CDS 2026: CDS 1 Notification (Dec 10), Application Form, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern
Combined Defence Services Exam 2025 ( CDS )
Registration - 10 Dec '25 - 30 Dec '25
CDS 2026: The Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 1 Notification 2026 on December 10, 2025. Along with the notification application process for UPSC CDS 1 exam will start. The last date to submit the CDS 1 registration form is December 30, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 exam will be held on April 12, 2026. On the other hand, CDS 2 notification and application will be released on May 20, 2026 and the last date to apply will be June 9, 2026. The CDS 2 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026. Check below more about the CDS 2026, including CDS exam pattern, CDS Syllabus, dates, CDS eligibility, vacancies, selection process, and more.
Latest: The Commission released the CDS 1 2025 Final Result. A total of 365 candidates were qualified on the basis of the results and SSB interviews held by the Services Selection Board. The CDS 2 result 2025 was released on October 9.
- What is CDS Exam?
- CDS Exam Dates & Schedule
- CDS Notification & Application Form 2026
- CDS Syllabus & Pattern 2026
- CDS Books & Preparation Tips 2026
- CDS Vacancy 2026
- CDS Admit Card 2026
- CDS Exam Analysis 2026
- CDS Answer Key & Question Papers 2026
- CDS Result 2026
- CDS Expected Cut Off 2026
- UPSC CDS Selection Process & Recommended Marks 2026
- CDS Exam 2026 FAQs
What is CDS Exam?
The Combined Defence Services Examination, commonly known as CDS, is conducted by the UPSC for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. It is a national-level competitive exam. CDS's full form is the Combined Defence Services Exam (CDS). The CDS exam is held twice a year, usually in April and September. Every year, a large number of candidates appear for the national-level Defence entrance examination. The selection of candidates is based on the written exam followed by the SSB Interview for intelligence and personality tests. Shortlisted candidates are placed at the following academies based on their preferences and merit. Candidates selected through the CDS 2025 written exam will undergo training Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). After completing training, candidates are selected for the post of lieutenant. The stipend paid to the candidates during training is INR 56,100.
| Academy | State/City |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy | Dehradun |
| Indian Naval Academy | Ezhimala |
| Air Force Academy | Hyderabad |
| Officers' Training Academy (SSC Men) | Chennai |
| Officers' Training Academy (SSC Women) | Chennai |
CDS 1 & 2 Exam 2026
CDS 1 exam is conducted for the courses commencing at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in January as well as Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in April.
CDS 2 exam is conducted for the courses commencing at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in July, and Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in October.
CDS Exam Highlights
Go through the highlights of the UPSC CDS exam from the table below to know every bit of the examination. Male and female candidates seeking admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers' Training Academy can check out the recruitment process.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of exam |
Combined Defence Services Examination |
| Conducted by |
|
| Exam Level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Twice a year (April and September) |
| Exam mode |
Offline |
| Exam stages |
Written exam and SSB Interview |
| Exam fees |
INR 200 for General and OBC male candidates Female, SC, and ST candidates are exempted from fee payment |
| Exam timing |
The time allotted to each paper such as English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics is two hours |
| Language of question paper |
English and Hindi |
| No of questions |
Elementary Maths: 100 General English: 120 General Knowledge: 120 |
| No.of papers |
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA): Three (English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics) Officers’ Training Academy (OTA): Two (English and General Knowledge) |
| CDS Exam Pattern |
Written Exam IMA, INA and AFA: 300 OTA: 200 SSB Interview IMA, INA and AFA: 300 OTA: 200 |
| Marking scheme |
One mark for the correct answer One-third mark is deducted for wrong answers |
| CDS 1 Notification 2026 |
10-Dec-2025 |
| Exam purpose |
To select candidates as Commissioned Officers in Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force |
| Vacancies |
to be announced |
| No of the test cities |
More than 70 |
| Official website |
upsc.gov.in |
| Contact number |
011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 |
Commonly asked questions
CDS full form is the Combined Defence Services Examination. While some people also refer CDS full form as Chief of Defence Staff, this rank is given to the head of the Indian Armed Forces. It is conducted twice a year in April and September. It is a national-level exam conducted to recruit candidates for officer posts. The selection process comprises written exam and SSB interview. The minimum educational qualification needed to appear for CDS exam is graduation from a recognised Indian university.
The Commission released the CDS 1 and 2 exam date 2026 on the official website in a calendar. The CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026 and the CDS 2 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026. The candidates must be aware that these dates are released by UPSC through the exam calendar. However, the candidates can prepare for the CDS exams according to the exam date.
