The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 for candidates who appeared in the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026. The CDS-II examination was conducted on 13 September 2026, and the Commission uploaded the provisional answer key on 16 September 2026.
Candidates can now check the official UPSC CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 from the UPSC website. The answer key has been released separately for the three written examination papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
The official answer key allows candidates to compare their answers with the answers published by UPSC and calculate their probable marks. Candidates should remember that the currently released key is a provisional answer key, and the final result and final evaluation will be governed by UPSC’s official process.
Latest Update – UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026
The UPSC CDS-II Provisional Answer Key 2026 has been released.
According to the official UPSC examination page, the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 was conducted on 13 September 2026, while the provisional answer keys were uploaded on 16 September 2026.
Latest Details
- Examination: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
- Exam Date: 13 September 2026
- Answer Key: Released
- Answer Key Release Date: 16 September 2026
- Answer Key Type: Provisional
- Subjects: English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics
- Answer Key Mode: Online PDF
- Conducting Authority: Union Public Service Commission
- Official Website: UPSC
UPSC’s official examination page provides separate PDF links for the English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics provisional answer keys.
UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 |
| Exam Short Name | UPSC CDS-II 2026 |
| Exam Date | 13 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Status | Released |
| Answer Key Release Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Type | Provisional |
| Paper 1 | English |
| Paper 2 | General Knowledge |
| Paper 3 | Elementary Mathematics |
| Answer Key Format | |
| Examination Mode | Offline / Written |
| Official Website | UPSC |
The official UPSC page confirms the examination date and the upload date of the provisional answer keys.
UPSC CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 Released
The Union Public Service Commission has made the CDS-II 2026 provisional answer key available after conducting the written examination.
The exam was conducted on 13 September 2026. UPSC subsequently uploaded the question papers on 14 September 2026 and the provisional answer keys on 16 September 2026.
Candidates can therefore use the official question papers together with the official answer key to check their responses.
The answer key is particularly useful for candidates who want to estimate their marks before the declaration of the written examination result.
UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 – Subject-Wise PDFs
UPSC has published separate answer-key documents for the three CDS-II written examination papers.
| Subject | Status |
|---|---|
| English | Available |
| General Knowledge | Available |
| Elementary Mathematics | Available |
The official UPSC examination page contains separate links for each of these three provisional answer keys.
Candidates should download the answer key corresponding to the paper they appeared for.
UPSC CDS-II English Answer Key 2026
The English Answer Key for CDS-II 2026 has been released by UPSC.
Candidates can compare the answers marked in their question paper/OMR response with the answers provided in the official key.
The English paper is one of the three written papers conducted under the CDS examination.
Candidates should ensure that they are checking the answer key for CDS-II 2026, rather than an older CDS-I examination.
UPSC CDS-II General Knowledge Answer Key 2026
The General Knowledge Answer Key 2026 is also available on the official UPSC website.
Candidates can use the GK answer key to verify their answers and calculate the marks obtained in the General Knowledge paper.
The General Knowledge paper covers questions from areas such as:
- Current Affairs
- History
- Geography
- Indian Polity
- General Science
- Defence-related awareness
- Economy
- General knowledge
The official UPSC PDF should be used for final answer verification.
UPSC CDS-II Elementary Mathematics Answer Key 2026
The Elementary Mathematics Answer Key 2026 has also been published by UPSC.
Candidates who appeared for the Mathematics paper can compare their answers with the official provisional key.
Important areas covered in CDS Mathematics preparation generally include:
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Trigonometry
- Statistics
- Number System
Candidates should use the official answer key rather than relying only on unofficial keys released by coaching institutes.
How to Download UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026?
Candidates can download the official answer key by following the steps below.
Step 1: Visit the UPSC Website
Open the official Union Public Service Commission website.
Step 2: Open the Examination Section
Go to the Examination section of the UPSC website.
Step 3: Open Answer Keys
Select the Answer Keys section.
Alternatively, candidates can open the dedicated examination page for Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.
