The Union Public Service Commission has released the CDS 2 question paper 2025 on the official website. Candidates who have appeared for the UPSC CDS exam 2025 can download the question paper at upsc.gov.in. The commission has released CDS 2 question papers 2025 for three subjects. A direct link to all the subject question papers is provided in the examination tab. The CDS 2 question papers provided on the website are in a PDF format.
CDS 2, 2025 was held on 14 September 2025. UPSC CDS 2 is an offline exam taken in three portions for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and, Air Force Academy (AFA) and two portions for Officers' Training Academy (OTA).
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The CDS 2025 question paper is important for the candidates to recheck their answers and estimate their score. The UPSC CDS 2 exam is conducted for three subjects, and the total is 300. Earlier, the unofficial question papers were released for the CDS 2 exam 2025. To download the official UPSC CDS 2 question paper 2025, go through the article.
The commission has released the CDS 2 question paper 2025 for Set A on the official website. Candidates can check the table below to know the CDS 2 important dates and events.
Important Dates | Events |
UPSC CDS 2 Exam | September 14, 2025 |
UPSC CDS 2 Question Paper | September 15, 2025 |
Subjects | Question Paper Link |
Elementary Maths | |
English | |
General Knowledge |
Candidates can download the CDS 1 2025 question paper from the table below after the official release.
Papers | Download link |
Elementary Maths | Download here |
English | Download here |
General Knowledge | Download here |
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A few coaching institutes released the unofficial question paper after the exam concluded. Now, the commission has released the official CDS 2 question paper on the official website at upsc.gov.in. Candidates can check the table to get the links to all the subject question papers.
Step 1: Visit the UPSC official website – upsc.gov.in
Step 2: In the header tab, click on "Examination" and select "Previous Year Question Paper" from the dropdown
Step 3: Select the “ Combined Defence Examination-II, 2025” and click on it.
Step 4: Download the subject-wise CDS question paper from the table available on the page.
Also read:
Apart from the question papers, the commission will also release the UPSC CDS 2 answer key 2025 on the official website. Candidates can download the UPSC CDS question papers at upsc.gov.in. The official UPSC CDS answer key will have all the correct answers for the question papers.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CDS 2 paper is conducted for 300 marks.
Candidates can find the subject question papers link in the examination tab at upsc.gov.in.
Yes, there are ⅓ marks as a negative marking for each wrong answer in the CDS exam 2025.
Candidates can download the CDS 2 question paper from the official website at upsc.gov.in.
On Question asked by student community
Hey! Since your date of birth is 07 Nov 2006 and you will complete graduation in 2029, here’s how many chances you’ll get for CDS (INA, IMA, AFA) and AFCAT:
For CDS exams, the age limit is usually 19–24 years.
For AFCAT, Flying Branch requires 20–24 years and Ground Duty goes up to 26 years.
By 2029, you will be around 22–23 years old, so you’ll be perfectly eligible at that time. Since CDS requires a graduate degree, you can only start applying after 2029 once you finish graduation. From that year onwards, you’ll have around 2–3 years window where you can appear for CDS (IMA, INA, AFA) as well as AFCAT.
Dear Candidate,
You are eligible for CDS 2026, but for IMA, INA and AFA post, you must be born between 2 Jan 2003 – 1 Jan 2008.
For OTA ( male and female ), all 2003 born candidates are eligible.
Hi dear candidate,
The age limit for various roles in CDS are:
1) IMA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.
2) INA: 19 to 24 years of age, 8 to 9 attempts.
3) OTA: 19 TO 25 years of age, 10 to 11 attempts.
This is all considering your DOB as of 26 Oct, 2005 as you are 19 years old in Aug 2025.
Know more at:
CDS Exam Dates 2025 (Out) - Check UPSC CDS 2 Complete Exam Schedule
CDS Selection Process 2025 - Written Exam, SSB Interview, DV, Pay Scale
BEST OF LUCK
Yes, you will be eligible for CDS-1 2027 under OTA (SSC Women – Non-Technical Course). The age limit for OTA is 19–25 years (you must be born between 2nd Jan 2001 and 1st Jan 2007). Since your date of birth is 4 July 2002, you will be 24 years old at that time, so you fall within the required age range.
But you will not be eligible for IMA, INA or AFA, because their upper age limit is 24 years, and by 2027 you will cross that limit.
As per the CDS OTA eligibility criteria, for female candidates applying to the Officers Training Academy (OTA), the age limit is 19 to 25 years (unmarried females only).
Since your date of birth is 16th June 2005, you will turn:
21 years old in June 2026,
25 years old in June 2030.
CDS exam is conducted twice every year, so you’ll be eligible from the year you complete graduation (2026) till you turn 25 in 2030.
Your eligible attempts:
CDS 2 2026
CDS 1 2027
CDS 2 2027
CDS 1 2028
CDS 2 2028
CDS 1 2029
CDS 2 2029
CDS 1 2030 (maybe last)
So, you will have around 7 to 8 attempts to appear for CDS OTA before you cross the maximum age limit.
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