12 Must-Haves CDS Books for Every Subject in 2024

The CDS (Common Defence Service) exam is conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). It is a competitive exam, and only the best are selected. To cover this exam’s extensive syllabus, candidates require many CDS books to prepare. Learning from the right kind of books will help students gain an edge over other candidates and get selected in either of the three categories of the Indian Military, including the Army, Air Force, or Navy.

The article will discuss the best CDS Book for preparation and tips for preparing for the exam.

Best Book for CDS Preparation 2024

There are several CDS books in the market. The candidate can’t go through all the books. So, it is essential to choose the best book for CDS preparation. This would help them to prepare for the CDS exam efficiently.

Selecting the best book for CDS preparation would help them to cover all the topics in time. Before diving into individual subjects, look at some of the recommended books for the CDS exam.

Subject	Books	Author	Publisher	Edition
Mathematics	Mathematics for CDS	R. S. Aggarwal	S. Chand Publishing	NA
English	Objective General English	S.P. Bakshi	Arihant Publications	Second
General Knowledge	General Knowledge	Manohar Pandey	Arihant Publications	Fifteenth

Apart from these recommended books, staying updated with newspapers and different journals is advisable.

CDS Book for English

Before looking into the English books for CDS, let’s understand the topics for the English section.

• Comprehension.
• Sentence improvement.
• Antonyms.
• Synonyms.
• Selecting the right words.
• Spotting errors.
• Word substitution. 
• Arranging the sentences.
• Arranging words in a sentence. 

Now, let’s look at the best English books for CDS that would help them to cover all the topics thoroughly.

Book Name	Author	Remarks
Objective General English	SP Bakshi	a) Beginner’s friendly b) Solved examples & Exercises to Practice c) Explained the theory in detail
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis	a) Best book for vocabulary
High School English grammar and composition	Wren & Martin	a) Good book for English grammar b) Explained all rules and applications in detail

CDS Book for General Knowledge

The General knowledge topics required to prepare for the CDS exam are

• Current affairs
• Politics
• History
• Geography
• Economics
• Physics 
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Sociology
• Defense
• Environment
• Award
• Sports
• Books
• Cultural 

Book name	Author	Remarks
General Awareness	Manohar Pandey	a) Covers all the topics b) Regularly updated
Manorama yearbook	Philip Mathew	a) Covers all the current affairs and general knowledge topics. b) Has all the crucial topics in detail.
Pratiyogita Darpan	Pratiyogita Darpan editorial team	a) All the important general awareness topics are covered. b) Includes practice papers and solved previous year papers.

• It is recommended to cover the current affairs of the last six months in detail.
• Besides these CDS books for G.K., the candidates must stay updated with newspapers. They should read different newspapers and magazines to cover all the major topics required to clear the CDS exam.

CDS Book for Elementary Mathematics

It is essential to understand the syllabus for mathematics. The level of questions for the math paper is of Class 10th. This would help the candidates to prepare the right topics for the exam.

• Number systems 
• Elementary number theory 
• Trigonometry
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Statistics 

Now let’s understand the best CDS math books to prepare for the CDS exam.

Book name	Author	Remarks
Quantitative Aptitude for competitive exams	R.S. Aggarwal	a) Helpful for beginners aspiring for any competitive exams. b) All the topics are explained properly with examples. c) Has solved examples, last year’s papers & practice papers.
Mathematics for C.D.S.	R.S. Aggarwal	a) Covers all the topics for the CDS exams. b) Has solved examples, practice papers, last year’s papers, and exercises to help the candidates prepare well for the exam.
Pathfinder for C.D.S.	Arihant Publications	a) This book exclusively covers all the maths topics required for the CDS exam. b) Explain the topics with examples. c) Has several exercises, practice papers, and solved previous year papers.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing CDS Books

When selecting books for CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam preparation, numerous things must be considered to guarantee that you choose the most appropriate and effective resources. Here are some important elements to consider before selecting CDS books:

• Reputation and Credibility: Choose books from experienced authors or trusted publishers for accurate, up-to-date content.
• Curriculum and Syllabus Coverage: Choose books that cover the entire CDS syllabus, including English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics, and Aptitude Test.
• Exam Pattern and Question Types: Choose books that provide practice questions and mock tests that closely resemble the actual exam format.
• Difficulty Level: Look for books that cover both basic and advanced-level questions to prepare for the competitive nature of the CDS exam.
• Latest Edition: Choose the latest edition of the books as the syllabus, pattern, and question types may change over time.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Look for books that provide theory, solved examples, practice questions, and explanations to enhance conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities.
• User Reviews and Recommendations: Read reviews from other aspirants and experienced mentors for an idea of their effectiveness.
• Additional Resources: Some books may come with supplementary resources like online practice tests, video tutorials, or mobile apps.
• Price: Consider the cost of the books to ensure they fit within your budget.
• Personal Learning Style: Choose books that align with your learning needs and preferences.

Making the Most of CDS Books

Simply having the correct CDS books isn’t enough; you also need to implement effective ways to get the most of these resources. Here are a few tips:

• Create a structured study plan based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
• Regularly practice problem-solving and time management skills.
• Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing formulas or definitions.
• Analyze mistakes after practice questions or mock tests to identify improvement areas.
• Stay updated by reading newspapers, magazines, and credible online sources.
• Join study groups or seek guidance from experienced mentors or coaches.
• Develop effective time management strategies by practicing under timed conditions.
• Allocate sufficient time for revision at the end of preparation.

Remember that success on the CDS exam demands dedication, persistent work, and a deliberate approach to preparing. By selecting the correct CDS books and adopting good study tactics, you can improve your chances of obtaining a desired career in the Indian Armed Forces.

Preparation strategy for the CDS exam

Once the candidates know the best books for CDS preparation, it’s time for them to prepare for the C.D.S. exam. Let’s have a look at some preparation strategies for the C.D.S. exam.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing CDS Books

• Check to see if the book covers the CDS syllabus.
• Check for updated editions which has the latest exam curriculum and structure.
• Check to see if the book has practice questions with solutions and mock exams.
• The book should cover the concepts in detail and should be easily understandable.

Understand the entire syllabus of the CDS exam

• This would give an idea to the candidates on the topics to prepare for the exam.
• While preparing, focusing on the weaker sections of the topics is essential. This would help them to give more importance to preparing them.

Know the exam pattern

• Understanding the CDS exam pattern would help the candidates to prepare for the topics accordingly.
• The exam pattern would help them to understand the weightage of the topics. So, now the candidates can prepare the topics per the weightage to score well.

Solve mock papers and previous year’s papers

• After covering all the topics, it is vital to practice multiple mock papers. This would help them to get a grasp of the exam before attending the main exam.
• Solving CDS previous year’s papers would help to understand the exam pattern.

For more information, visit the official website

Suggested Read: CDS Salary 2024: Basic Pay Scale, Benefits, Perks & Allowances

Conclusion

The CDS exam is conducted to recruit candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exam is conducted on a national level. Several candidates appear for the exam. So, preparing well using the right CDS Books to clear the exam is crucial.

The candidates should follow the books mentioned above. These books would cover all the topics while preparing the candidates for the exam. Former CDS candidates and experts highly recommend these books. The candidates should attend multiple mock exams to check their preparation level before attaining the main exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)