UPSC CDS 1 Answer Key 2026 Released: Download Official PDF & Response Sheet

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 Exam on 12th April 2026. This offline examination facilitates recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. Candidates who took the exam can now download the set-wise official answer keys directly from https://www.upsc.gov.in.

CDS Answer Key 2026 Out

UPSC has published the CDS 1 answer key in PDF format covering English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. By utilizing this key, candidates can verify their performance against the official question-wise correct answers. Once verified, candidates can calculate their estimated score by applying the official UPSC marking scheme.

UPSC CDS 1 Answer Key 2026 Download Link

The download link for the official UPSC CDS 1 answer key is now active on the commission's portal, www.upsc.gov.in. This resource is essential for reviewing your marked responses against the verified keys. Candidates may download the PDF by clicking the official link provided below.

Steps to Download CDS 1 Answer Key 2026

After downloading the CDS 1 answer key, candidates can accurately compare their attempted answers to estimate their probable score before the final results are announced. Please follow the steps outlined below to download your copy.

1. Open the official website of UPSC www.upsc.gov.in.
2. On the homepage, go to the “Examination” section, which is located at the top.
3. From the drop-down menu of the Examination section, select the “Answer Key” option.
4. Then, search for a link titled “CDS 1 Answer Key” and select it.
5. Now select the subject-wise answer keys and download them in PDF format.
6. Now, compare these answers with your responses and calculate your marks.

UPSC CDS 1 Marking Scheme 2026

The UPSC marking scheme for the Combined Defence Services Examination varies by subject. Specifically, the deduction for incorrect answers and weightage for correct answers differ between the English/General Knowledge papers and Elementary Mathematics. Refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of the scoring process.

Important Note:

• There will be a 1/3rd negative marking for every wrong answer.
• If the candidate had marked more than 1 answer, it would be treated as incorrect.
• There will be no negative marking for unanswered questions.

CDS 1 Answer Key 2026 Raise Objection

Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key or identify errors in the question paper through the official representation portal. The objection window is open for five days, from 18th April 2026 (6:00 PM) to 22nd April 2026. Access the "Representations on Question Paper and Provisional Answer Key" section on the website to submit your claims. We will provide the direct link as soon as it becomes available.

How to Raise Objections Against UPSC CDS 1 Answer Key 2026?

All challenges must be submitted exclusively via the online portal. UPSC will not process objections sent via email, post, or any other offline channel. Notably, the commission does not require an objection fee. Please follow the provided instructions to raise your concerns effectively.

1. Visit the official UPSC online portal, www.upsc.gov.in.
2. On the homepage, select the Examination section.
3.  From the drop-down menu, select the Representations on the Question Paper.
4. Now, log in using your registered credentials and select CDS 1 Examination 2026 from the exam list.
5. Then fill in the details of the exam date, subject, paper series, and question number.
6. Now enter the reason for your objection clearly in the representation box, up to 1500 characters.
7. To support your claim, you can upload a PDF document of a maximum size of 2 MB.
8. Now, click on Save Draft, and after reviewing, submit the objection.

How to Calculate Marks with CDS 1 Answer Key 2026?

Calculating your probable marks after downloading the CDS 1 answer key is a crucial step in assessing your performance. Please note that the scoring criteria differ by subject. Follow the steps mentioned below to accurately calculate your expected marks.

• At first, download the answer key for all subjects in PDF format.
• Then match your responses to the question paper with the official answer key.
• Count the number of correct answers separately for each subject.
• Then count the number of incorrect answers in every subject.
• After calculating marks by using the formula, add up all subject marks to get your total estimated score.
• Apply the following marking formula:

(a) English and General Knowledge subjects: Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 0.83) – (Number of Incorrect Answers × 0.27)
(b) Elementary Mathematics subject: Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 1) – (Number of Incorrect Answers × 0.33)