CDS 2 2026 Question Papers and Answer Keys for All Sets Released by UPSC Candidates Can Download PDFs Here
The Union Public Service Commission conducted the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 on 13 September 2026 at centres across India, and candidates who took the test can now access the question papers and set-wise answer keys for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
The material is intended to help aspirants calculate their likely score before the declaration of the CDS 2 2026 result. Candidates can compare their responses with the answer keys for Sets A, B, C and D, keeping in mind that the correct booklet series must be matched before any score is worked out.
CDS 2 2026 was held for recruitment to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy. UPSC conducted three papers for IMA, INA and AFA candidates, while OTA candidates appeared only for English and General Knowledge.
The examination notified 451 vacancies in all, including 100 for IMA, 26 for INA, 32 for AFA, 275 for OTA Men and 18 for OTA Women.
CDS 2 2026 Exam Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| CDS 2 2026 Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Offline – OMR Based |
| English Paper | 100 Marks |
| General Knowledge Paper | 100 Marks |
| Elementary Mathematics Paper | 100 Marks |
| IMA/INA/AFA Written Marks | 300 |
| OTA Written Marks | 200 |
| Total Vacancies | 451 |
| Question Paper Sets | A, B, C and D |
Exam schedule and paper pattern
The CDS examination was conducted in three shifts. English was held in the morning, General Knowledge in the afternoon and Elementary Mathematics in the evening. OTA candidates took only the first two papers, while those applying to IMA, INA and AFA wrote all three.
| Subject | Examination Timing |
|---|---|
| English | 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| General Knowledge | 12:30 PM – 02:30 PM |
| Elementary Mathematics | 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM |
CDS 2 2026 Question Papers PDF
The question papers for all three subjects are available for download below. Since the questions are the same across booklet series, with only the order differing, a single PDF is provided for each subject.
| CDS 2 2026 Question Paper | Set | Download PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 2 2026 English Question Paper | Set A | [Download PDF] |
| CDS 2 2026 General Knowledge Question Paper | Set A | [Download PDF] |
| CDS 2 2026 Elementary Mathematics Question Paper | Set A | [Download PDF] |
Candidates can use these papers to review the exam, practise similar questions and compare their responses with the answer keys listed below.
CDS 2 2026 Answer Keys – All Sets
Answer keys for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics are available separately for Sets A, B, C and D. It is important to download the key that matches the booklet series printed on the question paper, since the sequence of questions can vary between sets.
CDS 2 2026 English Answer Key
The English paper carried 120 questions for a total of 100 marks.
| CDS 2 2026 English Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| English Answer Key – Set A | [Download PDF] |
| English Answer Key – Set B | [Download PDF] |
| English Answer Key – Set C | [Download PDF] |
| English Answer Key – Set D | [Download PDF] |
CDS 2 2026 General Knowledge Answer Key
The General Knowledge paper also had 120 questions worth 100 marks. It covered current affairs along with History, Geography, Polity, Economics, General Science, Defence and other areas of general awareness.
| CDS 2 2026 GK Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge Answer Key – Set A | [Download PDF] |
| General Knowledge Answer Key – Set B | [Download PDF] |
| General Knowledge Answer Key – Set C | [Download PDF] |
| General Knowledge Answer Key – Set D | [Download PDF] |
CDS 2 2026 Mathematics Answer Key
The Elementary Mathematics paper consisted of 100 questions carrying 100 marks and applied only to candidates for IMA, INA and AFA. OTA candidates were not required to take this paper.
| CDS 2 2026 Mathematics Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| Elementary Mathematics Answer Key – Set A | [Download PDF] |
| Elementary Mathematics Answer Key – Set B | [Download PDF] |
| Elementary Mathematics Answer Key – Set C | [Download PDF] |
| Elementary Mathematics Answer Key – Set D | [Download PDF] |
The set-wise keys can be used to estimate probable marks soon after the examination, provided candidates use the correct booklet series.
