CDS Answer Key 2025 - Download CDS 1 Unofficial Answer Key PDFs

CDS Answer Key 2025 - Download CDS 1 Unofficial Answer Key PDFs

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Meghana Mohana KrishnanUpdated on 10 Jul 2025, 10:13 AM IST
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The unofficial UPC CDS 2 2025 answer key will be updated in the table below after conclusion of exam. The official UPSC CDS 2025 answer key will be available for download in the form of a PDF online on the UPSC website. Candidates can use the CDS answer key 2025 to calculate their CDS scores. The CDS answer key 2025 will be provided paper wise. Additionally, after the exam, candidates can also refer to the CDS exam analysis to get a better idea of the candidate's performance in the the CDS exam.

This Story also Contains

  1. UPSC CDS 1 2025 Unofficial Answer Key
  2. CDS Answer Key 2025 - Dates
  3. How to Download CDS Answer Key 2025?
  4. CDS Answer Key 2025- Written Exam
  5. CDS Answer Keys for Previous Years
  6. CDS 2 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)
  7. CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)
  8. How to Challenge CDS Question Paper 2025?
  9. CDS Cut off 2025
CDS Answer Key 2025 - Download CDS 1 Unofficial Answer Key PDFs
UPSC CDS Answer Key 2025

The CDS answer keys of the previous years can be used in conjunction with CDS question papers for better preparation. The official UPSC CDS 2025 answer key PDF can be downloaded from upsc.gov.in. However, the official PDF will only be released after the selection process is complete. Many notable coaching institutes have released unofficial versions of the answer key on the same day as the CDS exam. Candidates can refer to these unofficial versions of the CDS 2 2025 answer key to get an approximation of their results immediately after the exam. The download links for the same will be made available below.

UPSC CDS 1 2025 Unofficial Answer Key

The unofficial answer key of CDS 1 2025 has been updated in the table given below.

SubjectAnswer key pdf
EnglishDownload link
General KnowledgeDownload link
Elementary MathematicsDownload link

CDS Answer Key 2025 - Dates

Candidates can check the table below to know the important CDS exam date 2025 and others.

CDS 1 Answer Key 2025 Dates

Events

CDS 1 2025 Exam Dates

CDS notification

December 11, 2024

CDS 1 exam date

April 13, 2025

Unofficial CDS Answer Key release date

April 13, 2025

Official CDS Answer Key release date

To be announced

SSB Interview call letter

To be announced

CDS 2 Answer Key 2025 Dates

Events

CDS 2 2025 Exam Dates

CDS notification

May 28, 2025

CDS 2 2025 exam date

September 14, 2025

Unofficial CDS 2025 answer key release date

To be released

Official CDS answer key 2025 release date

To be released

SSB Interview call letter

To be released

How to Download CDS Answer Key 2025?

The CDS 2025 answer key can be downloaded from the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in. Follow the steps below to download the answer key of CDS 2025.

  • Visit the UPSC official website - upsc.gov.in.

  • In the Examination, tab click on the Answer Key link.

  • Search for the CDS 2025 answer key and click on it.

  • The pdf file of the CDS answer key will be opened.

  • Download the CDS answer key pdf for future reference.

CDS Answer Key 2025- Written Exam

The Combined Defence Services exam has two stages - a written exam and an SSB interview. The written exam has two to three sections depending on the course that the candidate has applied for. Applicants need to qualify for the CDS 2025 written examination to be eligible for the SSB interview.

Quick links: CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025

CDS Answer Keys for Previous Years

Candidates who are preparing for CDS 2025 and attempting the previous year's CDS question papers and looking for the answer key, can download the same here. In the table below applicants can find the Official CDS 1 and 2 answer key for all the previous year GK, English and Mathematics papers starting from the year 2017 to 2025. Check the table below to download the previous year CDS answer keys.

