CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the CDS Exam on 12 April 2026 in three shifts for English, General Knowledge (GK), and Elementary Mathematics. The first shift concluded at 11:00 AM. As per the initial student feedback, the overall CDS 1 Exam 2026 was of moderate difficulty level.
The UPSC conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination twice a year to select candidates for officer training in prestigious defence academies such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
Check, How to Become an Officer in Indian Armed Forces Without NDA & CDS
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2026
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is conducting the CDS Exam 2026 on 12 April 2026 in three shifts for English, General Knowledge (GK), and Elementary Mathematics. The exam was conducted sucessfully. The overall difficulty level was considered moderate with 185 to 215 good attempts.
The CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2026 will include section-wise difficulty level, number of good attempts, and important topics asked in the exam based on real-time feedback from candidates. This analysis will help aspirants understand the overall exam pattern and level of competition.
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CDS Exam 2026 Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the CDS exam twice every year to recruit candidates for defence academies. The CDS Exam 2026 is being held on 12 April 2026 in three shifts. Candidates can check the key exam details below:
| Aspect | Details |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | CDS 1 (Combined Defence Services) Examination 2026 |
| Date | 12 April 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen & Paper Based) |
| Subjects/Papers | English, General Knowledge (GK), Elementary Mathematics |
| Duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Total Marks | 300 (IMA, INA, AFA - all three papers); 200 (OTA - English & GK only) |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2026 Difficulty Level
Candidates can check the subject-wise difficulty level of the CDS 2 Exam 2026 below. The difficulty level will be updated soon based on real-time student feedback after the exam concludes.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| English | Easy to Moderate |
| General Knowledge (GK) | Moderate to Difficult |
| Elementary Mathematics | Moderate to Difficult |
| Overall | Moderate |
CDS Exam Analysis 2026 Good Attempts
The expected number of good attempts helps candidates understand how many questions should be attempted to stay competitive in the exam. The good attempts for CDS 2 Exam 2026 will be updated soon based on student feedback after the exam concludes.
| Subject | Good Attempts (Estimated) |
| English | 70-80 |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 55-65 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 60–70 |
| Overall | 185–215 |
CDS 2 2026 Exam Pattern
The CDS Exam Pattern 2026 includes three papers for candidates applying to IMA, INA, and AFA: English, General Knowledge (GK), and Elementary Mathematics. Candidates applying for OTA are required to appear only for English and GK papers. Each paper is conducted for a duration of 2 hours. Check the exam pattern in the table below:
| Aspect | Details |
| Total Papers | 3 papers for IMA, INA, AFA (English, GK, Mathematics); 2 papers for OTA (English + GK) |
| Duration per Paper | 2 hours each |
| Total Marks | IMA/INA/AFA: 300 (100 marks per paper) OTA: 200 (English + GK) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd marks deducted for each incorrect answer |
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