Step 4: Find CDS-II 2026
Look for:
Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026
Step 5: Select the Required Subject
The official page provides separate answer-key links for:
- English
- General Knowledge
- Elementary Mathematics
Step 6: Open the PDF
Click on the required subject to open the provisional answer key PDF.
Step 7: Download the Answer Key
Save the PDF to your device for future reference.
Candidates can also print the answer key if they want to compare their answers manually.
How to Calculate Marks Using UPSC CDS-II Answer Key?
Candidates can use the official answer key to estimate their probable score.
The calculation should be done according to the marking scheme applicable to the CDS-II examination.
The general process is:
Step 1: Compare your marked answers with the official answer key.
Step 2: Count the number of correct answers.
Step 3: Calculate marks obtained for correct answers.
Step 4: Count incorrect answers.
Step 5: Deduct the applicable negative marks.
Step 6: Add the marks from the relevant papers.
Candidates should use the exact marking scheme prescribed by UPSC for the relevant CDS-II paper when calculating their estimated score.
The calculated score should be treated only as an estimated/probable score. The official result declared by UPSC will be final.
UPSC CDS-II Exam Pattern 2026
The written examination pattern depends on the academy/course for which the candidate has applied.
For candidates applying for IMA, INA and AFA, the written examination consists of:
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 300 | — |
For candidates applying for Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), the written examination consists of:
| Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| English | 100 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 200 | — |
The CDS written examination is objective in nature and is conducted through an offline examination process.
UPSC CDS-II Negative Marking
The CDS written examination includes negative marking for incorrect answers.
Therefore, candidates should not simply count the number of correct answers while calculating their probable score.
The estimated marks should take into account:
- Correct answers
- Incorrect answers
- Marks allotted per question
- Negative marking
- Total marks of the relevant paper
Candidates should refer to the official CDS-II examination instructions for the applicable marking scheme.
UPSC CDS-II Answer Key Objection 2026
Candidates who identify a possible discrepancy in the provisional answer key should check the instructions issued by UPSC regarding representations/objections.
Current reporting indicates that the answer-key objection facility is available from 16 September to 20 September 2026.
Candidates should carefully follow the official procedure and deadline if they want to submit a representation.
Before raising an objection, candidates should:
- Check the question carefully.
- Compare it with the official answer.
- Review the relevant source/reference.
- Confirm that the objection is based on valid grounds.
- Follow the UPSC instructions for submitting the representation.
- Submit it before the prescribed deadline.
Candidates should not wait until the final day if they intend to submit a representation.
UPSC CDS-II Result 2026
The UPSC CDS-II Result 2026 will be released separately after completion of the evaluation process.
At present, the official UPSC CDS-II examination page lists the question papers and provisional answer keys, while the written result has not been listed there.
Candidates should regularly check the UPSC website for the written result.
The result is generally published as an official document containing the roll numbers of candidates who qualify for the next stage.
What Happens After UPSC CDS-II Written Result?
Candidates who qualify the written examination are required to proceed to the subsequent stage of the selection process.
The broad process includes:
Written Examination → SSB Interview/Personality Tests → Medical Examination → Final Selection/Merit
The exact process depends on the academy and course for which the candidate has applied.
Candidates who qualify the written examination should follow the instructions issued by UPSC and the concerned Service Selection Board.
UPSC CDS-II Cut Off 2026
The official UPSC CDS-II Cut Off 2026 is not the same as the answer key.
The answer key allows candidates to calculate their probable marks, while the cut-off is the minimum qualifying benchmark determined for the examination.
The official cut-off is generally published by UPSC separately after the examination process.
Therefore, candidates should not treat unofficial expected cut-off figures as the official cut-off.
The final cut-off should be checked only after UPSC publishes it.
UPSC CDS-II Question Paper 2026
UPSC has also uploaded the CDS-II 2026 question papers.
According to the official examination page, the English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics question papers were uploaded on 14 September 2026.
Candidates can use the question papers together with the official answer keys for detailed answer verification.