CDS Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CDS 2025 exam
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 10 Dec ' 25 | CDS 1 Notification 2026 |
| 10 Dec ' 25 - 30 Dec ' 25 | CDS 1 Application Process 2026 |
| 12 Apr ' 26 | CDS 1 Exam 2026 |
| 20 May ' 26 | CDS 2 Notification 2026 |
| 20 May ' 26 - 09 Jun ' 26 | CDS 2 Application Process 2026 |
| 13 Sep ' 26 | CDS 2 Exam Date 2026 |
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 09 Oct ' 25 | CDS 2 2025 Result |
| 14 Sep ' 25 | CDS 2 Exam 2025 |
| 04 Sep ' 25 | CDS 2 2025 admit card |
CDS Notification & Application Form 2026
Registration: 10 Dec ' 25 - 30 Dec ' 25
The CDS 1 notification 2026 will be released on December 10, 2025, at psc.gov.in. It will be released in PDF format and the candidates can have check it by following manner:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the CDS 1 notification 2026 in the What's New Section
- Click on the CDS 1 notification PDF link
- The CDS 1 notification PDF will appear on the screen
- Download the CDS 1 2026 PDF and save it for later use
CDS Application Form 2026
The CDS 1 2026 application will start with the release of the notification PDF on December 10, 2025. The last date to apply is December 30, 2025. Candidates need to apply via a new portal launched by the UPSC. The revised application process comprises four parts namely Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form and Applying for Various Exams. The common application form process is common for all examinations and can be filled out anytime by the candidates. The authority will release the CDS notification in the form of a PDF and consists of the important details related to the CDS exam at upsconline.nic.in. Candidates need to register themselves for the OTR and then they were allowed to fill out the CDS application form.
How to Fill CDS 1 2026 Application Form Online?
Candidates can check below the UPSC CDS 1 2026 application form:
- Go to the upsconline.nic.in
- Login into the account on the OTR platform (The registration process for OTR has given above)
- Fill out the details that have been asked for part 1 registration
- Upload the photograph, signature and photo identity proof
- Make the application fees
- Choose the exam centre for the CDS 1 exam
- Finally, submit the application form
- The confirmation message will be sent to the registered mobile number and email id
Revised CDS 1 Application Correction Process
Candidates required to apply online at upsconline.nic.in and submit the requisite information and supporting documents towards various claims including date of birth, educational qualification, etc. If a candidate is failed to provide the documents or information along with the Online Application Form will entail cancellation of candidature for the examination.
Further, no request for addition or alteration in the preferences already indicated by a candidate in his or her application will be entertained by the Commission. Once the form is submitted and the application window is closed, candidate will not be allowed to make any corrections. It is advised to a candidate to fill up all the details carefully.
Also Read: NDA vs CDS
CDS Registration Fee
- The application fees can be paid both online and offline
- The application fees are INR 200 for General and OBC male candidates
- SC and ST candidates were exempted from fee payment
CDS Eligibility Criteria
To sit in the exam, candidates need to fulfil the following CDS Criteria of eligibility:
Nationality
Candidates who have settled in India permanently can apply for the CDS exam.
CDS 1 Age Limit 2026
Candidates can check below the prescribed age limit for the CDS 1 exam:
- For the Indian Military Academy (IMA), unmarried males must be between 19 to 24 years
- For the Indian Naval Academy, unmarried male candidates must be between 19 to 24 years
- Candidates applying for the Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years
- For the Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates must be between 19 to 26 years
- For the Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates between 19 to 26 years
CDS 2 Age Limit 2026
The CDS 2 age limit prescribed by UPSC for applying to the different academies is given below:
- IMA: Candidates for IMA should be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than the age limit prescribed in the CDS notification. That is unmarried male candidates born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
- INA: Unmarried male candidates can apply for INA born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
- AFA: To apply for AFA, the age of candidates should be between 20 to 24 years as on July 1, 2026. i.e. born not earlier than July 2, 2002 and not later than July 1, 2006 The upper age limit of candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years
- OTA (SSC Course for men): To apply for the OTA course (SSC Men), candidates must be unmarried and must be within the age limit prescribed in the CDS notification i.e. born not earlier than July 2, 2001 and not later than July 1, 2007 only are eligible.
