College of Defence Management CDM Recruitment 2026
Job Description
Eligibility
How to Apply
Overview
The College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, is a premier tri-service institution under the Ministry of Defence that provides management education to armed forces officers. CDM Recruitment 2026 invites applications for 8 civilian posts across various administrative and technical positions. This recruitment offers an opportunity to work in a prestigious defence establishment that bridges military operations with modern management practices. Selected candidates will support the academic and administrative functions of the college. The recruitment is conducted on an All-India basis, making it accessible to eligible candidates from across the country. Working at CDM provides exposure to defence management practices and collaboration with senior armed forces personnel.
Important Dates
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January 2026 (Expected) |
| Application Start Date | January 2026 (Expected) |
| Application Last Date | February 2026 (Expected) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | February 2026 (Expected) |
| Admit Card Release | March 2026 (Expected) |
| Written Exam Date | March-April 2026 (Expected) |
| Result Declaration | May 2026 (Expected) |
Note: Exact dates to be notified in official advertisement
Vacancy Details
Vacancy Distribution (Typical / Indicative)
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 4 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 2 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 1 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 1 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 0 |
| Total | 8 |
Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university
- Post-specific requirements:
- Administrative posts: Any graduate degree
- Technical posts: Relevant engineering/technical degree
- Library posts: Bachelor's degree in Library Science
- All degrees must be from UGC/AICTE recognized institutions
- Candidates awaiting final results are not eligible
Age Limit
| Particulars | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | 35 years |
| Age calculation date | Last date of application |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (Unreserved) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deduction of military service |
| Defence Civilian Employees | 5 years (up to 40 years of age) |
Nationality
- Candidate must be a citizen of India
- Certificate of Indian citizenship required at document verification stage
How to Apply
How to Apply
- Visit Official Website: Go to the College of Defence Management official portal or Indian Army recruitment website
- Register: Click on 'New Registration' and enter basic details (name, email, mobile number)
- Verify Email/Mobile: Complete OTP verification for email and mobile number
- Login: Use generated registration ID and password to login
- Fill Application Form: Complete all sections including personal details, educational qualifications, experience, and preferences
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of photograph (50 KB), signature (20 KB), and relevant certificates
- Pay Application Fee: Complete fee payment through online mode (Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI)
- Submit Application: Review all details and submit the application form
- Take Printout: Download and save the application form for future reference
Application Fee
| Category | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS (Male) | ₹800 |
| SC/ST/PwBD/Women | ₹0 (No Fee) |
| Ex-Servicemen | ₹0 (No Fee) |
Payment Mode: Online only (Internet Banking, Debit/Credit Card, UPI)
Note: Application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances
Selection Process
Selection Procedure
- Screening of Applications: Initial scrutiny of applications to verify eligibility criteria including educational qualifications, age limit, and document completeness. Only eligible candidates are shortlisted for further stages.
- Written Examination: Computer-based or offline objective type test covering General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. Duration typically 2 hours with negative marking applicable.
- Skill Test/Trade Test: For technical and specialized posts, practical assessment of job-specific skills including typing speed, computer proficiency, or technical aptitude as per post requirements.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates must present original documents for verification including educational certificates, category certificates, age proof, and experience certificates if applicable.
- Medical Examination: Final medical fitness test as per defence establishment standards. Candidates must meet prescribed physical and medical standards for employment.
- Final Merit List: Preparation of final selection list based on written exam performance, skill test marks, and successful document/medical verification, subject to availability of vacancies.
