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.
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.
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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.
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 →| 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
Economy + Environment + Sports + Culture
35/300 marks avg
Arithmetic + Algebra
47/300 marks avg
Geometry + Mensuration + Trigonometry
Statistics + Probability
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.
CDS — 2025 (Previous Year)
FULL20 questions · 360 min
Start mock →Take a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
| # | Student | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIKSHAN B. | 66.7% |
| 2 | Rahul A. | 53.3% |
| 3 | P R. | 46.7% |
| 4 | Sukh P. | 46.7% |
| 5 | Aditya S. | 46.7% |
| 6 | kiran R. | 46.7% |
| 7 | Rishabh | 20.0% |
| 8 | Rishabh | 20.0% |
| 9 | Nethaji A. | 20.0% |
| 10 | Nethaji A. | 20.0% |
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 Score Range
85–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Top Written Scorers
75–85% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Strong Written Exam Performers
65–75% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Competitive SSB Contenders
50–65% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Marginal Qualifying 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 has extended the application deadline for CDS Examination (II) 2026 from 9 June to 11 June 2026 (6:00 PM), giving aspirants two additional days to complete their registration for the 451 vacancies across IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
UPSC released the CDS 2 Notification 2026 on 20 May for admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers' Training Academy. The written examination is scheduled for 13 September 2026.
UPSC declared the CDS 1 2026 written examination result on 8 May 2026 for the exam held on 12 April. Shortlisted candidates are being called for SSB interviews at various Selection Boards across the country.
UPSC activated the CDS 1 2026 admit card download link on 2 April 2026. The exam was conducted on 12 April across multiple centres, with candidates required to carry printed hall tickets and valid photo ID proof.
CDS 2 2026 application window closes (extended deadline)
passedThu, 11 Jun, 2026
Last date extended to 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM
🇮🇳CDS II 2026 — written exam
58 days awaySun, 6 Sept, 2026
CDS 2 2026 admit card expected release
60 days awayTue, 8 Sept, 2026
Typically released 7-10 days before exam date
🇮🇳CDS 2 2026 written examination
65 days awaySun, 13 Sept, 2026
13 September 2026 - Three papers for IMA/INA/AFA, two papers for OTA
CDS 2 2026 written exam result expected
100 days awaySun, 18 Oct, 2026
Typically declared 4-6 weeks after exam
CDS 1 2027 notification expected
153 days awayThu, 10 Dec, 2026
Typically released in mid-December for April exam
Click any topic to read study notes
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.
Antonyms
Word-meaning questions — opposite in meaning to the underlined word.
Idioms and Phrases
Meaning of idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs.
Cloze Test / Comprehension
Fill multiple blanks within a passage; reading comprehension on graduation-level texts.
Reading Comprehension
Passage-based questions on main idea, vocabulary and inference.
Active and Passive Voice
Convert sentences between active and passive voice.
Direct and Indirect Speech
Convert sentences between direct and indirect narration.
Transformation of Sentences
Simple-compound-complex, affirmative-negative, etc.
Spelling Check
Identify the correctly or incorrectly spelt word.
One-Word Substitution
Replace a phrase with a single word that has the same meaning.
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.
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
CDS 2 2026 SSB interviews for IMA/INA/AFA
Tue, 2 Mar, 2027
Expected February-March 2027 for shortlisted candidates
🇮🇳CDS 1 2027 exam expected date
277 days awayTue, 13 Apr, 2027
Tentatively in April 2027 as per UPSC's bi-annual schedule
CDS 2 2026 SSB interviews for OTA
295 days awaySat, 1 May, 2027
Expected April-June 2027 for shortlisted candidates
Collection, representation and central tendency of statistical data.