- OTA (SSC Women Non-Technical Course): Unmarried women, issueless widows who have not remarried and issueless divorcees who have not remarried are eligible to apply. They should have been born not earlier than July 2, 2001 and not later than July 1, 2007.
CDS Qualification
Candidates need to meet the following educational qualifications for applying for the CDS exam:
- For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, the required educational qualification is Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university
- For the Indian Naval Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university
- For Air Force Academy, candidates must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised university. They must have studied Physics and Mathematics in Class 12
Note: Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester of Graduation can also apply provided they do not have any backlog up to the last year/semester for which results have been declared at the time of submitting the application form. They are required to submit proof of passing graduation at the time of the commencement of the course.
Can the 12th pass apply for CDS?
No, to be eligible for the CDS exam candidates must have a graduation degree from a recognised university or be appearing in the final year of their graduation. The candidates who want to apply for INA must have a degree in Engineering from a recognised University and Institution while AFA candidates must have a degree from a recognised University (with Physics and Maths at 10+2 level) or a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
Graduates with first choice as Army/Navy/Air Force are to submit proof of Graduation/provisional certificates on the date of commencement of the SSB Interview at the SSB. Candidates who are in the final year of graduation can apply provisionally.
Can females apply for CDS Exam?
Yes, female candidates can apply for the CDS exam for Officers' Training Academy courses.
CDS Physical Fitness
Candidates must be physically and mentally fit as per the guidelines prescribed by UPCS. Candidates are advised to check the CDS physical and medical standards before applying for the CDS exam.
CDS Heights and Weight Standards
- The minimum required height for male candidates is 157.5 cm. (157 cm for the Navy and 162.5 cm for the Air Force) and that for female candidates is 152 cm.
- Gorkhas and individuals belonging to the North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali, and Kumaon, the minimum required height is 5 cm less than the other candidates.
- For candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum required height is 2 cm less than the candidates from other regions.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) should be below 25.
- The ratio of the waist and hip should be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.
- Waist Circumference should be less than 90 cm for males and 80 cm for females.
Visual Standards for CDS 2026
Candidates who want to appear in CDS 2026 must know about visual standards. The UPSC has divided visual standards into three parts – IMA & OTA, Naval Candidates, and Air Force. The details of the visual standards are given below:
CDS IMA and OTA Visual standards
- Uncorrected vision (max allowed) - 6/60 &6/60
- BCVA - Right 6/6 & Left 6/6
- Myopia -
- Hypermetropia -
- Lasik/equivalent surgery - Permitted
- Colour perception: CP II
CDS Naval Visual Standards
- Uncorrected without glasses: 6/12, 6/12
- Corrected with glasses: 6/6, 6/6
- Myopia Limit: -1.5D
- Hypermetropia Limit: +1.5D
- Binocular Vision: III
- Limits of Colour Perception: I
CDS Air Force Visual Standards
Candidates who wear spectacles regularly are not eligible for India Air Force. The visual standards for the Air Force have been given below:
- Hypermetropia Colour Vision CP-1
- Hypermetropia: +2.0 d Sph
- Manifest Myopia: Nil
- Retinoscopic Myopia- 0.5 in any meridian
- Astigmatism : +0.75 D Cyl (with + 2.0 D- Max)
Maddox Rod Test
at 33 cms:
- Exo-16 prism D
- Eso-6 prism D
- Hyper-1 prism D
- Hypo-1 prism D
at 6 meters:
- Exo-6 prism D
- Eso-6 prism D
- Hyper-1 prism D
- Hypo-1prism D
Commonly asked questions
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) launched a new Online Application Portal to streamline the registration process for all exams. The new portal was live at upsconline.nic.in and replaces the older One-Time Registration (OTR) module, which now will no longer be functional. As per the official notification, candidates are advised to use their Aadhaar Card as ID documents for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details.
The New Application Portal officially launched on May 28, 2025. Applications for the CDS 2 exam 2025 was accepted through the new online application portal.
