The official UPSC CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 for English and General Knowledge is available for the examination held on 12 April 2026. Aspirants can download their respective question papers using the direct PDF links provided below.
The UPSC CDS 1 2026 written examination was conducted in offline mode. The exam schedule featured the English paper from 9 am to 11 am, followed by General Knowledge from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and Elementary Mathematics from 4 pm to 6 pm. Candidates who appeared for the test or those preparing for future cycles can download these papers to analyze question patterns and the overall difficulty level of the exam.
CDS Question Paper 2026 Out
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the CDS 1 Examination 2026 to recruit officers for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). To assist in your preparation and self-assessment, we have compiled the official CDS Question Paper 2026 for English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics from the exam held on 12 April 2026.
| CDS 1 Question Paper 2026- Overview | |
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Service Examination (1) 2025 |
| Exam Date | 12th April 2026 |
| Timings | English- 9:00 am to 11:00 am GK- 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm Elementary Maths- 4 pm to 6 pm |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Total Number of Questions | 300 (IMA, AFA, INA) & 200 (OTA) |
| Total Marks | 300 (IMA, AFA, INA) & 200 (OTA) |
| Time Duration | 2 hours for each section |
| Negative Marking | A deduction of 0.33 marks for each incorrect answer |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
CDS 1 English Question Paper 2026
The CDS 1 English paper took place from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 100 marks. The syllabus evaluates candidates on reading comprehension, sentence rearrangement, spotting errors, cloze tests, idioms, and vocabulary. You can download the complete PDF of the English paper directly below.
CDS 1 GK Question Paper 2026
The General Knowledge (GK) paper comprises 120 questions covering History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. The paper is provided in a bilingual format (Hindi and English). Download the official CDS 1 GK Question Paper using the link provided below.
CDS Exam Structure 2026
The CDS examination structure for IMA, AFA, and INA candidates includes the following:
- 100 questions from General Knowledge.
- 100 questions from the English subject.
- 100 questions from Mathematics.
The CDS examination structure for the OTA post includes the following:
- 100 questions from the English subject.
- 100 questions from General Knowledge.
Also Read:
- UPSC CDS 2 Notification 2026 Out: 451 Vacancies, Apply Online Now
- UPSC CDS 2 Answer Key 2022: Download Paper Solutions (GK, English & Maths)
- CDS 1 Admit Card 2026 Released: Download Hall Ticket at upsc.gov.in
- CDS 2 Application Form 2026: Registration Deadline Extended to 11 June
- CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification & Nationality Requirements
- UPSC CDS Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern: Subject-wise PDF Guide