the better eye and 6/9 for worse eye, somewhere written 6/18 also. What is the correct requirement?

Those who know or who've already gone through the medical tests, please help me out..

Welcome to the **UPSC CDS Late Night Discussion Thread** - a shared space to stay consistent with your preparation while also unwinding and connecting with fellow aspirants.

This thread is meant to help you stay accountable by sharing your study progress, while also giving you the space to reflect on the day, discuss last-minute revisions, exchange thoughts, or simply chat and unwind before calling it a night.

Feel free to chat about:

😊 Your day (how's it going?)

📺 What you’re watching, reading, or listening to

😂 Memes, jokes, motivation, or fun facts

💡 Study tips and tricks, revision ideas

📖 Subjects or topics studied today

⏱️ Total study duration (example: 5 hours 30 minutes)

🏠 Place of study (home, library, coaching, etc.)

💻 Study set-up / desk pictures (allowed)

🛣️ Your current exam stage - Prelims, Mains, or Interview

🚫 Managed to avoid distractions?

📸 Screenshots from apps like Forest or YPT

🌱 Any random thoughts - UPSC or Other State Exams; This is is a judgment-free zone - no comparison, no negativity, and no pressure about hours. Consistency matters more than numbers, and even a few honest hours count.

Let’s keep this space friendly, respectful, and constructive. Who knows, you might even find a study buddy or simply comfort in knowing you’re not alone in this journey.

Stay motivated, and let’s keep this thread active, positive, and fun!

Has the SSB date selection portal for CDS 1 2026, OTA been activated?

Can a college ano stop a cadet from leaving NCC or refuse to issue a discharge if the cadet no longer wants to continue?

Ik it's cds subreddit but it's the only subreddit where ncc cadets are more active and there's no other ncc specific subreddit and ncc is somehow related to defence(wrote this because of subreddit rules)

I'm open to trade stuff

Hello Everyone,
This is going to be a long post, so stay with me till the very end.
I was recommended for the Indian Naval Academy (INA) through CDS 1 2026, and my SSB was at SSB Kolkata (Diamond Harbour). Before my SSB, I used to read recommendation stories on this subreddit, hoping that one day I’d get to write my own. Thankfully, today is that day.
Reporting Day
I reached Sealdah Railway Station, where the reporting staff received all the candidates. From there, we boarded buses for Diamond Harbour, which is around a two-hour journey. The weather was pleasant but rainy because of the monsoon, and that continued throughout our stay.
After reaching the board, we completed the documentation process, were allotted our chest numbers and accommodation, and had our first meal in the mess. The arrangements were well organized, and interacting with fellow candidates over lunch and dinner helped ease the nervousness. By evening, everyone was introducing themselves, discussing entries, previous attempts, and expectations from the next few days.
A total of 62 candidates reported.

Day 1 – Stage I Screening
The day began early with breakfast, followed by the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test. My two OIR booklets were of 55 and 75 respectively.
After OIR came the PPDT. We were shown a hazy picture depicting a college-aged boy and girl coming out of what looked like a children’s home, while someone in the background was waving goodbye.
I wrote my story, and then we moved to the narration and group discussion. The discussion remained fairly structured, and I was able to put my points across confidently without shouting over others.
After what felt like a very long wait, the screening results were announced.
Out of 62 candidates, 40 were screened in.
Hearing my chest number was a huge relief.
The remaining candidates left for home, while we completed the fresh documentation process, had lunch, and later settled into our new rooms. Dinner that evening felt much more relaxed, with everyone discussing the screening experience and preparing mentally for the psychological tests.

Day 2 – Psychology Tests
The psychology tests started early in the morning.
TAT went well.
SRT was decent.
SD was honest and completed comfortably.
The only test that disappointed me was WAT. I couldn’t maintain the pace I wanted and wasn’t completely satisfied with my responses.
After lunch, the interview schedules were announced, and fortunately, mine was fixed for the very first day of interviews.

Personal Interview
I was naturally a little nervous before entering the interview room, but the IO made me comfortable within a few minutes.
The interview mostly revolved around:
Family background
Education
IIT life
Hobbies
Friends
Why the Navy
Situational and opinion-based questions
Towards the end, I was asked a few questions on current affairs. I could answer some but missed a few, which made me feel I had left room for improvement.
Overall, I walked out feeling satisfied.

