CDS 2025 Exam: CDS 1 Final Result (Released), CDS 2 Result (OUT), Cut off, Question Paper & More

The UPSC released the CDS 1 Final result. The Commission released the CDS 2 result at upsc.gov.in on October 9. The exam was conducted on September 14 to fill 453 vacancies. The CDS 2026 dates were also announced. Scroll down for CDS 2 exam result download link, steps to check, cut off, questions, answers, and more.

CDS 2025 Exam

CDS 2025:  The Commission released the CDS 1 2025 Final Result. 365 ( 227 + 103 + 35 ) candidates are qualified. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the CDS 2 2025 result on the official website at upsc.gov.in on October 9. The CDS 2 exam was conducted on September 14 at various centres across the country. 9085 candidates with the following Roll Numbers have qualified for being interviewed by the Service Selection Board. The last date to apply for CDS 2 was extended to June 20, 2025. Earlier, it was June 17 (11:59 PM). The Commission revised the CDS application form filling process. Candidates required to apply through the UPSC Online Application Portal. For this, candidates need to create an account, generate universal registration, fill common application form and then apply for the exam. The CDS 2 notification was released on May 28, 2025 in the form of PDF and comprises all the important details related to the exam. The CDS 2 application link was activated from May 28 to June 20, 2025. 

The UPSC announced the CDS 2026 Dates. The CDS 1 2025 result was declared on April 28, 2025 and the exam was conducted on April 13, 2025. Scroll down for CDS 2 Analysis, answer key and question papers. 

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. The exam is conducted to recruit officers for the Indian Armed Forces, which includes the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. The CDS exam is conducted in two stages: a written test and an interview. Continue reading for more details on CDS 2025 exam. 

Also Read:

CDS Syllabus

CDS 2025 English Syllabus

CDS 2026 Dates Announced

The Commission announced 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. 

UPSC CDS 2025 Exam Date

The commission released the CDS 1 and 2 2025 dates of an exam and application form. Check below in detail.

Also Read:

• CDS Salary
• CDS Selection process

CDS 2025 Result OUT

The CDS 1 2025 Final result was released. 365 ( 227 + 103 + 35 ) candidates who have qualified on the basis of the results of the CDS (I), 2025 conducted by the Commission in April, 2025 and SSB interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the 160th (DE) Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course i.e. No. 219 F(P) Course. 

The UPSC released the CDS 2 2025 result on the official website. Candidates can access the UPSC CDS Result PDF at upsc.gov.in. The candidates who qualify for the CDS written exam will be called for the SSB interview. Candidates can check below the steps to download the CDS 2 result PDF.

• Visit the official website-upsc.gov.in 
• Click on the UPSC CDS 2 written exam result link available in New Section 
• The CDS Result PDF link will appear on the screen 
• Click on the CDS 2 Result 2025 link 
• The UPSC CDS 2 Result will appear on the screen 
• Check and Download the CDS 2 Written Exam Result and save it for later use 

Also Read: CDS Cutoff

CDS 2 2025 Exam Schedule & Shift Timings

The authority released the CDS 2 2025 examination schedule and shift-timings. Candidates can check below the schedule and shift-timings for CDS 2. 

Check CDS 2 2025 Exam Schedule PDF: Download Here 

CDS 2 Admit Card 2025 OUT

The CDS 2 admit card released online on the official website. Candidates need to use their application number and date of birth to login to the registered accounts. CDS admit card comprises details such as the candidate's name, roll number, date of birth, scanned photograph, signature, details regarding the CDS exam centre, etc. The CDS exam is conducted by UPSC for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. 

How to Download The CDS 2 Admit Card 2025?

• Visit the official website; upsc.gov.in
• Click on the UPSC CDS 2 2025 admit card link
• Click on the 'Admit Card' tab available on the homepage.
• On the next page, click on the link 'E-Admit Cards for various Examinations of UPSC'
• A new page will be open. Click on the download link for CDS 2 admit card 2025
• Click on the link 'Click here'
• The important instructions will be displayed on the screen. Read the instructions carefully and candidates need to take the printout of the instructions
• Choose either the registration number or roll number for the further procedure
• Enter the registration number or roll number, date of birth, and verification text

CDS Notification 2025

The CDS 2 notification was released in the form of PDF and comprises the details related to the exam. It was released on May 28, 2025. The notification consists of details including the important dates, application process, exam pattern, syllabus, eligibility, etc. It is important for the candidate to read the notification before applying for the exam. 

CDS 2 Notification 2025 PDF: Download Here 

CDS 1 Notification 2025 PDF: Download Here 

CDS Application Form 2025

The Commission opened three days CDS 2 2025 application correction window from July 7 to July 9, 2025 (11:59 PM). It was a one time measure for the candidates to rectify their mistakes in the applications forms filled for CDS 2 examination, 2025. The CDS 2 application form was released on May 28, 2025 at upsconline.nic.in. The last date to apply was June 20, 2025 (extended). The application fee is INR 200 for General and OBC male candidates. No fee is required for SC/ST/female candidates. Candidates can check below the steps to fill the CDS 2 application form 2025: 

• Log in to your registered account or register for the OTR
• Click on the CDS 2 exam link
• Fill out the details asked
• Upload the photograph, signature, and Photo Identity card
• Make the application fee for the CDS 2 exam 
• Choose the CDS 2 exam centre
• Finally, submit the application form 
• A confirmation message will be sent to the candidate's registered mobile number and email id 

CDS 2025 Vacancy

CDS Eligibility 2025

The eligibility criteria of CDS is provided below:

CDS 2 Age Limit 2025

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 1 Age Limit 2025

• For Indian Military Academy (IMA), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• For the Indian Naval Academy (IMA), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• Candidates applying for the Air Force Academy should be between 20 to 24 years, as on January 1, 2025. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2005
• For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Course for men), unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2000 and not later than January 1, 2006, are eligible to apply
• For Officers’ Training Academy (SSC Women Non-Technical Course), candidates should be unmarried and born not earlier than January 2, 2000, and not later than January 1, 2006

CDS Age Limit for Females

Women candidates are now eligible to apply for the CDS OTA exam. The CDS age limit for Females should be 19 to 25 years.

