An OTA-only study plan and an IMA study plan cannot use the same paper checklist. Through CDS, OTA has two written papers. IMA, the Indian Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy have three.
The details here follow CDS II, 2026, checked on 20 September 2026. Academy preferences should follow your eligibility and intended service route, not simply the number of papers.
The paper difference
| Entry | Written papers | Written maximum |
|---|---|---|
| IMA, INA and Air Force Academy | English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics | 300 |
| Officers' Training Academy | English and General Knowledge | 200 |
Each paper is worth 100 marks and lasts two hours. The SSB interview maximum matches the relevant written maximum: 300 for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 for OTA. These are the rules in the official CDS II 2026 notice, Appendix I.
If you are eligible and opting for both routes, Mathematics remains part of preparation for the three-paper entries. If your application is for OTA only, you can allocate study time around its two-paper scheme. That does not make selection easy; it changes what is examined in the written stage.
Compare eligibility before comparing books
Look up the academy-specific educational qualification and exact birth-date window in the notice. Degree requirements differ across entries. Marital-status and other conditions also need a careful reading. A friend being eligible for one academy tells you little about your own application to another.
Write down the qualification you hold, its completion status, and the proof you can produce. Then compare those details with the notice. This small check is worth doing before paying for an academy-specific course or building a long preparation calendar.
Build a paper-wise practice record
Start with English and General Knowledge as separate timed exercises. Record where you lose marks, rather than writing “GK weak” after every test. Difficulty with history, a misunderstood science concept, and a rushed reading mistake are three different revision tasks.
For English, keep the full sentence around an error. Memorising a replacement word without its context often fails the next time the same grammar point appears differently. Re-attempt a short set several days later and check whether you can explain your answer.
If Mathematics applies to your chosen entry, practice full solutions before trying shortcuts. Keep an error sheet for units, signs, and values copied incorrectly. Those details are easier to repair when you can see the written steps that caused the mistake.
Use the official UPSC paper collection for practice. When you review a complete paper, include the cost of wrong answers under that notice's marking rule. Counting only correct answers produces a misleading score.
Written qualification is followed by selection work
Keep copies of your degree records and application choices organised while preparing. If you qualify, you will need to follow the SSB and service instructions for your entry. Review the relevant medical standards early enough to understand what the process assesses; a written score cannot replace those requirements.
The official CDS II 2026 examination page records the written examination on 13 September 2026. Use it and UPSC written results to check the correct result. A provisional answer key or an older CDS I list is not the CDS II result.
For the school-leaver entry, see the NDA selection guide. You can compare other routes through the exam guides directory.