UPSC CDS 2 Cut Off 2026: Check IMA, INA, AFA & OTA Expected Cut Off Marks Here
UPSC CDS 2 Cut Off 2026: The UPSC has conducted the Combined Defense Services examination on 13 September in three shifts. The candidates who have appeared for the examination can check the expected cut off marks in this article.
Key Points
- The UPSC CDS 2 examination was successfully conducted on 13 September 2026.
- Expected cut-off marks for CDS 2 2026 are available for various academies.
- Cut-off marks show a rising trend, and 20% minimum per subject is required.
UPSC CDS 2 Cut Off 2026: The Union Public Service Commission, body responsible for conducting the Combined Defense Services (CDS) examination, conducted the examination successfully on 13 September 2026. The candidates who have appeared for the examination should check the expected cut off marks. The official cut off marks will be released by the Commission along with the final result of CDS-2 examination. Meanwhile, the candidates who will qualify the written examination stage will be eligible to appear for the next stage, which is the SSB. Therefore, one must know beforehand whether they are going to qualify for the SSB or not. The expected cut off marks will somewhat help you analyze whether you can make it up to the next level or not. We have curated the expected cut off based on the previous year trends.
UPSC CDS 2 Expected Cut Off 2026
The candidates who have appeared for the UPSC CDS 2 examination can check the academy-wise cut off marks curated based on the previous year trends. Those who find these expected cut off marks achievable should immediately start preparing for the SSB Interview.
| Name of the Academy | Expected Cut Off (Out of 300) |
| IMA | 122-126 |
| INA | 106-112 |
| AFA | 130-136 |
| Name of the Academy | Expected Cut Off (Out of 200) |
| OTA (Men) | 80-84 |
| OTA (Women) | 96-100 |
UPSC CDS 2 Cut Off Trends
The UPSC CDS 2 examination is conducted to recruit candidates for India’s prestigious academies including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The cut off marks for the written examination varies for each academy. In the previous year trends, it has been seen that the cut off is on a rise, which means the marks are getting higher by each cycle. Take a look at the past cycle of CDS examination here:
| Name of the Academy | CDS 2 Cut Off 2025 (Out of 300) | CDS 1 Cut Off 2025 (Out of 300) | CDS 2 Cut Off 2024 (Out of 300) | CDS 1 Cut Off 2024 (Out of 300) |
| IMA | 124.11 | 120 | 117 | 120 |
| INA | 109.23 | 104 | 90 | 100 |
| AFA | 132.51 | 128 | 126 | 128 |
| Name of the Academy | CDS 2 Cut Off 2025 (Out of 200) | CDS 1 Cut Off 2025 (Out of 200) | CDS 2 Cut Off 2024 (Out of 200) | CDS 1 Cut Off 2024 (Out of 200) |
| OTA (Men) | 80.01 | 81 | 81 | 87 |
| OTA (Women) | 98.06 | 81 | 81 | 87 |
Factors Affecting the UPSC CDS 2 Cut Off 2026
There are a number of factors that affect the UPSC CDS 2 Cut off marks. These factors are considered together while deciding the cut off marks. These are:
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Number of Vacancies
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Number of Appeared Candidates
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Number of Candidates in Each Academy
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Difficulty Level of the Paper
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Previous Year Trends
ALSO CHECK:
UPSC CDS 2 Question Paper 2026
UPSC CDS 2 Minimum Qualifying Marks 2026
Apart from the cut off marks, the candidates must have to score a minimum of 20% marks in each subject so that their next subject answer sheet gets checked.
Upasna is an education journalist and subject matter expert with an extensive background in the competitive exam landscape. Currently contributing to the Exam Prep Section of Jagran Josh, Upasna specializes in creating well-researched, aspirant-centric content and simplifying complex topics for competitive examinations. Her academic expertise, coupled with her own firsthand experience preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, helps her provide strategic preparation insights and a comprehensive perspective to aspirants. She holds a Master's degree in Forensic Chemical Sciences. Apart from delivering valuable exam resources, Upasna is a passionate communications professional who also enjoys reading and writing.
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