CDS Age Limit for OBC

OBC candidates can also apply for the CDS 2 2025 exam. As we know, there is no caste-based reservation in the CDS exam. So, the CDS Age Limit for OBC is also the same as per the other castes, i.e., 19 to 25 years. 

CDS Education Qualification 2025

The CDS 2025 exam pattern is divided into written exam and SSB interview. Also, the CDS exam patterns for the INA, AFA, and IMA are similar but the CDS OTA exam pattern is slightly different from the other three. The written exam for IMA, INA and AFA comprises three sections namely English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The total duration of the exam is six hours that is each section is of two hours and the total marks of the test for IMA, INA and AFA are 300. 

CDS OTA Exam Pattern

The written exam for OTA consists of two sections namely English and General Knowledge. The total duration of the exam for OTA is four hours that is each section is for two hours. The total marks of the test for OTA are 200. 

CDS Question Paper Structure for IMA, INA and AFA

For OTA

CDS Syllabus 2025

The CDS syllabus for IMA, INA, and AFA has three subjects, and in OTA it has two subjects. The CDS Mathematics syllabus standard is of Class 10, while for other subjects, it is of graduation level. It is important to know the syllabus for the exam preparation. The CDS syllabus consists of three subjects: Elementary Mathematics, English Language and General Knowledge. It is to be noted that Elementary Mathematics is only for those candidates who have applied for IMA, INA, and AFA. 

English: Antonyms, Sentence improvement, Comprehension, Synonyms, Word substitution, Ordering of sentences, Spotting Errors, Selecting Words, Ordering of words in a sentence, etc.

General Knowledge: Economics, Physics, Current Awareness , Politics, Chemistry, Sociology, History, Defence, Award, Geography, Environment, Sport, Biology, Cultural, Book, Statement true/false, etc.

Elementary Mathematics: Number System, Decimal fractions, Time & Distance, Time & Work, Percentages, Simple & compound interest, Profit & Loss, Ratio & proportion, Division algorithm, H.C.F. & L.C.M, Logarithms to base 10, Theory of polynomials, Solutions of quadratic equations, Linear equations in two variables & their solutions, Laws of indices, Trigonometry, Simple cases of heights and distances, Geometry, Lines & angles, Mensuration, Statistics, etc.

CDS 2025 Books

Books help in the preparation and also help in clearing the concepts of the topics provided in the syllabus. Scroll down for the list of CDS books.

CDS books for English Language

• High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
• Objective General English by SP Bakshi
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

CDS books for GK

• General Awareness by Manohar Panday
• Manorama Yearbook
• Magazines such as Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review (CSR), and Yojana
• Newspapers

CDS books for Elementary Mathematics

• Mathematics for CDS by RS Aggarwal
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
• Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant Publications

CDS 2025 Preparation

To clear the CDS 2025 exam, candidates should have a good level of CDS preparation. Candidates can check below the tips and tricks to prepare for the CDS 2025:

• Know the syllabus and exam pattern.
• Concept clarity also plays a crucial role. 
• Focus on important topics and choose the best CDS books for preparation which will help candidates to get details of several topics given in the syllabus.
• Solve previous Year's question papers which will also help in the time management.
• Candidates must attempt mock test.
• Candidates should keep calm before the exam and do not learn any new topic, etc.

CDS 1 2025 Maths Exam Analysis OUT

As per student reactions,

• Maths exam was lengthy.
• Overall Difficulty level: Moderate
• Graph Questions were asked
• Statistics asked more this time
• Same topics asked last year
• Cutoff will be high

CDS 1 2025 GK Analysis OUT: Check Here

As per student reactions'

• Overall Difficulty level: Moderate
• History was tough
• Polity was moderate
• Factual questions asked from schemes
• Economics Some questions were hard
• Current affairs was government oriented
• Science was Easy
• Good Attempts: 85 to 90
• Expected Cutoff: High

CDS 1 2025 English Analysis OUT: Check Here

Candidates can check here the CDS 1 exam analysis based on the student reactions including the overall difficulty level of the exam, questions asked, answers, topics, and more. 

As per the students' reactions,

CDS 2025 Answer Key 

CDS 2 Answer Key will be released after the completion of the  CDS 2 exam. However, the unofficial answer key for the CDS exam will be released by the coaching centres and will also be provided here after the conduction of an exam on September 14, 2025. Till then, candidates can check below the CDS 1 answer key.

CDS 1 Answer Key 2025 by Cavalier

CDS 1 Answer Key 2025 by Major Kalshi 

CDS 2 2025 English, GK and Maths Question Paper 

After the conduction of CDS 2 exam, candidates will be able to check the question papers. Till then, scroll down for CDS 1 2025 English GK and Maths question paper pdf.