Number of Candidates in CDS Exam
Every year, CDS is conducted two times in a year by the UPSC. For every CDS exam, more than 2 lakh candidates apply.
Candidates Applied, Appeared and Qualified in UPSC CDS Exam
| Year | Paper | Applications | Appeared | Interviewed | Recommended |
| 2006 | CDS-II | 63,737 | 38,796 | 5,224 | 433 |
| 2007 | CDS-I | 64,028 | 48,746 | 7,551 | 293 |
| 2007 | CDS-II | 53,868 | 30,272 | 9,320 | 448 |
| 2008 | CDS-I | 51,002 | 37,897 | 5,618 | 341 |
| 2008 | CDS-II | 53,794 | 30,945 | 8,276 | 293 |
| 2009 | CDS-I | 63,824 | 29,352 | 5,494 | 210 |
| 2009 | CDS-II | 89,604 | 52,970 | 5,572 | 531 |
| 2010 | CDS-I | 86,575 | 38,742 | 6,433 | 450 |
| 2010 | CDS-II | 99,017 | 50,033 | 6,046 | 405 |
| 2011 | CDS-I | 99,815 | 50,152 | 10,199 | 392 |
| 2011 | CDS-II | 1,00,043 | 44,130 | ||
| 2012 | CDS-I | 1,36,641 | 50,152 | ||
| 2012 | CDS-II | 1,52,052 | 75,990 | ||
| 2013 | CDS-I | 2,08,270 | 64,626 | ||
| 2013 | CDS-II | 2,01,603 | 95,397 | ||
| 2014 | CDS-I | 2,51,392 | 97,483 | ||
| 2014 | CDS-II | 2,44,911 | 1,17,314 | ||
| 2015 | CDS-I | 2,55,697 |