📅 Published on: 03.04.2026
UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 and Answer Key
Introduction
The UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 is one of the most important resources for candidates preparing for the Combined Defence Services Examination conducted by UPSC. Every year, thousands of aspirants appear in this exam to join the Indian Armed Forces.
The UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 and Answer Key help candidates evaluate their performance, estimate their scores, and improve their preparation strategy for future attempts.
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Exam Pattern
For IMA, INA, and AFA
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | - | 300 |
For OTA
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 2 Hours | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Total | - | 200 |
- All questions are objective type (MCQs)
- Negative marking of 1/3rd mark
- Bilingual paper (except English)
- Mathematics level is Class 10
UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 Download
Candidates can download the UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 once it is released.
- English Paper – Available Soon
- General Knowledge Paper – Available Soon
- Mathematics Paper – Available Soon
UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026
English
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Sentence Improvement
- Spotting Errors
- Reading Comprehension
- Para Jumbles
General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- History
- Geography
- Polity
- Science
Elementary Mathematics
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Mensuration
UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 Analysis
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English | Easy to Moderate |
| General Knowledge | Moderate to Difficult |
| Mathematics | Moderate |
Good Attempts
| Subject | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| English | 70–80 |
| GK | 60–70 |
| Mathematics | 65–75 |
UPSC CDS-I Answer Key 2026
The UPSC CDS-I Answer Key 2026 helps candidates calculate their expected scores.
- +1 mark for correct answer
- -0.33 mark for wrong answer
Example Calculation
If you attempted 80 questions:
- Correct: 65 = 65 marks
- Wrong: 15 = -5 marks
- Total Score = 60 marks
UPSC CDS-I Previous Year Question Paper
Practicing previous year papers is essential for better preparation.
- CDS 2025 Question Paper
- CDS 2024 Question Paper
- CDS 2023 Question Paper
- CDS 2022 Question Paper
Expected Cutoff
IMA, INA, AFA
| Academy | Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IMA | 120–130 |
| INA | 110–125 |
| AFA | 140–150 |
OTA
| Academy | Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|
| OTA Men | 85–95 |
| OTA Women | 80–90 |
Conclusion
The UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 and Answer Key are crucial for analyzing performance and improving preparation strategy. Candidates should regularly practice previous year papers and carefully analyze answer keys to improve their chances of success.
Stay consistent, revise regularly, and focus on accuracy to crack the CDS exam successfully.
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FAQs – UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026
The UPSC CDS-I Question Paper 2026 is usually released on the same day of the exam or shortly after by coaching institutes, while the official paper is uploaded later by UPSC.
You can download the question paper from official UPSC website or trusted education platforms. Direct links will be provided once the paper is available.
Yes, there is negative marking. One-third (0.33) marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
The expected difficulty level is easy to moderate for English, moderate for Mathematics, and moderate to difficult for General Knowledge.
Unofficial answer keys are released on the same day of the exam, while the official answer key is published by UPSC after the final result.
Good attempts are expected to be around 70–80 in English, 60–70 in GK, and 65–75 in Mathematics.
You can download previous year CDS papers from this link: Download CDS Previous Papers
The expected cutoff is around 120–130 for IMA, 110–125 for INA, 140–150 for AFA, and 85–95 for OTA.
