CDS Answer Key 2026 (Out) - Download CDS 1 Official Answer Key PDFs
The Union Public Service Commission released the PSC CDS 2 answer key challenge window 2026 from September 16 to 20, 2026, on the official website. The official UPSC CDS 2026 answer key PDF can be downloaded from upsc.gov.in. The provisional UPSC CDS 2 answer key was released on September 16, 2026. The UPSC CDS 2 2026 answer key is available for download in the form of a PDF format online on the UPSC website.
This Story also Contains
- CDS Answer Keys 2026
- CDS Answer Key 2026 - Dates
- How to Download the CDS Answer Key 2026?
- CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 – Written Exam
- CDS Answer Keys for Previous Years
- UPSC CDS 1 2026 Answer Key
- Unofficial UPSC CDS 1 2025 Answer Key (Centurion Defence Academy & Doon Defence Dreamers)
- UPSC CDS 1 2025 Unofficial Answer Key
- CDS 2 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)
- CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)
- How to Challenge the CDS Question Paper 2026?
- CDS Cut off 2026
Candidates can use the CDS answer key 2026 to calculate their CDS scores. The UPSC CDS 1 2026 answer key will be updated in the table below after the conclusion of the exam. The CDS answer keys of the previous years can be used in conjunction with the CDS question papers for better preparation. 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 2 2026 answer key to get an approximation of their results immediately after the exam. The CDS answer key 2026 is provided paper-wise. Additionally, after the exam, candidates can also refer to the CDS exam analysis to get a better idea of their performance in the CDS exam. The download links for the same will be made available below.
CDS Answer Keys 2026
| Subject | Answer Key PDF |
| English | Download here |
| General Knowledge | Download here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download here |
CDS Answer Key 2026 - Dates
Candidates can check the table below to know the important CDS exam dates 2026 and others.
CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 Dates
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 | September 14, 2026 |
Official CDS answer key 2026 release date | September 16, 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | September 16 to 20, 2026 |
SSB Interview call letter | To be released |
CDS 1 Answer Key 2026 Dates
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 | April 12, 2026 |
Official CDS Answer Key release date | April 16, 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | April 18 to 22, 2026 |
| Official Final Answer Key 2026 | To be announced |
SSB Interview call letter | To be announced |
How to Download the CDS Answer Key 2026?
The CDS 2026 answer key can be downloaded from the UPSC website – upsc.gov.in. Follow the steps below to download the CDS 2026 answer key.
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.
CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 – Written Exam
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
UPSC CDS 1 2026 Unofficial Answer Key (by Prepp)
The unofficial answer key of CDS 1 2026 has been updated in the table given below.
| Subject | Answer key PDF |
| English | SET A - Click here SET B - Click here SET C - Click here SET D - Click here |
| General Knowledge | Download link |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download link |
CDS Answer Keys for Previous Years
Candidates who are preparing for CDS 2026 and are 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.
UPSC CDS 1 2026 Answer Key
The unofficial answer key of CDS 1 2026 has been updated in the table given below.
| Subject | Answer key PDF |
| English | Check here |
| General Knowledge | Check here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Check here |
Unofficial UPSC CDS 1 2025 Answer Key (Centurion Defence Academy & Doon Defence Dreamers)
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 |
UPSC CDS 1 2025 Unofficial Answer Key
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)
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)
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 |
CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Cavalier)
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:
How to Challenge the CDS Question Paper 2026?
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 object is mentioned below:
Visit the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in.
Click on the 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
CDS Answer Key 2026 - Score Calculation & Marking Scheme
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 following formula.
Total score = Number of correct answers x Marks awarded – Number of incorrect answers x Marks deducted
CDS Exam 2026 Marking Scheme
Events | Marks |
Correct Answer | +1 |
Incorrect Answer | -1/3 |
Unanswered | - |
Quick links:
CDS Cut off 2026
The Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 2 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.
Questions related to CDS
On Question asked by student community
CDS is a graduate-level defence entrance examination and candidates must satisfy the prescribed age, educational qualification and other eligibility requirements for the particular academy. Being born on January 1, 2010, you are currently below the age required for CDS. You would first need to complete graduation and then meet the
Hey there,
Yes — you may have a chance in CDS OTA 2027, but most likely only for CDS (I) 2027.
You were born 16 June 2002.
- CDS (I) 2027 – OTA: You should be age-eligible under the expected age criteria, subject to the official 2027 notification.
- CDS (II) 2027
Hello, for CDS OTA (II) 2027, candidates must be born between 2 July 2001 and 1 July 2007 as per the latest CDS II age criteria. Since your date of birth is 27 May 2003, you fall within this age range and meet the age requirement.
For more details check
Hello Student,
For CDS OTA, the usual age limit for women is 19–25 years. A candidate born on 27 May 2003 would be around 24 years old in 2027 and is likely to fall within the age limit. However, the exact eligibility depends on the DOB range specified in the
Hello, with a date of birth of 02 October 2002, you are eligible for the CDS OTA entry for CDS II 2026, as the prescribed age range is 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007.