How Many Months of Current Affairs Are Enough for CDS?

Current affairs are very important when you are studying for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, particularly in the General Knowledge part. This is one of the most frequent questions of many aspirants: How many months of current affairs do I need to study to take the CDS exam? Learning the perfect schedule of the current affairs will help you increase your score and manage your time better in the preparation process.

In this blog, we are going to explore this issue in detail, analyzing the previous trends, the opinion of experts, and the type of questions in the exam. We will also investigate how significant current affairs in CDS are, what subjects are the most important and whether or not 3 months of preparation is really enough.

The significance of Current Affairs in the CDS Exam

The General Knowledge part in CDS examines how a candidate is aware of national and international events, sports, awards, science and government schemes. Questions on current affairs are dynamic and unpredictable unlike those on static GK. A lot of questions are directly based on recent events and this is why current affairs is a high scoring and risky topic.

The fact that 10-15 questions in the General Knowledge section are current events is evident by a mere look at any of the CDS previous year question papers. This is approximately 20-30 marks, and this is a make or break scenario to many candidates.

Ideal Duration of Current Affairs Preparation for CDS

How many months you are supposed to cover will depend on several factors which include your memory, your revision cycle, and the depth of coverage. But going by the trends of the CDS exams in the past, the optimum period of current affairs would be 6 to 12 months before the exam date.

Let’s break it down in a table for better understanding:

Current Affairs Timeline vs. Weightage in CDS Exam

So if you’re asking “Is 3 months of current affairs enough for CDS?”, the answer is No — it might cover a few questions but you will miss a large chunk. For a well-rounded preparation, 9–12 months is considered ideal.

Which Topics in Current Affairs to Focus On?

Not all news is important from the exam point of view. The UPSC (which conducts CDS) tends to frame questions from topics that are either internationally relevant or nationally impactful.

Here are the most commonly asked current affairs topics in CDS based on trend analysis of CDS exam PYQ sets:

High-Yield Current Affairs Topics for CDS

These categories are the most repeated across multiple CDS question papers and mock tests.

Read More: How to Create a Simple Study Plan for CDS Success?

✅ How many months of current affairs are required for CDS 2025?

For CDS 2025, you should aim to cover at least 9–12 months of current affairs from your exam date. That means if the exam is scheduled for April 2025, your preparation should start from May 2024 onwards. This window will cover:

• Budget 2024 Highlights

• Major international summits held post-election

• Government initiatives launched in 2024

• Awards (Padma, Sahitya, Nobel) given in early 2025

A look at any CDS books or curated GK resources would reflect that current affairs from a one-year timeline form the core content.

✅ Can current affairs from 2 years back appear in CDS?

It’s highly unlikely. CDS is not like UPSC Civil Services, where 2-year-old data may pop up. The CDS pattern focuses on relevant and recent events. In the past 5 years, CDS exam PYQs show that only 1 or 2 questions, if any, came from more than a year back, and those were tied to anniversaries or long-term policies.

So, preparing more than 12 months back is inefficient and adds no significant value.

✅ How many current affairs questions are asked in CDS?

On average, 10 to 15 questions in the General Knowledge section are directly from current affairs. Occasionally, it can go up to 18–20 questions, especially in years of significant national/international events like general elections, budget reforms, G20 summits, or pandemics.

Studying the CDS previous year question paper of such years reveals that 30–35% of GK questions were current-affairs based.

✅ Which month’s current affairs are most important for CDS?

The 3 months just before the exam date are the most important — but only in terms of volume. However, they don’t capture the full scope. Important government decisions, long-term policies, and budgetary announcements might occur 6 to 9 months before the exam.

Hence, instead of focusing on one specific month, aspirants should cover:

• Last 3 months – thoroughly (deep understanding)

• Previous 6–9 months – moderate-depth

• Full last year – factual data like awards, dates, appointments

✅ How can I revise 12 months of current affairs effectively?

Revising an entire year of current affairs sounds overwhelming, but it becomes manageable with:

1. Monthly compilation notes

2. Weekly quizzes using the CDS question paper pattern

3. Use of mind maps and topic-wise charts

4. Revision before sleeping or early morning for retention

5. Clubbing current affairs with static topics (like combining “budget” with economy basics)

You can also refer to CDS books that include year-wise GK recap sections to streamline your revision.

Do CDS Toppers Also Prepare 12 Months of Current Affairs?

Yes, most toppers suggest that 9–12 months of current affairs are crucial for scoring 40+ in the GK section. If you want to ensure a strong attempt, start your preparation early and make daily reading a habit. Even if you start 6 months before the exam, devote 20–30 minutes daily to current affairs.

Should I Focus More on National or International News?

While both are important, national news takes priority in the CDS exam. Based on CDS exam PYQ analysis:

• 60–70% of current affairs questions are based on Indian policies, schemes, awards, economy, etc.

• 20–30% come from international events (especially if India is a part of them)

• Remaining 10% are from sports, science & tech, and environment

So your focus should be 70:30 in favor of national-level current affairs.

Conclusion: What’s the Final Answer?

To answer the main question — “How many months of current affairs are enough for CDS?” — the sweet spot is:

✅ At least 9 months

🔒 Best coverage: Full 12 months

❌ Less than 6 months = Risky preparation

Preparing from the right sources and using the CDS previous year question paper and CDS question paper sets for self-evaluation can strengthen your current affairs base. Regular revision, smart topic prioritization, and deep understanding are the keys to cracking the GK section.

Stay consistent, revise regularly, and align your preparation with real CDS trends. That’s how you’ll win the current affairs game in CDS!