Marking scheme and score calculation
CDS follows a negative-marking system, and candidates should account for it while calculating their scores.
| Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Marks Per Correct Answer | Negative Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 120 | 100 | 0.833 | Approx. 0.278 |
| General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 0.833 | Approx. 0.278 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 1.00 | 0.333 |
One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect response, while unanswered questions do not attract any penalty.
For English and General Knowledge, the score can be calculated using:
Score = (Correct Answers × 5/6) − (Incorrect Answers × 5/18)
For Elementary Mathematics:
Score = Correct Answers − (Incorrect Answers × 1/3)
The maximum written score is 300 marks for IMA, INA and AFA candidates and 200 marks for OTA candidates.
Paper analysis and expected cut-off
Initial feedback after the examination suggested that CDS 2 2026 was overall moderate, although the difficulty varied from one paper to another.
| Paper | Difficulty Level | Indicative Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| English | Easy to Moderate | 75–85 |
| General Knowledge | Moderate to Tough | 55–65 |
| Elementary Mathematics | Moderate to Tough | 55–70 |
The English paper was relatively scoring and featured questions on vocabulary, grammar, sentence usage, comprehension and other familiar CDS English patterns.
General Knowledge required a blend of current affairs and static knowledge, with questions drawn from History, Geography, Polity, Science, Economics and Defence-related topics.
Elementary Mathematics was considered moderate to difficult by many candidates, largely because some questions were time-consuming. Accuracy and time management were therefore important.
Good attempts alone cannot determine the final score because the one-third negative marking can materially affect the result.
Based on the difficulty level and recent CDS trends, the following expected written cut-off range may be used only as an early reference.
| Academy | CDS 2 2026 Expected Written Cut-Off |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 122–128 / 300 |
| Indian Naval Academy (INA) | 106–114 / 300 |
| Air Force Academy (AFA) | 130–138 / 300 |
| Officers Training Academy – Men | 80–86 / 200 |
| Officers Training Academy – Women | 94–102 / 200 |
These figures are only indicative and are not official cut-offs. The actual CDS 2 2026 cut-off will depend on the difficulty of the papers, candidate performance, vacancies and the standards set by UPSC.
Official answer key and next steps
Candidates should distinguish between unofficial answer keys released immediately after the exam and the official answer keys published later by UPSC. The unofficial versions are useful for early score estimates, but the Commission’s answer key remains the final authority for official purposes.
Once UPSC releases the official answer keys for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, the relevant PDFs can be added to the page.
After the OMR sheets are evaluated, UPSC will declare the CDS 2 2026 written result. Candidates who clear the written stage and meet the eligibility requirements will move on to the Services Selection Board interview process.
The selection process includes the written examination, SSB interview, medical examination and the final merit list. For IMA, INA and AFA, the written examination carries 300 marks and the SSB carries another 300 marks. For OTA, the written examination carries 200 marks and the SSB carries 200 marks.
Candidates who expect to clear the written cut-off may begin preparing for the SSB interview rather than waiting for the result announcement.
CDS 2 2026 Question Papers and Answer Keys – FAQs
When was CDS 2 2026 conducted?
The Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 was conducted on 13 September 2026.
Where can I download the CDS 2 2026 question paper?
Candidates can download the CDS 2 2026 English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics question papers from the table above.
Where can I download the CDS 2 2026 Answer Key for Set A?
Set A answer-key PDFs for English, General Knowledge and Mathematics are available in the respective subject tables on this page.
Are CDS 2 2026 Set B, C and D answer keys available?
Yes. Separate download links are provided for Sets A, B, C and D for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Is the CDS 2 2026 official answer key available?
Candidates should treat the UPSC answer key as the official version once it is released. Answer keys published immediately after the exam are unofficial and meant only for preliminary score estimation.
Is there negative marking in CDS 2 2026?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each wrong answer, while unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Do OTA candidates have to check the Mathematics answer key?
No. OTA candidates appeared only for English and General Knowledge. Elementary Mathematics applies to IMA, INA and AFA candidates.
What is the maximum written score in CDS?
The maximum written score is 300 marks for IMA, INA and AFA and 200 marks for OTA.
