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CDS 1 GK Answer Key 2026 (Out) - Download Official Answer Key PDF's
The Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC CDS 1 answer key 2026 on the official website. The commission released the official CDS 1 2026 GK answer key on the official UPSC website on April 16, 2026. Candidates will be able to raise any objections to the provisional answer key from April 18 to 22, 2026, through the answer key challenge window. Many notable Coaching centres will also be releasing their own versions of the CDS 1 answer key after the exam.
The unofficial CDS GK answer key 2026 is available for download immediately after the exam. The download links for the same is available in the content below. Candidates who are attempting the CDS exam are advised to download the answer key for reference as soon as it comes out.
CDS GK Answer Key 2026 - Important Dates
To know about the important dates of the CDS exam date 2026 and the CDS GK Answer Key 2026, candidates can check the table below.
Important Dates of CDS GK Answer Key 2026
Events | Dates |
CDS 1 2026 exam | April 12, 2026 |
CDS 2 exam 2026 | September 13, 2026 |
Unofficial CDS 1 GK Answer Key 2026 | April 12, 2026 |
Official CDS 1 GK Answer Key 2026 | April 16, 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | April 18 to 22, 2026 |
| Final CDS 1 Answer Key 2026 | To be announced |
Unofficial CDS 2 GK answer key 2026 | To be announced |
CDS GK Answer Key 2026 - Written Exam
The CDS exam is conducted in two stages by UPSC - a written exam and an SSB interview. The CDS written exam has questions drawn from subjects like general awareness, elementary mathematics, and English. The three CDS 2026 question papers are released after a few days of the CDS exam. The CDS answer key is released for all three papers separately. Candidates need to have cleared the CDS written examination to be eligible for the SSB interview stage.
CDS 1 GK 2026 unofficial answer key
Coaching | CDS 1 GK answer key 2026 Links |
Baalnoi Academy answer key | To be updated |
Cavalier answer key | To be updated |
NeoStencil answer key | To be updated |
Major Kalshi Classes | To be updated |
How to Download the Official CDS GK Answer Key 2026?
The CDS GK answer key 2026 is available for download on the UPSC website. Candidates can follow the steps below to download the answer key of the CDS GK paper.
Visit the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.
Go to the 'Answer key' section and search for the 'UPSC CDS 1 exam 2026'
A PDF file of the GK answer key will be available.
Check the CDS question paper set and accordingly match the CDS answer key.
Download the CDS GK answer key for future reference.
CDS GK Answer Key 2026 - Score Calculation & Marking Scheme
With the help of the unofficial CDS GK answer key 2026, candidates can calculate their approximate score and get an idea of how they did in the CDS 1 2026 exam. To calculate the Combined Defence Services examination score, aspirants can use the following formula.
Total score = Number of correct answers x Marks awarded – Number of incorrect answers x Marks deducted
Marking Scheme for CDS GK 2026
Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks | Marks for incorrect answers |
General Knowledge | 2 hrs | 100 | -⅓ of the marks allotted to the question |
More Relevant Links
Previous Year CDS GK Answer Key
Candidates preparing for the CDS exam 2026 can also use the previous year's answer key along with the past question papers during preparation. The previous years' answer keys are helpful, as using these answer keys will help candidates evaluate their performance while solving the past years’ papers. For more details, candidates can find the CDS's previous year's answer keys (both official and unofficial) in the table given below.
CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)
CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Major Kalshi Classes)
Papers | CDS 1 2024 Answer key (All Sets) |
| GK | Click here |
CDS GK 2023 unofficial answer key
Coaching | CDS GK answer key 2023 Links |
Baalnoi Academy answer key | |
Cavalier answer key | |
NeoStencil answer key | |
Major Kalshi Classes |
CDS 2 2022 Answer Keys (Unofficial)
Coaching | CDS GK answer key 2022 Links |
MAJOR KALSHI Classes | |
Cavalier | Click here |
Previous years' CDS Answer Keys (Official)
Year | CDS GK answer key |
CDS (II) 2021 | Click here |
CDS (I) 2021 | |
CDS (I) 2020 | |
CDS (II) 2020 |
CDS Cut off 2026
Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 2026 cutoff for all the stages of the exam after the final CDS result declaration. The final CDS cutoff 2026 will be released along with the final CDS 2026 result. But some of the eminent coaching institutes will release the expected CDS cutoff after the CDS exam. Applicants clearing the CDS written exam cutoff will be eligible to appear for the SSB interview stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When is the CDS 1 2026 exam scheduled to be held?
A:
The CDS 1 exam 2026 was held on April 12, 2026.
Q: Is there -ve marking in the CDS written exam?
A:
Yes, 1/3 marks are deducted for every wrong answer in the CDS 2026 examination.
Q: Where can I download the CDS official answer key from?
A:
Applicants can download the CDS GK answer key 2026 from the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in. after the conclusion of the exam.
Q: What is the selection process of CDS 2026?
A:
The selection process of the CDS exam 2026 comprises written exam, SSB interview and medical examination.
Q: How to download the CDS question paper 2026?
A:
Candidates can download the CDS question paper PDF from the official website.
Q: How many marks is the CDS GK paper?
A:
The CDS GK paper holds 100 marks and the time allotted to attempt this paper is 2 hours.
Q: When will the unofficial CDS 2 answer key will be released?
A:
The unofficial CDS answer key 2026 is released here right after the exam and will be available in this article.
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Questions related to CDS
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to CDS ?
Hello,
There are certain age limit criteria determined by the conducting body. For more details, you can refer to the article mentioned below regarding the age limit for the UPSC CDS exam.
Eligibility criteria for CDS candidates
Hello,
You can refer to the article mentioned below regarding the career options after a Bachelor of Computer Applications
Career opportunities after BCA
Hi
If you are a female candidate with a DOB of May 25, 2002, you can appear for the CDS exam for 4 to 5 more attempts. Check out the CDS exam dates 2026 to learn more about how and when to appear for the examination.
Yes, you can apply for the CDS 1 2027 and CDS 2 2027 exams, but likely ONLY for the Officers' Training Academy (OTA). You will be overage for IMA, INA, and AFA.
CDS 1 2027 Eligibility
For the course commencing in January/April 2028, the approximate age cut-offs will be:
|
Academy |
Yes you're eligible . If you're born on 1 july 2003, you're eligible for UPSC CDS 2 in 2026 for IMA . For IMA the candidate must be born between 2 july 2002 and 1 july 2007
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