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CDS · Cutoff

CDS Cutoff 2026 — expected score & rank bands

What does your score in Combined Defence Services Examination actually get you? These bands map a mock/exam percentage to the rank window and outcomes that score range has typically achieved.

AI-curated from historic cutoff patterns — indicative, not official. Always verify with the latest official notification.

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Category-wise expected cutoff (indicative)

Category	Expected Cutoff (indicative)
General	115-125 marks (38-42%)
EWS	110-120 marks (37-40%)
OBC	105-115 marks (35-38%)
SC	95-105 marks (32-35%)
ST	90-100 marks (30-33%)
PwD	85-95 marks (28-32%)

Category differential: General cutoffs typically run 8-12% higher than OBC and 15-20% higher than SC/ST categories, reflecting reservation policy in defence recruitment.
Shifting factors: CDS cutoffs fluctuate with vacancy announcements (IMA/OTA/AFA/NA variations), paper difficulty (English often proves decisive), and SSB interview capacity—higher vacancies may lower written cutoffs by 2-5%.
Critical context: These are *written exam qualifying cutoffs* only; final merit depends heavily on SSB interview performance (900 marks total including written + SSB), so candidates in the 35-50% range regularly secure commissions with strong SSB scores.

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Score → rank → outcome bands

Elite scorers — Premier choice
85–100%
- Indian Military Academy Dehradun — top merit bracket (infantry, armoured corps, artillery)
- Indian Air Force Academy — Flying branch highest consideration
- Indian Naval Academy — Executive branch top preference (submarine, aviation specialisation)
- First choice of service academy highly likely post-SSB
- Among nationwide top performers
- Strong foundation for SSB psychological and physical tests
Top tier — Multi-academy options
75–85%
- Indian Military Academy Dehradun — highly competitive for SSB (all categories)
- Indian Air Force Academy — Flying branch strong consideration
- Indian Naval Academy — Executive branch (deck officers, submarines)
- Officers Training Academy — among top scorers nationwide
- Multiple SSB calls likely across service preferences
- Recommended cut-off margin for General category candidates
Strong SSB call probability
65–75%
- Indian Military Academy Dehradun — strong chances for SSB interview (General category)
- Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala — Executive and Technical branches
- Air Force Academy Hyderabad — Flying and Ground Duty branches
- Officers Training Academy Chennai — among top merit candidates
- Good prospects across all three services depending on preference
Moderate SSB prospects
50–65%
- Officers Training Academy Chennai — good chances for SSB call (male/female candidates)
- Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala — reasonable prospects for General Duty branches
- Indian Air Force Academy — technical branches (depending on educational qualification)

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