Quick answer: The UPSC CDS 2 2026 exam is on Sunday, 13 September 2026, in three two-hour papers — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, 100 marks each. IMA, INA and AFA candidates write all three (300 marks); OTA candidates write English and GK only (200 marks). NCA Academy publishes the unofficial CDS 2 2026 answer key for all sets (A, B, C, D) within hours of each paper.
📅 Exam day: Sunday, 13 September 2026
This page is updated live, paper by paper, as each shift ends. Download the set-wise PDF using the form below.
CDS 2 2026 Exam — 13 September 2026 Snapshot
| Detail | CDS 2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam date | Sunday, 13 September 2026 |
| Papers | English · General Knowledge · Elementary Mathematics |
| Duration | 2 hours per paper |
| Marks per paper | 100 |
| IMA / INA / AFA total | 300 marks (all three papers) |
| OTA total | 200 marks (English + GK only) |
| Question paper sets | Set A, Set B, Set C, Set D |
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks assigned to that question |
| SSB Interview | 300 marks (IMA/INA/AFA) · 200 marks (OTA) |
Check your admit card for exact reporting and start times for each shift — gates close well before the paper begins.
CDS 2 2026 English Answer Key — All Sets
The CDS 2 2026 English answer key is published set-wise as soon as the first shift ends. English is 100 marks and is written by every candidate, whether you have applied for IMA, INA, AFA or OTA.
English is the most scoring of the three papers for most candidates and the one where negative marking does the least damage, because comprehension and grammar answers are either known or not — there is less temptation to guess than in General Knowledge.
CDS 2 2026 General Knowledge Answer Key — All Sets
The CDS 2 2026 GK answer key follows the second shift. General Knowledge is 100 marks covering current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, general science and defence-related awareness.
This is the paper where scores separate. It is also where the one-third negative marking costs the most, because GK invites guessing in a way the other two papers do not.
CDS 2 2026 Elementary Mathematics Answer Key — All Sets
The CDS 2 2026 Elementary Mathematics answer key is published after the final shift, with worked solutions for the questions candidates most often dispute.
OTA candidates do not write this paper. If you have applied only for the Officers Training Academy, your CDS 2 2026 written exam is 200 marks — English and General Knowledge.
| Paper | Marks | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| General Knowledge | 100 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Total written | — | 300 | 200 |
CDS 2 2026 Answer Key — Video Solutions & Paper Analysis
Watch NCA Academy faculty work through the CDS 2 2026 paper question by question — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics — with the expected cut-off and section-wise analysis. Videos are uploaded the same evening as the exam.
▶ Video solutions upload here on 13 September 2026
Paper-wise walkthrough, disputed questions explained, and the expected cut-off. Subscribe or check back the same evening.
Download the CDS 2 2026 Answer Key PDF (All Sets)
Enter your details to receive the set-wise CDS 2 2026 answer key PDF for all three papers as each is released, along with our marks calculator and expected cut-off analysis.
📄 Get the CDS 2 2026 Answer Key PDF
CDS 2 2026 Marking Scheme — Calculate Your Score
Each paper is 100 marks. UPSC deducts one-third of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
How to calculate: total your correct answers per paper, then subtract one-third of a mark for each wrong answer at that paper’s per-question value. Do this paper by paper — IMA/INA/AFA candidates add all three, OTA candidates add English and GK only.
A practical warning: candidates routinely overestimate their CDS score by 15–25 marks because they count correct answers and forget the deductions. Count both.
Official UPSC CDS 2 2026 Answer Key — When and Where
UPSC publishes the official CDS 2 2026 answer key on upsc.gov.in only after the entire selection process for the examination is complete — typically several months after the written exam.
Every key available on exam day, ours included, is an unofficial key prepared by faculty. Use it to estimate your score and plan your SSB preparation, not as a result.
CDS 2 2026 Expected Cut Off
UPSC sets CDS cut-offs separately for each academy — IMA, INA, AFA and OTA — and they differ significantly. OTA cut-offs are calculated on 200 marks rather than 300, so they are not comparable with the others.
Cut-offs are decided after the exam, based on vacancies for that cycle and the difficulty of the papers. Official cut-offs for previous CDS examinations are published by UPSC on its cut-off marks page.
NCA Academy publishes its expected CDS 2 2026 cut-off, academy by academy, once faculty have analysed the actual papers.
What to Do After the CDS 2 2026 Exam
- Calculate separately for each academy you applied to. Your IMA score and your OTA score are different numbers on different totals.
- Start SSB preparation immediately if you are near the cut-off. For CDS, the SSB carries the same weight as the written paper — 300 marks against 300 for IMA/INA/AFA.
- Do not wait for the result. The interval between the CDS result and SSB call-ups is short.
- If you fell short, work out which paper did it. For most CDS candidates it is Elementary Mathematics or General Knowledge, and both respond quickly to structured practice.
Prepare with New Careers Academy
NCA Academy — New Careers Academy, Chandigarh, established 1967 — has 39,000+ selections across defence recruitment. After CDS 2 2026, the next step is SSB.
- SSB coaching in Chandigarh — 14-day intensive, real GTO ground
- Online SSB coaching — live, from anywhere in India
- CDS coaching in Chandigarh — for CDS 1 2027
- Online CDS coaching — live classes across India
- CDS coaching fees
Frequently Asked Questions — CDS 2 2026 Answer Key
When will the CDS 2 2026 answer key be released?
NCA Academy publishes its unofficial CDS 2 2026 answer key within hours of each paper on 13 September 2026, set by set. The official UPSC answer key is released only after the entire selection process concludes, usually several months later.
What is the CDS 2 2026 exam date?
The CDS 2 2026 exam is on Sunday, 13 September 2026, in three shifts — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, each of two hours.
How many marks is the CDS 2 2026 exam?
Each paper carries 100 marks. Candidates for IMA, INA and AFA write all three papers for a total of 300 marks. OTA candidates write English and General Knowledge only, for a total of 200 marks.
Is there negative marking in CDS 2 2026?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Do OTA candidates write Elementary Mathematics?
No. The Officers Training Academy paper consists of English and General Knowledge only, totalling 200 marks. Elementary Mathematics is written by IMA, INA and AFA candidates.
How do I find my CDS 2 2026 question paper set?
Your set — A, B, C or D — is printed on the cover of the question booklet and marked on your OMR sheet. Match the set letter before checking any answer key, as question order differs between sets.
Where is the official UPSC CDS 2 2026 answer key published?
On upsc.gov.in, under the examination page, after the entire CDS 2 2026 selection process is complete.
What is the expected cut off for CDS 2 2026?
UPSC sets separate cut-offs for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA after the exam, based on vacancies and paper difficulty. OTA cut-offs are on 200 marks and IMA, INA and AFA on 300, so they cannot be compared directly.
Conclusion
CDS 2 2026 on 13 September 2026 is three papers of 100 marks each — 300 for IMA, INA and AFA, 200 for OTA. Check your set, count the negative marking honestly, and if you are close to the cut-off, begin SSB preparation straight away; it carries the same weight as the written exam.
Writing NDA the same day? See our NDA 2 2026 answer key.