Candidates can check below the steps to make corrections in the CDS 1 application form 2026:
- Visit the official website
- Click on the link available for CDS 1 form correction
- Log in to the registered account using login credentials
- Make corrections to the CDS 1 application correction
- Save and print a copy of the modified CDS 1 application form
- Log out from the registered profile
CDS Syllabus & Pattern 2026
CDS Syllabus comprises topics from English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The standard of the UPSC CDS syllabus for Mathematics is of Class 10 standard, while for other subjects, it is of graduation level. Candidates can check the syllabus below.
| Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
| English |
Antonyms, Sentence improvement, Comprehension, Synonyms, Preposition, etc. |
| General Knowledge |
Economics, Current Awareness, Defence, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, etc. |
| Elementary Maths |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics, etc. |
CDS Exam Pattern 2026
CDS exam pattern is divided into a written exam and SSB Interview. The written exam for IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The test paper for admission to OTA comprises two sections: English and General Knowledge. Each section is held for two hours. The exam carries 300 marks forIMA, INA, and AFA and it is 200 for OTA. The SSB Interview for IMA, INA, and AFA carries 300 marks each while it is 200 marks for OTA. The SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: I and II. Stage I of the SSB Interview comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT) and Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences.
Commonly asked questions
General Knowledge section test awareness of current events and general knowledge of the candidates. Important topics include history of India, Geography, Current Affairs, Indian Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Defence news, etc.
The syllabus of Mathematics consists of Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, and Statistics.
CDS Books & Preparation Tips 2026
The subject-wise books for CDS 2026 exam are given below.
Books for General Awareness
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | Manohar Panday (Arihant Publications) |
| Manorama Yearbook | Philip Mathew |
| Pratiyogita Darpan (Magazines) | Pratiyogita Darpan Editorial Team |
| Newspapers | Hindu, The Indian Express, The Economic Times |
Books for English
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Objective General English |
S P Bakshi (Arihant Publications) |
| High School English Grammar & Composition |
Wren and Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
Books for Maths
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Mathematics for C.D.S. | R S Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R S Aggarwal |
| Pathfinder for CDS |
Also Read more about CDS books
CDS Preparation Tips 2026
Lakhs of candidates appear for the CDS exam every year, therefore, the competition is high. Candidates need to prepare well to ace the exam. Here are a few tips and tricks on how candidates can prepare for the exam:
- Solve past year question papers to know the questions asked in the exam and difficulty level
- Lay emphasis on the important topics
- Make a proper timetable and follow that diligently
- Clear the basic concepts of Maths from the high school books
Exam Day Guidelines
While appearing for the CDS exam, candidates need to follow the exam day guidelines given below:
- Candidates should carry their admit cards along with one photo identity proof (original and photocopy) to the exam centre
- Candidates are allowed to carry a clipboard or hardboard, black ball pen to the exam centre
- A sheet for doing rough work is provided by the invigilator
- Candidates should not bring books, notes, loose sheets, electronic or any other type of calculators, mathematical and drawing instruments, log tables, stencils, slide rules, test booklets, and rough sheets
- Mobiles, Bluetooth, pagers, or any other communication devices are not allowed inside the premises of the exam centre
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
It is important for a candidate to clear basics and concepts. Questions asked in this section are of Class 10 standard. Candidates can check below CDS Maths books that will help in the preparation:
- Mathematics for CDS by RS Aggarwal
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
- Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant Publications
Here are the list of some of the books which can help candidates in their preparation.
- High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
- Objective General English by SP Bakshi
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- English Grammar & Composition by S.C Gupta
CDS Vacancy 2026
The UPSC will release the vacancy for CDS 1 exam 2026 along with the notification PDF. However, the candidates can check the CDS 2 2025 vacancy break up in the table below:
| Institution |
Approximate Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
|
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun –161st (DE) Course commencing in July 2026 [including 13 |
100 |
|
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala - Course commencing in July, 2026 Executive Branch (General |
26 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad - (Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in July, 2026 i.e. 220 |
32 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 124th SSC (Men) (NT) (UPSC) Course Commencing in October, 2026. |
276 |
| Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) 124th SSC Women (NT) (UPSC) Course commencing in, October, 2026. |
19 |
| Total |
453 |
Commonly asked questions
The Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 1 examination 2026 vacancies on the official website. It will be released around for various defence services.
The authority released a total of 453 vacancies for the CDS 2 exam 2025 for admission to the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy for courses.
CDS Admit Card 2026
CDS admit card will be released online by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). The candidates can check the admit card through the candidate's login using the registration number or roll number and date of birth. Check below the methods:
1. Go to the upsc.gov.in
2. Click on the CDS admit card link
3. The link will redirect to the new page
4. Click on the CDS Admit card link
5. Read the instructions carefully
6. Fill out the details asked like application number, date of birth, etc.
7. Click on the submit button
8. The admit card will appear on the screen
9. Download the admit card and save it for later use
Discrepancies in UPSC CDS Admit Card
Candidates are advised to check their name, father’s name, category, date of birth, photograph, signature, etc. printed on the admit card carefully. In case there are any discrepancies in the details, candidates should immediately contact the examination authority. Candidates should provide the following details while reporting the issue:
- Exam name and year
- Registration number
- Roll number
- Postal address (Candidates need to mention the application number)
What to Do If You Find Discrepancy in the Admit Card for CDS exam?