Exam Pattern
Examination Scheme
Written Examination Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 25 | 25 | 120 minutes (combined) |
| Reasoning & Mental Ability | 25 | 25 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Qualifying Marks:
- General/EWS: 40%
- OBC: 35%
- SC/ST: 33%
Skill Test (For applicable posts)
| Test Type | Details | Qualifying Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Typing Test | English: 35 wpm, Hindi: 30 wpm | Qualifying in nature |
| Computer Proficiency | MS Office, basic operations | Qualifying in nature |
| Trade Test | Post-specific practical skills | Qualifying in nature |
Syllabus
Detailed Syllabus
General Awareness
- Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, Freedom Struggle
- Indian Geography: Physical, Economic, Social geography of India
- Indian Polity: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy
- Economics: Indian Economy, Budget, Five Year Plans, Economic Reforms
- Defence and Military Affairs: Indian Armed Forces, Defence organisations, Recent developments
- Current Affairs: National and International events of last 12 months
- Books and Authors, Awards and Honours
- Important Days, Sports, Personalities
Reasoning & Mental Ability
- Analogies and Similarities
- Differences and Problem Solving
- Analysis and Judgment
- Decision Making and Visual Memory
- Observation and Relationship concepts
- Arithmetical reasoning and figural classification
- Space visualization, Coding and Decoding
- Series completion, Blood Relations
- Direction sense, Syllogism
- Venn diagrams, Puzzles
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number Systems and Simplification
- Decimals, Fractions, LCM, HCF
- Ratio and Proportion, Percentage
- Profit and Loss, Discount
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Time and Work, Time and Distance
- Average, Mensuration
- Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Charts)
- Algebra: Basic equations
- Geometry: Basic concepts
English Language
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word substitution
- Grammar: Parts of speech, Tenses, Articles, Prepositions
- Sentence Structure: Active-Passive voice, Direct-Indirect speech
- Error Detection and Correction
- Fill in the blanks
- Phrase replacement and Idioms
- Reading Comprehension passages
- Cloze Test, Sentence Rearrangement
Salary
Salary Structure (Typical / Indicative for Group C posts)
| Component | Amount (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹25,500 - ₹35,400 |
| Pay Level | Level 2 to Level 6 (7th CPC) |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) @ 50% | ₹12,750 - ₹17,700 |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | ₹6,120 - ₹8,496 (X class city) |
| Transport Allowance | ₹3,600 |
| Other Allowances | ₹2,000 - ₹3,000 |
| Gross Monthly Salary | ₹50,000 - ₹67,000 |
| Approximate In-Hand Salary | ₹42,000 - ₹55,000 |
Additional Benefits: Medical facilities for self and dependents, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), Pension benefits under National Pension Scheme (NPS), Canteen facilities, Annual increments as per 7th CPC norms, and access to defence establishments' amenities.
Career Growth
Career progression at CDM follows the standard Central Government promotion policy with regular opportunities for advancement. Employees can expect promotions every 5-8 years based on departmental promotion committees (DPC) assessments, seniority, and performance records. Vertical growth from Group C to Group B posts is possible through departmental examinations and limited departmental competitive exams, potentially reaching supervisory and administrative roles with significant responsibility.
Admit Card
Admit cards will be released approximately 10-15 days before the examination date on the official CDM website or the designated recruitment portal. Candidates must download their admit cards using their registration number and date of birth. No physical admit cards will be dispatched by post. The admit card contains crucial details including exam centre address, reporting time, and important instructions.
Result
Results will be declared on the official website within 4-6 weeks after the examination. Candidates can check their results using registration number or roll number. The result will display qualifying status and marks obtained. Shortlisted candidates will receive further communication regarding subsequent selection stages via email and SMS on their registered contact details.
Expected Cutoff
Expected cutoff marks typically range between 40-60 marks out of 100 for General category candidates, based on previous defence establishment recruitments. SC/ST candidates generally require 33-45 marks, while OBC candidates need approximately 35-50 marks. Final cutoffs depend on factors including number of applicants, vacancy count, exam difficulty level, and overall performance of candidates.
Exam Centres
Examination Centres
North India: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Jammu, Dehradun
South India: Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi
East India: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Guwahati
West India: Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Bhopal, Indore
Northeast India: Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal, Agartala
Central India: Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Jabalpur
Note: Exam centre choice subject to availability. CDM reserves right to add/cancel centres based on response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the eligibility criteria for CDM Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with age between 18-35 years as on the last date of application. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and other reserved categories as per government norms. Post-specific educational qualifications may vary for technical positions.
What is the application fee for CDM Recruitment 2026?
The application fee is ₹800 for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. SC/ST/PwBD candidates and women from all categories are exempted from paying any application fee. Fee must be paid online through Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI only.
How many vacancies are available in CDM Recruitment 2026?
Total 8 posts are available in this recruitment across various categories. The distribution includes approximately 4 UR, 2 OBC, 1 SC, and 1 ST vacancy, though exact category-wise breakup will be confirmed in the official notification.
What is the expected salary for CDM posts?
Selected candidates can expect a starting basic pay ranging from ₹25,500 to ₹35,400 depending on the post level. With allowances like DA, HRA, and Transport Allowance, the gross monthly salary ranges between ₹50,000-₹67,000, with in-hand salary approximately ₹42,000-₹55,000 per month.
How many attempts are allowed for CDM Recruitment?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for CDM recruitment. Candidates can apply multiple times as long as they meet the eligibility criteria, particularly the age limit of 35 years (with applicable relaxations for reserved categories).
Is there negative marking in the CDM examination?
Yes, negative marking of 0.25 marks is applicable for each incorrect answer in the written examination. Candidates should attempt questions carefully to avoid losing marks through negative marking, which can significantly impact the final score.
Can I apply for CDM Recruitment offline?
No, applications are accepted only through online mode via the official CDM website or designated recruitment portal. Candidates must complete the entire registration, form filling, document upload, and fee payment process online. No offline or postal applications are accepted.
What are the stages in the CDM selection process?
The selection process includes application screening, written examination (objective type), skill/trade test for applicable posts, document verification, and medical examination. Final selection is based on merit in written exam combined with successful completion of all subsequent stages.