CDS-1 2026 Official Question Paper of English, G.K & Maths

The CDS-1 2026 exam conducted by UPSC on 12th April 2026 is now over, and like always, aspirants aiming for a career in the defence forces are keen to understand the paper’s difficulty level and pattern. One of the best ways to do that is by going through the actual question papers. To help you with this, Centurion Defence Academy has uploaded the CDS-1 2026 question papers in PDF format, so you can easily access and start your preparation in the right direction.

Take a look below to find the question papers sorted subject-wise and proceed ahead towards fulfilling your nationalistic ambitions.

About the CDS-1 2026 Exam

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination was held in an offline mode and organised into three shifts, covering three major papers:

• English Language
• General Studies
• Elementary mathematics

Students who applied for admission to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Indian Naval Academy (INA) sat for all three subjects.

Applicants who sought admission into the Officers Training Academy (OTA) sat only for English and General Studies subjects without taking Mathematics.

Download Official CDS-1 2026 Question Papers (All Sets)

In-Depth Analysis – CDS-1 2026 Official Question Paper

English

The English paper evaluated candidates on:

• Reading comprehension based on direct and inferential questions
• Grammar tests, such as error identification and sentence structure formation
• Vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms)
• Sentence completion tests

General Studies

Key topics in the GS paper included:

• Indian History, especially the Freedom Movement
• Physical Geography and Map-based questions
• Basics of Indian Polity & Economy
• Recent Current Affairs: Government schemes, defence news, international events
• Science & Environment: Basic concepts and their applications

Elementary Mathematics

Mathematics focused on fundamental areas like:

• Arithmetic: Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest
• Algebra: Linear & Quadratic Equations
• Geometry and Mensuration: Properties of Triangles, Circles, Volumes, Areas
• Basic Trigonometry
• Elementary Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode, Probability

What’s Next After CDS-1 2026 Written Exam?

Once the written examination is completed, the candidates will have to wait for their cutoff marks, which will be announced by UPSC along with the result announcement. Candidates who secure more than the cutoff mark are only considered for the SSB interview process.

The SSB interview process is done to determine whether the candidate possesses the necessary qualities of character, intellect, and attitude required for service in the armed forces. This process involves some psychological tests, group activities, and personal interviews.