Dashboard · Exams · CDS
Combined Defence Services Examination
UPSC CDS — three papers (English, GK, Elementary Maths) for entry to Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy.
🇮🇳 All-India Live Test — this Sunday, 6 AM – 11 PM IST
Same CDS paper across India. Your national rank, the moment you submit. Free.
Updated 24 Aug 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
Sourced
Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
Free CDS preparation on Shishya
Take expert-curated mocks, practise previous year papers, and Ask Shishya when you're stuck — verified by students who cleared the same path. All free, no credit card. Sign in with Google to begin.
✦ Try a CDS question — free, no signup
Sentence Completion / Fill in the BlanksComplete the sentence with the most appropriate option: The new policy will be ________ only after it receives approval from the board of directors.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Start with a diagnostic
10 questions across the syllabus to see where you stand.
Verified against the official notification. Source ↗ · last reconciled 2026-05.
Historical cutoffs are a guide, not a prediction. Use them to set a realistic target, not to predict next year's exact number.
| Year | Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | IMA — written cutoff | 112 (written) · 297 (final, with SSB out of 600) |
| 2023 | INA — written | 108 · 308 final |
| 2023 | AFA — written | 126 · 309 final |
| 2023 | OTA (men) — written | 97 · 257 final |
| 2023 | OTA (women) — written | 97 · 257 final |
| 2022 | IMA | 137 · 318 final |
| 2022 | INA | 131 · 314 final |
| 2022 | AFA | 144 · 327 final |
| 2022 | OTA (men) | 112 · 264 final |
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
Topic-by-topic weightage averaged across 2022-2024 papers. Use this to decide where to invest study hours, not where to skim. Source ↗ · verified 2026-05.
100/300 marks avg
Reading Comprehension + Cloze Test
Grammar + Sentence Improvement + Synonyms/Antonyms
Para Jumble + Sentence Completion + Spotting Errors
100/300 marks avg
Indian Polity + History + Geography
Current Affairs + Defence + Sci-Tech
Approximate starting gross at an X-class (metro) posting. Actual pay depends on post, city, year of joining and prevailing DA.
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
2025
20 questions
Take paper →2024
20 questions
Take paper →2023
20 questions
Take paper →2022
20 questions
Take paper →2021
20 questions
Take paper →Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
CDS — Quick Practice
FULL20 questions · 360 min
Start mock →CDS — 2025 (Previous Year)
FULL20 questions · 360 min
Start mock →CDS — 2021 (Previous Year)
FULL20 questions · 360 min
Start mock →CDS — 2024 (Previous Year)
FULL20 questions · 360 min
Start mock →Full-length subject tests below — 25 questions each, real exam format, instant scoring. Want to drill a single topic? Every topic has its own 10-question test in the syllabus.
English
63 QsGeneral Knowledge
28 QsElementary Mathematics
29 QsTell Shishya exactly what to test you on — topics, size, difficulty — and get a fresh mock in seconds. Leave the box blank and we'll target your weakest topics.
Take a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
Students
34
Mocks taken
79
Average score
37%
Top score
100%
What can I get from CDS?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Elite scorers — Premier choice
85–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
UPSC typically releases CDS admit cards 10-14 days prior to the exam. For the 13 September 2026 examination, candidates can expect e-Admit Cards to be available around late August to first week of September 2026 on upsc.gov.in.
UPSC has officially announced the CDS 2 2026 written examination will be held on 13 September 2026 (Sunday) in three shifts covering English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. A total of 451 vacancies are available across IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
UPSC announced the CDS 2 2025 final result with 483 candidates selected for the 124th Short Service Commission Course at OTA Chennai, starting October 2026.
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test
Spotting Errors
Identify the part of a sentence containing a grammatical or usage error — high-frequency CDS topic.
Sentence Improvement
Choose the best alternative for an underlined part of the sentence.
Ordering of Sentences / Para Jumbles
Re-order jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
Sentence Completion / Fill in the Blanks
Complete sentences with appropriate words or phrases.
Synonyms
Word-meaning questions — closest in meaning to the underlined word.
Economy + Environment + Sports + Culture
35/300 marks avg
Arithmetic + Algebra
47/300 marks avg
Geometry + Mensuration + Trigonometry
Statistics + Probability
Top tier — Multi-academy options
75–85% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Strong SSB call probability
65–75% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Moderate SSB prospects
50–65% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Marginal qualification zone
35–50% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Below cut-off range
0–35% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
UPSC declared CDS 1 2026 written result on 8 May 2026. A total of 8,826 candidates have qualified for SSB interviews for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA admissions.
CDS 1 2026 notification released
passedWed, 10 Dec, 2025
Notification released at upsconline.nic.in
CDS 1 2026 application window closed
passedTue, 30 Dec, 2025
CDS 1 2026 admit card released
passedThu, 2 Apr, 2026
Released approximately 10 days before exam
🇮🇳CDS 1 2026 written examination
passedSun, 12 Apr, 2026
Conducted in three shifts: English, GK, Elementary Mathematics
CDS 1 2026 answer key released
passedThu, 16 Apr, 2026
Objection window opened 18-22 April 2026
CDS 1 2026 written result declared
passedFri, 8 May, 2026
8,826 candidates qualified for SSB interview
CDS 2 2026 notification released
passedWed, 20 May, 2026
451 vacancies announced for IMA, INA, AFA, OTA
CDS 2 2026 application window closed
passedThu, 11 Jun, 2026
Extended deadline
CDS 2 2026 admit card (expected)
6 days awayTue, 1 Sept, 2026
Expected late August to first week of September 2026
🇮🇳CDS II 2026 — written exam
11 days awaySun, 6 Sept, 2026
History
Indian history from ancient to modern, with focus on freedom struggle.
Geography
Physical, Indian and world geography.
Indian Polity and Constitution
Constitution, governance and defence-related polity.
Economics
Indian economy, planning and economic policy.
General Science
Science of NCERT Class VIII–X level with defence applications.
Current Affairs
National and international events of the last 12 months.
Static GK
Important days, national symbols, dance forms, classical music, monuments.
Arithmetic
Number theory, basic operations and applied arithmetic at Class-X level.
Algebra
School-level algebra of polynomials, equations and inequalities.
Trigonometry
Trigonometric ratios, identities and applications to heights and distances.
Geometry
Lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals and circles.
Mensuration
Areas, perimeters and volumes of standard 2D and 3D figures.
Statistics
Collection, representation and central tendency of statistical data.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)
₹12·Ministry of Education, Govt. of India