Updated on Sep 1, 2023 17:35 IST

CDS 2 Answer Key 2023: CDS fullform is Combined Defence Services, which is a national-level competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The CDS 2 exam begins on September 3, 2023. After the completion of the exam, Major Kalshi released the CDS 2 Answer Key 2023 for Maths, English & GK for all sets-A, B, C & D. Check below for more details.

CDS Answer Key by Coaching Institutes: Major Kalshi

CDS 2 Answer Key 2023: Candidates apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Union Public Service conducts the exam twice a year. The selection of the candidates is based on the written exam followed by an SSB interview for intelligence and personality test. The CDS 2 exam will be conducted on September 3, 2023. After the completion of an exam, various institutes release the unofficial CDS answer key to analyse the performance. Among them is Major Kalshi. It also releases the answer key for CDS 2 Written Exam 2023 after the exam is over. Scroll down to find out more about CDS 2, a direct link to download the answer key, and more.

Table of contents
  • What is CDS 2 Exam?
  • CDS 2 Exam 2023: Highlights
  • CDS 2 Answer Key 2023: Overview
  • How to Download CDS 2 Answer Key 2023 by Major Khalsi?
  • CDS 2 Cut off 2023
  • How to calculate scores using CDS 2 Answer Key 2023?
  • What is CDS Salary?
View More

What is CDS 2 Exam?

Every year, twice the CDS exams are conducted by the UPSC, namely CDS 1 and CDS 2. The CDS 2 exam is conducted for the courses commencing at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Air Force Academy, Hyderabad; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in July; and Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in October. On the other hand, CDS 1 is conducted for the courses commencing at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Air Force Academy, Hyderabad; and Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in January; as well as Officers Training Academy, Chennai courses starting in April.

Also Read:CDS exam pattern

CDS 2 Exam 2023: Highlights

Below is mentioned in detail about the CDS 2 Exam including exam level, frequency, stages, mode, etc.

Parameters

Details

Name of exam

Combined Defence Services Examination

Conducted  by

UPSC

Exam Level

National

Exam frequency

Twice a year (April and September)

Exam mode

Offline

Exam stages

Written exam and SSB Interview

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

 

Total marks

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

0.33 marks deducted for wrong answers

 

 CDS 2 Answer Key 2023: Overview

Check below the date of the exam, the release date of answer key by Major Khalsi,etc.

Event

Date

CDS 2 Exam Date

03-Sep-2023

CDS 2 Answer Key 2023 by Major Khalsi

03-Sep-2023

Official CDS 2 answer key 2023 release date

To be announced

How to Download CDS 2 Answer Key 2023 by Major Khalsi?

Below, the steps are mentioned to download CDS 2 answer key 2023 by Major Khalsi: 

  • Visit our Shiksha website where direct links to download the CDS 2 answer key PDF will be provided. 
  • Select your Question Paper Set-A/B/C/D
  • CDS 2 answer key 2023 will be displayed as per your question paper on the screen. 
  • Download the CDS 2 answer key and save it for future reference and comparison.

CDS 2 Previous Years Question Papers

The candidates can download the CDS 2 question paper for the year 2022 on the page. The question paper and answer key for GK and English are available for the candidates to download. Check the answer keys and the question papers below

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CDS 2 Question Papers 2022: English and GK

Below, a direct link is provided to download the question papers for English and GK so that students can analyse their performance.

Download here CDS 2 Question Paper 2022 for English

Download here CDS 2 Question Paoer 2022 for GK

CDS 2 Answer Key 2022 (Unofficial)- Download Link 

Major Khalsi released the unofficial answer key for CDS 2 of all sets so that students will be able to calculate their approximate scores. The official answer key will be released by the commission after the time for raising objections is over. For the ease of candidates, we will provide the direct link to download the pdf answer.

Paper

All Sets Answers

CDS 2 English Answer Key

Download-answer-key-cds-2-2022-english All Sets

CDS 2 GK Answer Key

Download CDS 2 Answer key 2022 GK All Sets

CDS 2 Maths Answer Key

NA

Also Read: CDS Syllabus

CDS 2 Cut off 2023

The cut off for CDS at every stage of an exam will be released by the UPSC. The final CDS cutoff for 2023 will be released along with the declaration of the final CDS result for 2023. Those candidates who qualify for the CDS written examination will be called for the SSB interview round. Therefore, the cutoff of the written exam shortlists the applicants for the CDS SSB Interview.

How to calculate scores using CDS 2 Answer Key 2023?

Candidates need to follow the marking scheme to calculate the scores prescribed by the examination authority. 

  • There is a penalty for wrong answers, and for the correct answer, the candidate will allot the marks assigned to the particular question. 
  • There is a negative marking for an incorrect answer. 1/3 marks are deducted as per the CDS exam pattern. 
  • If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer and a penalty of 1/3 marks will be deducted. 
  • If a candidate does not attempt a question, then there will be no penalty for that question. 
  • The scores of a candidate will be calculated by the UPSC, which is based on the number of correct answers after applying the penalty for wrong answers.

Also Read: CDS Selection Process

What is CDS Salary?

During the training period, the CDS salary of officers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force is INR 56,100 per month. Check below, rank-wise salary:

Rank

Level

Salary (In INR)

Lieutenant

Level 10

56,100 -1,77,500

Captain

Level 10 B

61,300- 1,93,900

Major

Level 11

69,400 – 2,07,200

Lieutenant Colonel

Level 12A

1,21,200 – 2,12,400

Colonel

Level 13

1,30,600-2, 15,900

Brigadier

Level 13A

1,39,600-2,17,600

Major General

Level 14

1,44,200-2,18,200

Lieutenant General HAG Scale

Level 15

1, 82, 200-2,24,100

HAG Scale

Level 16

2,05,400 – 2,24,400

VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG)

Level 17

2,25,000 (fixed)

COAS

Level 18

2,50,000 (fixed)

 Read More:

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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered a month ago

Some of the books, help candidates in their CDS preparation are given below:

  • 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

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month 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

Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

It is advised to the candidates to reach the CDS exam centre one hour before the given time. They should carry hall ticket along with them otherwise they will not be able to give the exam.

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month 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

Satyendra Garg

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month 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

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The methods 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

Ishita Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months 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

Shikha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

The CDS exam is conducted offline or pen and paper mode. Objective questions will be asked in the examination. Candidates need to mark their choices of answers in the sheet that was provided during the exam. CDS 1 2026 notification will be released on December 10.

 

 

J

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6