According to the latest instructions by the UPSC for the CDS exam, the candidates should follow the measures given below:
- In case of any discrepancy in the e-Admit Card, the same may be communicated to the Commission immediately at e-mail ID: Skindo- upsc@gov.in, to enable the Commission to decide between the matte
- In case the photograph is not visible or available on the e-admit Card, candidates are advised to carry three (03) identical photographs (one photograph for each session) along with the printout of the e-admit Card at the Venue of the Examination for appearing at the Examination with an undertaking. No paper Admit Card will be issued for the Examination by the Commission
CDS Exam Centre 2026
CDS exam 2026 will be conducted in more than 70 cities in three shifts. Candidates are required to enter their preferences for CDS exam centres while submitting the form. Candidates can choose only one exam city at the time of application. CDS exam centres are allotted to candidates on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Some of the CDS exam centres 2026 are given below.
| CDS Exam Centres |
|
|---|---|
| Agartala |
Ranchi |
| Ghaziabad |
Bengaluru |
| Panaji |
Jaipur |
| Agra |
Sambalpur |
| Gorakhpur |
Bareilly |
| Patna |
Jammu |
| Ajmer |
Shillong |
| Gurgaon |
Bhopal |
| Port Blair |
Jodhpur |
| Ahmedabad |
Shimla |
| Gwalior |
Siligudi |
| Prayagraj |
Dehradun |
| Aizawl |
Bilaspur |
| Hyderabad |
Jorhat |
| Puducherry |
Kozhikode |
| Aligarh |
Cuttack |
| Imphal |
Thane |
| Pune |
Kolkata |
| Almora |
Thiruvananthapuram |
| Indore |
Coimbatore |
| Raipur |
Srinagar |
| Anantapur |
Kohima |
| Itanagar |
Chennai |
| Rajkot |
Srinagar |
| Aurangabad |
Kochi |
| Jabalpur |
Chandigarh |
| Leh |
- |
Commonly asked questions
The Commission released the CDS 1 and 2 2026 notification, application process and exam dates on the official website at upsc.gov.in. The CDS 1 2026 notification will be released on December 10, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 application dates are December 12 to December 30, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 exam will be held on April 12, 2026. On the other hand, CDS 2 2026 notification will be announced on May 20, 2026 and the last date to apply will be June 9, 2026. The CDS 2 2026 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026.
It is recommended to the candidates to reach the CDS exam centre at least one hour prior to the reporting time. The CDS exam centre allotment is done on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
CDS Exam Analysis 2026
Shiksha will visit one of the exam centres for the CDS 1 2026 exam and take the review from the students to provide the analysis. Till then, candidates can check below CDS analysis based on the student reactions for 2025 year:
| CDS 2 Exam 2025 (Subject) | Exam Analysis |
|---|---|
| Maths Analysis | As per student reactions, Overall Moderate to Difficulty |
| English Analysis | As per student reactions, Overall Moderate |
| GK Analysis | As per student reactions, Overall Moderate |
CDS 1 2025 Exam Analysis based on students feedback:
| CDS 1 Exam 2025 (Subject) | Exam Analysis |
|---|---|
| Maths Analysis | As per student reactions,
|
| English Analysis |
|
| GK Analysis |
|
Commonly asked questions
As per the students' feedback, the overall difficulty level and good attempts of CDS 1 2025 exam are mentioned below:
| Exam paper | Overall Difficulty Level | Good attempts |
| English | Moderate | 87-93 |
| GK | Moderate | 85 to 90 |
| Maths | Moderate | 70-80 |
Yes, the English section of the CDS exam is scorable if it is prepared properly. Usually the difficulty level of the exam is moderate.
CDS Answer Key & Question Papers 2026
Commonly asked questions
The authority (UPSC) will release the CDS answer key for the written examination on the official website.
Yes, the examination authority will release the CDS Question Papers 2026 officially at upsc.gov.in. The question papers will be released in the form of PDF. Candidates can download the CDS question papers 2026 from this page also for free. The question papers will help candidates to check the difficulty level of the exam, questions asked, pattern changed or not, etc.