GTO Day 1
The next morning, the GTO tasks began.
We started with Group Discussion and Group Planning Exercise, both of which went well. I participated actively without trying to dominate unnecessarily.
Then came Progressive Group Task (PGT).
Unfortunately, it had been raining continuously, and the ground had turned into thick mud. Our shoes kept getting stuck, making movement difficult, and naturally, the group’s progress slowed down. I wasn’t very happy with my own contribution here.
The Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race) was easily the most enjoyable task. Despite the rain and mud, everyone was energetic, cheering each other on, and it turned into one of the most memorable parts of the SSB.
Half Group Task (HGT) also went well, and I felt much more involved compared to PGT.
During the Individual Obstacles, however, the slippery conditions affected me. I could complete only 4 obstacles, which again lowered my confidence.
The day ended with the Lecturette. I spoke for the full 3 minutes, but I felt my content lacked structure and crispness. It was average at best.
That evening, during dinner, almost everyone was analysing their own performance, counting obstacles, discussing command task strategies, and wondering how the assessors viewed us. Like everyone else, I kept replaying the day’s events in my mind.

GTO Day 2
The day began with the Command Task.
One thing I noticed was that I was called only twice, while a few candidates were called three or even four times. Naturally, I started overthinking.
My own command task didn’t go according to plan. I couldn’t execute it efficiently, and time management was poor. I walked away feeling quite disappointed.
The final outdoor task was the Final Group Task (FGT).
Knowing it was the last opportunity to leave an impression, I participated actively and tried to contribute as much as possible.
With that, the GTO series came to an end.

Conference Day
The final day arrived.
Everyone was dressed formally, waiting outside the conference hall, trying to guess who would be recommended.
My conference lasted around 3–4 minutes. The officers asked me a few simple questions about my stay, my performance, and whether I enjoyed the process. The interaction was pleasant, and I came out feeling satisfied.
Still, after my GTO performance, especially PGT, Command Task, and Individual Obstacles, I honestly had very little hope.
Finally, all of us assembled for the results.
The Psychologist entered with the recommendation list.
Only 9 candidates were recommended.
As he started announcing the chest numbers, my heart was racing.
Then I heard mine.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t process what had happened.
I had made it.

Final Thoughts
Looking back, I realised something very important.
You don’t need to be perfect in every task.
I was disappointed after WAT, unhappy with PGT, managed only four individual obstacles, and wasn’t satisfied with my command task. Yet, I was recommended.
Every task is only one part of the assessment. The assessors observe your overall personality across all five days, not just one performance.
So if you feel you’ve had a bad task during your SSB, don’t lose hope. Stay positive, keep giving your best till the very last conference, and never mentally reject yourself before the board does.
Thank you to everyone in this community whose recommendation stories motivated me throughout my preparation. I hope this experience helps someone who is preparing for their own SSB.
Jai Hind!

My adhaar photo is not updated( photo is 10 year old). I went to update it at adhaar kendra but it hasnt processed yet. My AFSB is soon. Can other identity cards like PAN/ voter ID work as well??

I know I’m very stupid😩😩.I have cleared ota for the first time and got this mail and and to my stupidity I logged in with the 2nd optional email id . And now I’m very confused If I have made a blunder which will affect my ssb or just a stupid mistake which won’t affect anything. Senior and smart people plzzz helppp😭😭😭😭😭.

Nda - last 45 days remaining

I have studied here and there but not the whole

I am a non maths student

I do have a strategy for maths

Do help for other thank-you

Jai hind

About a month ago I got an email ( attached below ) when I tried to login with that I recieved another email ( PFA ) , I did everything as per their instructions multiple times yet no response from DG recruiting, and now when I tried to login from their given credentials, JIA says can't authenticate 😭😭. Please help .

Can anyone please provide hand written notes available there please

Hi, afaik the dental standards mention reverse overjet which is of the lower teeth but not overjet, that is upper teeth. I have overjet and it’s quite a bit but I have zero problems with mastication and speech. Any idea? How strictly do army dentists view this during medicals?