CDS 1 Exam 2026 - Admit card, Result, Cutoff, Answer key

The Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC CDS 1 result 2026 on the official website. The CDS 1  2026 result can be downloaded from the official website, upsc.gov.in. Candidates have to secure qualifying marks as prescribed by UPSC to qualify for the written exam. Candidates who qualify for the written CDS exam are eligible to appear for an SSB interview. 

The CDS 1 exam result for the written exam and the final CDS result are declared separately. The final result of CDS is calculated by adding the marks secured by candidates in the written as well as the SSB interviews. 

Candidates must check the CDS exam eligibility criteria like age limit, educational qualification, marital status to be eligible for the CDS exam 2026. 

Nationality

Candidates applying for CDS exam 2026 must be 

• an Indian citizen, or
• a subject to Nepal, or
• Migrants from Pakistan, Burma, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, with the intention of permanently settling in India

Age

Educational Qualification martial status as per courses 

The Union Public Service Commission activated the UPSC CDS application form 2026 from December 10 to December 30, 2025. Earlier, the commission activated the UPSC CDS 1 application form 2026 link along with the notification on the same day. The UPSC CDS 2026 application form was released in online mode only. Candidates have to complete the One-Time Registration and then proceed to apply for the UPSC CDS exam 2026. Candidates are required to fill the CDS application form carefully.

Documents Required While Filling CDS Application Form 

• Active Email – ID
• Matriculation certificate
• Scanned signature
• Scanned photograph
• One photo identity proof like an Aadhar card/ Voter card/ PAN card/ Passport/ Driving license

Steps to Fill UPSC CDS Application Form

• Open the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.

• Click on the ‘Apply Online link’ available on the web page.

• Online One-Time Registration (OTR)- If the applicants are not completed the One Time Registration, They have to complete it by providing some basic details such as personal and contact details.

• Login by using valid login credentials Email ID and OTP/Password or Mobile number and  OTP/Password or OTR ID and OTP/Password.

• Candidates have to fill out the UPSC CDS 2026 application form in two parts which include filling in other details, fee payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document and selection of preferred exam centre.

• Check all the details furnished in the UPSC CDS application form 2026 thoroughly and edit the details if needed. 

• Once submitted, Applicants will not be able to make changes to their UPSC CDS application form 2026.

• After submission, a registration number will be generated. Candidates have to download it as a pdf file and take a printout for future reference.

CDS Application Fee

UPSC prescribed the CDS exam pattern 2026 in the official notification. There are two stages in the CDS exam 2026- written and SSB interviews. The written CDS exam 2026 is conducted in pen and paper mode. As per the CDS exam pattern, candidates who apply for Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Indian Military Academy courses have to appear for three subjects - English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics while candidates who have opted for Officers' Training Academy have to appear for two subjects – English and General Knowledge. 

CDS Exam Pattern – Written Exam

Structure of CDS exam pattern for admission to Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Indian Military Academy.                                                                                                                        

Structure of exam pattern for admission to Officers’ Training Academy

CDS Exam Pattern – SSB Interview

To score well in the written exam of CDS, candidates must know the preparation tips and strategies. Candidates must know the importance of solving the previous years’ question papers, timely revision, time management, etc. which are the key elements of preparation.

The Union Public Service Commission will issue the UPSC CDS 1 2026 admit card in online mode. The CDS 1 admit card 2026 will be available for download at upsc.gov.in. Candidates can download the CDS exam admit card until the examination date. In order to download the CDS 1 admit card 2026, candidates can either log in using their roll number or registration number. The CDS 1 2026 admit card is available for candidates who have successfully filled and submitted the application form. 

Details on the CDS Admit Card 2026

• Candidate’s name
• Scanned signature and colour photograph
• Registration number
• Candidate’s category
• Examination date
• Reporting time
• Address of examination centre
• Examination timing

UPSC releases the official answer key of CDS 1 exam on the official website. The CDS 1 answer key will be available subject wise for all test booklets. Candidates can check the number of correct and incorrect answers marked by them with the help of answer key. There are some coaching institutes who release the unofficial answer key after the completion of the CDS exam 2026 on the same day. 

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the cut off of the CDS exam 2026 after the selection process is over. Candidates who score equal or more than cut off released by UPSC are eligible SSB Interview. The CDS cut off marks of written test for is calculated out of the total score of 300 for INA, IFA  and IMA, and 200 for OTA (Men & Women). The final cut off will be released in by UPSC later. 

The CDS 1 selection process 2026 is of two stages - written exam and SSB interview. In the first stage - CDS written exam, candidates are required to appear in three papers for admission in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force and two papers for admission in Officers’ Training Academy. The next stage is the SSB interview.