Summary
UPSC has officially released the UPSC CDS 2 Official Answer Key 2026 on 16 September 2026 for English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, along with the official question papers.
1. What UPSC Has Released
The CDS 2 2026 official answer key out on upsc.gov.in is a provisional key, which is published just three days after the examination, which was held on 13 September 2026.
| Document | Papers | Uploaded |
| Question Paper | English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics | 14 September 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics | 16 September 2026 |
They are both listed on the page for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 in the Examination section of upsc.gov.in.
2. Download CDS 2 Official Question Papers 2026
| Paper | Download |
| English | PDF Download |
| General Knowledge | PDF Download |
| Elementary Mathematics | PDF Download |
3. CDS 2 Official Answer Key 2026 PDF Download
Use the CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 download link for your paper below. Each file opens the official UPSC key pdf.
| Paper | Download |
| English | PDF Download |
| General Knowledge | PDF Download |
| Elementary Mathematics | PDF Download |
OTA candidates have a benefit here, as they needed to appear for English and General Knowledge only. Elementary Mathematics applies to IMA, INA and AFA candidates.
Get all three papers with detailed Digital Benchers solutions in one PDF.
4. Provisional Key and Representation
A provisional key is not final. UPSC provides a facility for candidates to submit representations on question papers and provisional answer keys, after which UPSC may revise answers or drop questions before the final key is issued.
Representations are accepted only through the official route within the period UPSC specifies. Check the examination notice and the Representation on Question Papers page on upsc.gov.in for the exact window and procedure. Submissions by email, post or phone are not entertained.
The final answer key appears much later, in the Answer Keys section of upsc.gov.in, after the selection process concludes. For reference, the final key for CDS (II) 2025 was uploaded on 13 August 2026, about eleven months after the exam was held.
5. How to Calculate Your Score?
1. Match the set code printed on your question booklet, since question order differs set by set.
2. Add 1 mark for every correct answer you score.
3. Deduct one-third of a mark for every wrong answer. Blanks carry no penalty and should not be considered.
4. Calculate each paper separately, then total.
English and General Knowledge carry 120 questions each scaled to 100 marks. Mathematics carries 100 questions for 100 marks. Your written total is 300 marks for IMA, INA and AFA, and 200 marks for OTA.
UPSC makes it mandatory to score a minimum of 20 percent in each paper regardless of your total aggregate. Once you have a figure, compare it against our CDS 2 Expected Cut Off 2026 bands.
