The 6 official CDS 2026 question papers are on this page as PDFs from UPSC, with the original source linked beside each file. The CDS exam covers English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Download them below, then sit the paper under exam timing with the attempt plan and error-log routine on this page.
Explore: CDS hub · Topic-wise PYQs · Syllabus & pattern · CDS 2025 · NDA 2026 · How to use PYQs
Download the paper
Download the official CDS 2026 question papers (PDF), hosted on this site with the official source linked.
CDS 2026 at a glance
UPSC held both CDS sittings in 2026: CDS (I) in April and CDS (II) in September. Each sitting has three papers, and all six are hosted below.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
These figures are printed on the CDS (I) 2026 booklets. Candidates for IMA, INA and AFA sit all three papers; OTA candidates sit English and General Knowledge only. Wrong answers carry a penalty of one-third of the marks for that question.
Paper analysis
Snapshot of CDS 2026
The pattern was the same in both sittings, so 2026 gives you two complete, current sets. Sit CDS (I) first and keep CDS (II) for a later check.
What this paper stresses
- English: vocabulary, error spotting and comprehension at speed (120 questions in 2 hours).
- General Knowledge across history, geography, polity, science and current events.
- Elementary Mathematics at school level, where time pressure causes most errors.
- The one-third penalty, which makes blind guessing expensive.
What to extract before you move on
- English question types where you are slow or inaccurate.
- GK misses grouped by subject.
- Maths chapters where you were right but slow.
- Your guess accuracy, to set a safe attempt target.
Looking for other UPSC papers or answer keys? Check the official archive.
Topic-wise analysis
We tagged every question in the 6 official 2026 papers on this page by topic: 680 questions (680 MCQ). The topics with the most questions:
- English: Synonyms, Antonyms and Idioms 140, Comprehension 35, Spotting Errors and Grammar 25 questions across the 6 papers.
- General Knowledge: History and Culture 41, Current Affairs, Defence and Sports 35, Geography 32 questions across the 6 papers.
- Elementary Mathematics: Geometry 48, Algebra 39, Trigonometry 30 questions across the 6 papers.
Against CDS 2025, the biggest changes in question count: Synonyms, Antonyms and Idioms +45, Spotting Errors and Grammar -20, Sentence Arrangement and Improvement -20, Fill in the Blanks and Cloze -20.
All 6 official CDS 2026 papers we host (CDS (I) English; CDS (I) GK; CDS (I) Maths; CDS (II) English; CDS (II) GK; CDS (II) Maths), tagged question by question: 680 questions (680 MCQ). Counts are totals across those papers. Answers come from the official UPSC answer keys where they are hosted; other papers show no answer.
| Topic | Questions | vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| English | 240 | |
| Spotting Errors and Grammar | 25 | -20 |
| Synonyms, Antonyms and Idioms | 140 | +45 |
| Comprehension | 35 | +15 |
| Sentence Arrangement and Improvement | 20 | -20 |
| Fill in the Blanks and Cloze | 20 | -20 |
| General Knowledge | 240 | |
| History and Culture | 41 | -9 |
| Geography | 32 | -11 |
| Polity | 28 | +8 |
| Economy | 28 | +5 |
| Physics | 30 | +10 |
| Chemistry | 20 | -1 |
| Biology | 26 | +7 |
| Current Affairs, Defence and Sports | 35 | -9 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 200 | |
| Number System and Simplification | 21 | -13 |
| Percentage, Ratio, Profit and Interest | 16 | +3 |
| Time, Speed and Work | 10 | +6 |
| Algebra | 39 | +5 |
| Trigonometry | 30 | -2 |
| Geometry | 48 | +17 |
| Mensuration | 23 | -4 |
| Statistics | 13 | -12 |
Topics with no question in 2026 or 2025 are left out. Every question, by topic: CDS topic-wise PYQs.
How to sit CDS 2026
- Download the three papers of one sitting (CDS I or CDS II) from this page.
- Sit English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, 2 hours each, in the exam-day order with breaks.
- Score each with the one-third penalty for wrong answers.
- Fill the error log the same day: paper, topic, and miss type (concept, silly, time, or misread).
- A week later, sit the other 2026 sitting and compare.
Other years in this decade
FAQ
Where can I download the CDS 2026 question papers?
On this page: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics for both CDS (I) 2026 and CDS (II) 2026, from upsc.gov.in.
How many questions are in the CDS 2026 papers?
English and General Knowledge have 120 questions each, and Elementary Mathematics has 100. Each paper is worth 100 marks and lasts 2 hours.
When were the CDS 2026 exams held?
CDS (I) 2026 was held in April 2026 and CDS (II) 2026 in September 2026.
Which CDS papers do OTA candidates sit?
English and General Knowledge only. IMA, INA and AFA candidates also sit Elementary Mathematics.
Is there negative marking in CDS 2026?
Yes. One-third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Where is the CDS syllabus and pattern?
See the CDS syllabus & pattern page, and check the current UPSC notification.