CDS 2 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)

CDS 2 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Major Kalshi Classes)

Papers

CDS 2 2024 Answer key (All Sets)

Mathematics

Download here

English

Download here

GKDownload here

CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial)

CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Major Kalshi Classes)

Papers

CDS 1 2024 Answer key (All Sets)

Mathematics

Click here

English

Click here

GKClick here

CDS 1 Answer Key 2024 (Unofficial by Cavalier)

Papers

CDS 1 2024 Answer key

Mathematics

Click here

GKClick here

English

Click here

Year

CDS 1 or CDS 2

CDS Subjects

CDS Answer Key Download Link

2023CDS 2EnglishDownload here
MathsDownload here
GKDownload here

2021


English

Download Here

Maths

Download Here

GK

Download Here

2020

CDS 2

English

Download here

GK

Download here

Mathematics

Download here

2019

CDS 2

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

CDS 1

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

2018

CDS 2

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

CDS 1

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

2017

CDS 2

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

CDS 1

English

Download Here

GK

Download Here

Mathematics

Download Here

Quick Links:

How to Challenge CDS Question Paper 2025?

UPSC provides the facility to challenge the CDS question paper. Candidates can do so by visiting the UPSC website before the last date to raise objections. The procedure to raise an objection is mentioned below:

  • Visit the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in.

  • Click on CDS question papers through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPR).

  • Entering the basic details required and submitting the challenges.

Candidates must note that for each UPSC exam, the Commission has fixed a time frame of 7 days for raising objections.

Quick links: CDS Exam Pattern 2025

CDS Answer Key 2025 - Score Calculation & Marking Scheme

With the help of the CDS answer key 2025, candidates can calculate their score to get an idea of how they did in the Combined Defence Services written exam. To calculate the CDS written score candidates can use the below-mentioned formula.

Total score = Number of correct answers x Marks awarded – Number of incorrect answers x Marks deducted

CDS Exam 2025 Marking Scheme

Events

Marks

Correct Answer

+1

Incorrect Answer

-1/3

Unanswered

-

Quick links:

CDS Cut off 2025

Union Public Service Commission will release the CDS 1 cutoff for every stage of the CDS exam. The final CDS cut off 2025 will be released along with the declaration of the final result. Candidates qualifying for the CDS cut off of the written exam are called for the CDS SSB interview round. The written exam cutoff is for shortlisting applicants for the CDS SSB interview. So the candidates need to score well in the CDS written exam and move on to the main exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When is the CDS 2 2024 exam going to be held?
A:

The CDS 2 exam was conducted on September 1, 2024.

Q: Is negative marking in CDS?
A:

Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.33 in the CDS 2024 exam. 

Q: What are the marks awarded for the correct answer in the CDS exam?
A:

In the CDS 2024 exam, correct answers 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer. 

Q: Does UPSC release the answer key for the CDS written exam?
A:

Yes, the Union Public Service Commission will release the answer key for the CDS written examination.

Q: Where can I download the official CDS answer key from?
A:

Candidates will be able to download the official CDS exam answer key from the UPSC website.

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Questions related to CDS

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CDS ?

Hello aspirant,

On August 23, 2024, the Union Public Service Commission made the NDA 2 2024 admit card available on its official website, upsc.gov.in/upsconline.nic.in. The timeframe for editing NDA 2 2024 application forms was open until June 11, 2024. On June 5, 2024, the NDA rectification window opened. On June

Hello there,

Yes, you can apply for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) after completing your graduation in 2027, based on your date of birth, 29th November 2003. Here’s how your eligibility works out:

Eligibility Criteria for CDS IMA:

  1. Age Limit: For IMA, the

To determine your eligibility for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, we need to consider the age criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the exam.

For the CDS exam, the age criteria generally are as follows:

  1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) : Candidates should

Hello aspirant,
The upper age limit for CDS IMA is 24 years. Since you are currently 21 years 3 months old, you have 2 years and 9 months left to appear for the CDS IMA exam. This means you can attempt the exam 3 more times before reaching the age

Hello Aspirant

The eligibility criteria for CDS is that the candidate must be between the ages of 19 to 25 years. Since you were born in 2003, that will make you 24 years old, making you eligible for the exam.

But, just to be on the safer side, I would