UPSC CDS 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) documents · last checked 3 October 2026

Written Exam - IMA, INA and AFA

Offline, pen and paper (objective questions marked on an OMR answer sheet with a black ball pen) · 2 hours for each paper (3 papers)

SectionQuestionsMarks
English (Code 11)120100
General Knowledge (Code 12)120100
Elementary Mathematics (Code 13)100100
Total340300

Marking: All questions in a paper carry equal marks. Each question has four options. For every wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks for that question is cut. Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer. A blank question gets no penalty.

  • Question counts are taken from the covers of the official CDS (II) 2026 test booklets. The notification gives only the marks and time.
  • The General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics booklets are printed in both Hindi and English.
  • Elementary Mathematics is set at Matriculation (Class 10) level. The other papers are set at about graduate level.
  • Calculators are not allowed.
  • UPSC can fix minimum qualifying marks in any or all subjects. In the CDS (I) 2025, CDS (II) 2025 and CDS (II) 2024 cut-off notices this was 20% in each subject; for CDS (I) 2024 it was 18%.
  • On 13 September 2026 the papers were held in three sessions: English 9:00-11:00 AM, General Knowledge 12:30-2:30 PM and Elementary Mathematics 4:00-6:00 PM. Entry closes 30 minutes before each session.

Written Exam - OTA (SSC Men and Women)

Offline, pen and paper (objective questions marked on an OMR answer sheet with a black ball pen) · 2 hours for each paper (2 papers)

SectionQuestionsMarks
English (Code 11)120100
General Knowledge (Code 12)120100
Total240200

Marking: All questions in a paper carry equal marks. For every wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks for that question is cut. Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer. A blank question gets no penalty.

  • OTA candidates do not take the Elementary Mathematics paper.
  • Question counts are taken from the covers of the official CDS (II) 2026 test booklets.

SSB Interview (Intelligence and Personality Test)

In person at a Services Selection Centre · Stage I on the first day of reporting; Stage II tests run over 4 days

SectionQuestionsMarks
SSB marks for IMA, INA and AFA candidates—300
SSB marks for OTA candidates—200

Marking: No negative marking. Candidates are judged by three assessors (Interviewing Officer, Group Testing Officer and Psychologist), plus the Conference. All of these carry equal weight. Candidates are either Recommended or Not Recommended, and must get the minimum qualifying marks set by the SSB.

  • Stage I has the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Only those who clear Stage I go on to Stage II.
  • Stage II has the Interview, Group Testing Officer tasks, Psychology tests and the Conference.
  • SSB marks equal the written marks for each course: 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 for OTA.
  • Final merit is based on written marks plus SSB marks (out of 600 for IMA, INA and AFA; out of 400 for OTA). Candidates must clear the written exam and the SSB separately.
  • Air Force candidates also take the Computer Pilot Selection System (CPSS) and/or Pilot Aptitude Battery Test, which is given only once in a lifetime.
  • Final selection also depends on medical fitness and the number of vacancies.

Practise for UPSC CDS free

Chapter tests, full mocks and previous-year papers with full solutions — no sign-up needed.

Free mock tests →Score calculator

Official sources