The unofficial UPC CDS 1 2026 answer key has been updated in the table below after the conclusion of exam. The official UPSC CDS 2026 answer key will be available for download in the form of a PDF online on the UPSC website. Candidates can use the CDS answer key 2026 to calculate their CDS scores. The CDS answer key 2026 will be provided paper wise. Additionally, after the exam, candidates can also refer to the CDS exam analysis to get a better idea of the candidate's performance in the CDS exam.
This Story also Contains
The CDS answer keys of the previous years can be used in conjunction with CDS question papers for better preparation. The official UPSC CDS 2026 answer key PDF can be downloaded from upsc.gov.in. However, the official PDF will only be released after the selection process is complete. Many notable coaching institutes have released unofficial versions of the answer key on the same day as the CDS exam. Candidates can refer to these unofficial versions of the CDS 1 2026 answer key to get an approximation of their results immediately after the exam. The download links for the same will be made available below.
Candidates can check the table below to know the important CDS exam date 2026 and others.
Events | CDS 1 2026 Exam Dates |
CDS 1 notification | December 10, 2025 |
CDS 1 exam date 2026 | April 12, 2026 |
Unofficial CDS Answer Key release date | To be announced |
Official CDS Answer Key release date | To be announced |
SSB Interview call letter | To be announced |
Events | CDS 2 2026 Exam Dates |
CDS 2 notification | May 20 2026 |
CDS 2 2026 exam date | September 13, 2026 |
Unofficial CDS 2026 answer key release date | To be released |
Official CDS answer key 2026 release date | To be released |
SSB Interview call letter | To be released |
The CDS 2026 answer key can be downloaded from the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in. Follow the steps below to download the answer key of CDS 2026.
Visit the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.
In the Examination, tab click on the Answer Key link.
Search for the CDS 2026 answer key and click on it.
The pdf file of the CDS answer key will be opened.
Download the CDS answer key pdf for future reference.
To Check CDS Answer Key - Step by Step
The Combined Defence Services exam has two stages - a written exam and an SSB interview. The written exam has two to three sections depending on the course that the candidate has applied for. Applicants need to qualify for the CDS 2026 written examination to be eligible for the SSB interview.
Quick links: CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates who are preparing for CDS 2026 and attempting the previous year's CDS question papers and looking for the answer key can download the same here. In the table below, applicants can find the official CDS 1 and 2 answer key for all the previous year GK, English and Mathematics papers starting from the year 2017 to 2025. Check the table below to download the previous year's CDS answer keys.
The unofficial answer key of CDS 1 2025 has been updated in the table given below.
| Subject | Question Papers | Answer key pdf |
| English | Set A-Click here Set B-Click here Set C-Click here Set D-Click here | Set A –Download link Set B-Download link Set C-Download link Set D-Download link |
| General Knowledge | Set A- Click here Set B- Click here Set C- Click here Set D- Click here | Set A-Download link Set B-Download link Set C-Download link Set D- Download link |
| Elementary Mathematics | Set A- Click here Set B- Click here Set C- Click here Set D- Click here | Set A – Download link Set B- Download link Set C- Download link Set D- Download link |
The unofficial answer key of CDS 1 2025 has been updated in the table given below.
| Subject | Answer key pdf |
| English | Download link |
| General Knowledge | Download link |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download link |
CDS 2 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Major Kalshi Classes)
Papers | CDS 2 2024 Answer key (All Sets) |
Mathematics | Download here |
English | |
| GK | Download here |
CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Major Kalshi Classes)
Papers | CDS 1 2024 Answer key (All Sets) |
Mathematics | Click here |
English | |
| GK | Click here |
Papers | CDS 1 2024 Answer key |
Mathematics | Click here |
| GK | Click here |
English |
Year | CDS 1 or CDS 2 | CDS Subjects | CDS Answer Key Download Link |
| 2023 | CDS 2 | English | Download here |
| Maths | Download here | ||
| GK | Download here | ||
2021 | English | ||
Maths | |||
GK | |||
2020 | CDS 2 | English | |
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
2019 | CDS 2 | English | |
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
CDS 1 | English | ||
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
2018 | CDS 2 | English | |
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
CDS 1 | English | ||
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
2017 | CDS 2 | English | |
GK | |||
Mathematics | |||
CDS 1 | English | ||
GK | |||
Mathematics |
Quick Links:
UPSC provides the facility to challenge the CDS question paper. Candidates can do so by visiting the UPSC website before the last date to raise objections. The procedure to raise an objection is mentioned below:
Visit the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in.
Click on CDS question papers through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPR).
Entering the basic details required and submitting the challenges.
Candidates must note that for each UPSC exam, the Commission has fixed a time frame of 7 days for raising objections.
Quick links: CDS Exam Pattern 2026
With the help of the CDS answer key 2026, candidates can calculate their score to get an idea of how they did in the Combined Defence Services written exam. To calculate the CDS written score, candidates can use the below-mentioned formula.
Total score = Number of correct answers x Marks awarded – Number of incorrect answers x Marks deducted
Events | Marks |
Correct Answer | +1 |
Incorrect Answer | -1/3 |
Unanswered | - |
Quick links:
The Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 1 cutoff for every stage of the CDS exam. The final CDS cut off 2026 will be released along with the declaration of the final result. Candidates qualifying for the CDS cut off of the written exam are called for the CDS SSB interview round. The written exam cutoff is for shortlisting applicants for the CDS SSB interview. So the candidates need to score well in the CDS written exam and move on to the main exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the Union Public Service Commission released the answer key for the CDS written exam on April 16, 2026.
Candidates can download the official CDS exam answer key from the UPSC website.
In the CDS 2026 exam, correct answers are given 1 mark.
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.33 in the CDS 2026 exam.
On Question asked by student community
Hello aspirant,
On August 23, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission made the NDA 2 2024 admit card available on its official website, upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in. The timeframe for editing NDA 2 2024 application forms was open until June 11, 2024. On June 5, 2024, the NDA rectification window opened. On June
Hello there,
Yes, you can apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) after completing your graduation in 2027, based on your date of birth, 29th November 2003. Here’s how your eligibility works out:
Eligibility Criteria for CDS IMA:
Age Limit: For IMA, the
To determine your eligibility for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, we need to consider the age criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the exam.
For the CDS exam, the age criteria generally are as follows:
Hello aspirant,
The upper age limit for CDS IMA is 24 years. Since you are currently 21 years 3 months old, you have 2 years and 9 months left to appear for the CDS IMA exam. This means you can attempt the exam 3 more times before reaching the age
Hello Aspirant
The eligibility criteria for CDS is that the candidate must be between the ages of 19 to 25 years. Since you were born in 2003, that will make you 24 years old, making you eligible for the exam.
But, just to be on the safer side, I would