CDS Result 2026
Commonly asked questions
The download link for the CDS 1 Result 2026 will be available on the UPSC website and also on our Shiksha page.
The CDS examination 2026 includes papers English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The result will be prepared in PDF format and contains the names and roll numbers of all successful candidates.
CDS Expected Cut Off 2026
Commonly asked questions
The steps to check the CDS cut off marks is provided below:
- Visit at upsc.gov.in
- Click on the :Examination" tab
- Go to the "Cut Off Marks" dropdown menu.
- Click on the download link and save it for future reference
Candidates can check the cut off marks for the CDS exam by visiting the official website at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC will release the cutoff according to the academy or course.
UPSC CDS Selection Process & Recommended Marks 2026
Commonly asked questions
Yes. In the CDS exam there is a negative marking. One-third mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. No mark will be deducted for unanswered questions.
The CDS exam is conducted in an offline mode that is in a pen-paper mode. The exam consists of objective type questions and need to mark their answers in an OMR sheet.
Candidates can download the UPSC CDS 2026 recommended marks by following the steps given below:
- Go to the official website
- Click on the CDS 2026 recommended marks link
- Click on the PDF link
- The recommended marks PDF will appear on the screen
- Download it and save it for later use
CDS Exam 2026 FAQs
Commonly asked questions
The CDS selection process comprises two stages: a written exam and an SSB interview. All candidates who qualify for the written exam are required to register themselves online on the Indian Army Recruiting website - joinindianarmy.nic.in, within two weeks of the announcement of the written test result. After that, candidates are allotted SSB dates and centres.The SSB procedure consists of a two-stage selection process—stage I and stage II. Only those candidates who clear stage I are permitted to appear for stage II. Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Tests (PP&DT). Stage II Comprises of an interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the conference.
In the last month of preparation for CDS 1 2026, candidates should focus on comprehensive revision of all the key topics, practice mock tests regularly, Work on weak areas, frequent revision, update yourself with current affairs, maintain physical and mental health, focus on areas in which you feel less confident, go through previous year question papers, analyse performance after each mock test, focus on time management, etc.
The CDS exam requires in depth knowledge and clarity of concepts or conceptual clarity. So, regular solving of mock tests of the CDS exam is essential. It provides an additional advantage that a candidate requires to succeed in the exam. It also helps to test the preparation level and evaluate the progress of the candidate.
The CDS exam is conducted twice a year for admission to IMA, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy. Basically, it works as a tool for students to prepare for an upcoming exam. Candidate will get an idea of the actual examination. Mock tests make candidates realise their mistakes that must be taken care of before going to the exam.
The download link for the CDS 1 Result 2026 will be available on the UPSC website and also on our Shiksha page.
The candidates who will qualify for the CDS 2 result in 2026 will proceed to the SSB interview. The CDS 2 result 2026 will be released on the official website. Basically, the result PDF, cut-off marks, and the final merit-list will guide candidates on their next steps, mainly for the SSB interview round.
The CDS examination 2026 includes papers English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The result will be prepared in PDF format and contains the names and roll numbers of all successful candidates.
CDS Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
Here are the list of some of the books which can help candidates in their preparation.
- High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
- Objective General English by SP Bakshi
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- English Grammar & Composition by S.C Gupta
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The authority released a total of 453 vacancies for the CDS 2 exam 2025 for admission to the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy for courses.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
It is recommended to the candidates to reach the CDS exam centre at least one hour prior to the reporting time. The CDS exam centre allotment is done on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, the English section of the CDS exam is scorable if it is prepared properly. Usually the difficulty level of the exam is moderate.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates can check the cut off marks for the CDS exam by visiting the official website at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC will release the cutoff according to the academy or course.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The steps to check the CDS cut off marks is provided below:
- Visit at upsc.gov.in
- Click on the :Examination" tab
- Go to the "Cut Off Marks" dropdown menu.
- Click on the download link and save it for future reference
I
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes. In the CDS exam there is a negative marking. One-third mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. No mark will be deducted for unanswered questions.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The CDS exam is conducted in an offline mode that is in a pen-paper mode. The exam consists of objective type questions and need to mark their answers in an OMR sheet.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the CDS 2 application last date to apply was extended to June 20 from June 17, 2025. A one-time extension was provided by the commission. The application correction window was opened from July 7 to July 9, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 6
UGC NET 2025 Dec Application 7 Oct '25 - 7 Nov '25
What are the best books for the English subject for CDS preparation?