UPSC CDS 1 Expected Cut Off 2026: Category-Wise Qualifying Marks for IMA, INA, AFA & OTA

CDS Cut Off 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the CDS 1 Cut Off 2026 for IMA, AFA, INA, and OTA along with the result announcement. Candidates will be shortlisted based on these cutoff marks. It also helps in understanding the exam’s difficulty level and overall competition. Several factors affect the CDS Cut OffThis includes the toughness of the exam question paper, number of vacancies, and trend from the past year. The exam date for CDS 1 will be held on April 12, 2026.

The aspirants can calculate their marks by using the CDS answer key. Read on to get complete details about CDS Cut Off 2026.

CDS 1 Cut Off 2026

The CDS 1 Cut Off 2026 will be released by UPSC after the entire recruitment process is completed. The cutoff is announced in two stages, first for the written exam and then for the final selection.

The cut-off for the written test will be fixed according to the qualifying marks obtained by the lowest ranked aspirant in the written test in each subject. The minimum percentage of marks to be secured in each subject is 20%.

The final cutoff is prepared based on the marks of the last recommended candidate after combining performance in the written exam and the SSB Interview. It is important for candidates to qualify both stages separately, as clearing only one stage is not enough for selection.

Candidates are shortlisted for prestigious academies like the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Candidates must meet the required cut-off marks in both the written exam and the SSB Interview to be considered for final selection.

Also Check: 

UPSC CDS Salary 2026
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2026

CDS 1 Expected Cut Off 2026

CDS 1 Expected Cut Off 2026 provides the aspirants with an estimation about how well they have performed in the examination and what their chance of getting selected will be. The preparation of the cut-off is done considering some important aspects such as the total vacancies available and the level of examination.

Candidates can check the expected cutoff for the written exam below:

CDS Previous Year Cut Off Marks

The CDS exam conducted by UPSC is held to recruit candidates for officer-level positions in the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Officers’ Training Academy. Checking previous years’ cutoff marks helps candidates understand the competition level and set realistic targets for preparation.

Below are the CDS 2024 cutoff marks for both the written exam and final selection:

How to Check CDS Cut Off 2026?

The CDS Cut Off is released online by UPSC along with or after the result declaration. These cutoff marks are used to shortlist candidates for different academies based on their performance. The following are the steps to check the CDS 1 Cut Off:

• Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.nic.in

• Go to the “Examination” tab on the homepage

• Click on the “Cut Off Marks” section

• Find and open the relevant CDS Cut Off link

• The course-wise cutoff marks will appear in PDF format

• Download and save the PDF for future reference

Factors Determining CDS Cut Off Marks

The CDS Cut Off varies every year depending on multiple factors. Candidates must understand these factors to estimate the expected cutoff more:

• Number of Vacancies

• Total Number of Candidates

• Difficulty Level of Exam

CDS Minimum Qualifying Marks 2026

The candidates need to obtain the necessary qualifying marks as determined by the UPSC in order to pass the CDS examination. The marks are very important as they will be used as a yardstick for advancing through the recruitment process. The candidates must achieve a minimum of 20 percent marks in each subject to be eligible for the written test.