This can also help candidates understand:
- Questions attempted
- Correct answers
- Incorrect answers
- Unattempted questions
- Probable marks
- Areas requiring improvement
Important Dates – UPSC CDS-II 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CDS-II Notification | 20 May 2026 |
| Application Start | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 11 June 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Admit Card | 3 September 2026 |
| CDS-II Examination | 13 September 2026 |
| Question Paper Upload | 14 September 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | 16 September 2026 |
| Answer Key Objection Window | 16–20 September 2026 |
| Written Result | To Be Announced |
| SSB Interview | To Be Announced |
| Final Result | To Be Announced |
The examination date, application dates, admit-card date, question-paper upload and provisional answer-key upload are listed on the official UPSC examination page.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Candidates should keep the following points in mind after downloading the answer key:
1. Download the Correct Answer Key
Make sure the PDF is for CDS-II 2026 and not CDS-I or an earlier year.
2. Check the Correct Subject
UPSC has separately published keys for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
3. Calculate Marks Carefully
Take negative marking into account while estimating the score.
4. Keep Your Question Paper
The official question paper can be used alongside the answer key to verify responses.
5. Check the Objection Deadline
Candidates wishing to submit representations should check the applicable deadline and official instructions.
6. Wait for the Official Result
An estimated score from the answer key is not the official result.
Why Is the UPSC CDS-II Answer Key Important?
The answer key is useful for candidates for several reasons.
Score Estimation
Candidates can calculate their probable marks before the result.
Answer Verification
Candidates can check whether their attempted answers match the official answers.
Objection Identification
If a candidate believes an answer is incorrect, the provisional key provides an opportunity to review the question and follow the prescribed representation process.
Preparation Analysis
Candidates who are planning to appear in future CDS examinations can analyse the question paper and official key to understand the examination.
UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 – FAQs
Is the UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 released?
Yes. UPSC released the provisional CDS-II Answer Key 2026 on 16 September 2026.
When was the CDS-II 2026 exam conducted?
The UPSC CDS-II examination was conducted on 13 September 2026.
Which subjects are included in the CDS-II answer key?
The official answer key is available separately for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Where can I download the official CDS-II answer key?
Candidates can download it from the official UPSC website under the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 page.
Is the CDS-II answer key provisional or final?
The currently released key is the provisional answer key.
Can I calculate my expected marks using the answer key?
Yes. Candidates can compare their responses with the official key and calculate their probable marks after applying the applicable marking and negative-marking scheme.
Can candidates raise objections against the CDS-II answer key?
Candidates should follow the official UPSC instructions for representations against the provisional answer key. Current reporting indicates an objection period of 16–20 September 2026.
When will the UPSC CDS-II Result 2026 be released?
The CDS-II written result has not yet been listed on the official CDS-II examination page. UPSC will publish the result separately.
What is the CDS-II exam date 2026?
The CDS-II 2026 examination was conducted on 13 September 2026.
Is the CDS-II answer key available for Mathematics?
Yes. UPSC has released the Elementary Mathematics provisional answer key.
Is the CDS-II answer key available for English?
Yes. The English provisional answer key has been released by UPSC.
Is the CDS-II General Knowledge answer key released?
Yes. UPSC has published the General Knowledge provisional answer key.
Important Links
| Download Answer Key | Click Here |
| Download Admit Card | Click Here |
| Check Exam Schedule Notice | Click Here |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Check Date Extend Notice | Click Here |
| Check Official Notification | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
Conclusion
The UPSC CDS-II Answer Key 2026 has been released by the Union Public Service Commission for candidates who appeared in the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026.
The examination was conducted on 13 September 2026, and the provisional answer key was uploaded on 16 September 2026. UPSC has published separate answer-key PDFs for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.
Candidates can use the official answer key to verify their responses and calculate their probable marks. Candidates who identify an issue with a provisional answer should follow the official representation procedure within the prescribed time.
The CDS-II written result is still awaited, so candidates should regularly check the official UPSC website for the result, cut-off and subsequent selection-stage updates.