CDS OTA September 2026 - How should I start preparing now?

Hi everyone,

I'd like to hear from people who have successfully cleared both the CDS written exam and SSB interview.

• What was your preparation strategy?
• Which books/resources helped you the most for English, GK, and Current Affairs?
• How many hours did you study per day?
• What mistakes should a first-time aspirant avoid?
• If you were working a 9-5 job while preparing, how did you manage your time and how many hours did you study daily?
• When did you start preparing for SSB, and what resources helped?

With around 3 months left for the exam, what would be the best approach from now?

A little background: I am a first-time serious CDS aspirant targeting OTA and want to make the best use of the remaining time before September.

Any detailed roadmap, book list, study schedule, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to hearing your experiences and suggestions.