CDS CUT OFF

CDS Exam Cut off – Written & SSB Interview Cut off, Previous Year Cutoffs, Trends

CDS Exam cut off – The cut off list include the minimum qualifying marks required to be obtained at each stage of the CDS (Combined Defense Services) Exam. CDS (I) 2026 result for the written examination has been released by the UPSC on March 23, 2026, and the final cut off is expected to be released soon after the conclusion of all SSB interviews. The interviews are delayed due to coronavirus induced countrywide lockdown. CDS (II) 2026 final cut off is also due and will be released once the SSB interviews are completed.

In this article, the official cut-offs for CDS (I) 2026, 2018 and 2017 are presented so that the candidates can compare, analyse, and predict the expected CDS (I) 2026 cutoffs. 

Further, you will get familiar with the factors affecting the CDS cut-offs, cut off trends and upcoming exam updates.

CDS Exam Cut off – Written and Final Cut off

Some of the key points related to the CDS written exam and final cut off are:

1. The CDS cut off contains the marks for IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), AFA (Air Force Academy) and OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) courses.
2. The total marks in the IMA, INA and AFA tests are 300 while it is 200 for OTA. Based on the last (2026) CDS cut off, candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 20% marks in CDS Paper-I, 10% marks in CDS Paper-II and 20% marks in CDS Paper-III.
3. Cut-offs are released on the basis of the exam difficulty and the total number of vacancies.
4. Candidates who are able to obtain the required cut off in each stage of the CDS exam get into the merit list for their selection in courses carried out by IMA, INA, AFA and OTA.

You can check out the cut-offs mentioned in the tables below, depending on the post you want to apply for. 

To know more details on latest results (written and SSB) read CDS exam results blog.

CDS (I) 2026 Cut off (Expected)

Based on the trends and previous years’ cut-offs, this year’s expected CDS cut-offs are given in the table below:

The merit list is prepared on the basis of the cut off marks. Candidates need to score above the minimum qualifying marks to come in the merit list. The official cut off marks CDS (I) 2026 is not available as yet.

The expected CDS (I) 2026 cutoffs are:

Some of the previous years’ cut-offs for the written exam and the final exam is given in the table below:

CDS (I) 2018 Cut off

CDS (I) 2017 Cutoff

Previous Year Cut off [Academy Wise]

2017 & 2016 CDS (I) and CDS (II) Written Exam Cut off and Final Cut off

CDS Exam Cut off – CDS (I) & (II) 2026 Cut off Details

CDS (I) 2026 exam was held on 3 February 2026 (and its notification was released on 31 October 2018). The official CDS (I) 2026 exam cut off are mentioned in the table given below:

*Aggregate marks in the Written part of CDS exam are subjected to a minimum of 20% marks in Paper-I, 10% marks in Paper-II & 20% marks in Paper-III.

Note: CDS (II) 2026 written exam conducted on 08 September 2026 (notification was released on 12 June 2026). The results were announced on 2 November 2026. The cut-off list for CDS (II) 2026 exam was due in Feb 2026 but delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

CDS Exam Cut off – How to Check Results Online?

Step 1: Applicants should visit the official website upsc.gov.in

Step 2: Then, go to the cutoff page from the ‘Examination’ tab in top panel 

Step 3: Click on the link and then proceed

Step 4: Course wise cut off marks will be available in the pdf format.

Step 5: Download and save the file for reference

After you qualify the written exam with required cut-off, you are called for the SSB Interview which is a two-stage selection process.

Stage 1: It comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PPDT).

Stage 2: It comprises Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and the Conference.

To qualify the SSB Interview, candidates need to secure the minimum qualifying marks, after which the final merit list is prepared.

To know everything about Combined Defense Services Exam, read CDS blog here.

CDS Exam Cut off – FAQs

✔️ When are CDS cut-offs released and are they different for written exam and SSB interview?

Cut off is released after the final results are declared for the CDS exam. Currently, we have the official CDS cut off from the 2026 written exam. SSB interviews for this year are due and hence, cut off for 2026 are yet to be released. The CDS written exam and SSB interview have different cut off requirements.

✔️ How is the expected CDS cut off decided? Is there a difference between CDS I and II cut off

The expected cut off is decided by the experts based on the difficulty level of the exam. Yes, there is a difference between the cut off obtained in CDS I and II exam.

✔️ What is the sectional cut off in CDS? What are the marks that the last recommended candidate must secure in CDS cut off?

Candidates have to secure minimum qualifying marks i.e. 20-25% in each subject to qualify for the final cut off. The total marks (written exam and SSB) of the last recommended candidate are the marks of the person who is last in the merit list.

✔️ How is the CDS Exam cut off calculated?

CDS cut off is calculated based on various factors such as difficulty level, number of candidates sitting for the exam and the total vacancies.