UPSC CDS Answer Key 2021: Get CDS I 2021 exam answer key here. The answer key is available for English, GK & Maths papers. Various coaching centres and individuals have released the memory-based answer key of the written exam of Combined Defense Services recruitment. Also, the Union Public Service Commission publishes the official answer keys of CDS 1 2021 at upsc.gov.in. UPSC CDS Answer Key 2021 for the written exam publishes shortly after the exam. Candidates who appeared in the exam can check the UPSC CDS Answer Key 2021 for all four question sets named A, B, C, and D. Besides increasing the transparency of the evaluation process, the release of the answer keys also offers candidates to review and raise objections. Know more about UPSC CDS answer key 2021 here.
Latest: UPSC CDS 1 English, GK, and Maths Answer Key and Exam Analysis 2021 are now available. Get the links below.
Contents
UPSC CDS Answer Key 2021
Right after the exam, candidates can check the their CDS 2 answer key here.
Get here the paper wise CDS 2 2020 answer key from the following pages.
UPSC CDS (2) 2020 Paper | Get Answer Keys |
English | Click Here – Available! |
GK | Click Here – Available! |
Maths | Click Here – Available! |
UPSC CDS Answer Key consists of correct answers to all the questions asked in the exam. The Commission publishes the answer keys in two stages. At first, the provisional answer keys are released. Candidates can raise objections against these. However, once the objection window closes, the Commission reviews the objections and makes corrections in the provisional keys to prepare and release the final answer keys.
Events | CDS 2 2020 | CDS 1 2021 |
Date of exam | 08 Nov 2020 | 07 Feb 2021 |
Availability of CDS English Answer Key | Right After Exam | Right After Exam |
Availability of CDS GK Answer Key | Right After Exam | Right After Exam |
Availability of CDS Maths Answer Key | Right After Exam | Right After Exam |
UPSC will release official answer key | to be announced | To be announced |
Check answer key here: Candidates can get CDS Answer Key 2021 through upsc.gov.in.
How To Download UPSC CDS Answer Key 2021?
Aspirants can get the answer key from the official website of UPSC around result time or after result is out. Anyone can download it, no login details are needed to view or download the answer key. It is available to everyone on the official website in PDF format. Below are the steps to download the answer key for CDS-II 2021:
1st step: Go to the official website of UPSC i.e. upsc.gov.in.
2nd step: In the main menu, click on the examination tab.

3rd step: In the examination tab, click on the “answer keys” button in the drop-down menu.

4th step: The answer keys for various exams conducted by UPSC display on this page. Find the link given for downloading the answer key of UPSC CDS 2021 exam.
5th step: The answer key for all the 3 subjects is provided separately. Click on the link given for downloading the answer key.

6th step: The answer key for the subject opens. Download it and use it to calculate total no. of marks scored.

How To Estimate Final Score Using the UPSC CDS Answer Key?
The topmost reason behind seeking out the UPSC CDS answer key is to estimate the final score. A little consideration can enlighten that with the answer keys and knowledge of the marking criteria, one can easily estimate the final score.
So use the answer key and note down your number of correct and incorrect answers, paper wise. Then use the marking scheme and marks calculator below to calculate your score.
Paper | + Marks for correct answer | – Mark for incorrect answer |
English | 5/6 | 5/18 |
GK | 5/6 | 5/18 |
Maths | 1 | 1/3 |
And here is the marks calculator. Input your number of correct answers, and get the predicted score. If you did not attempt Maths, as an OTA candidate, please enter 0, 0 in both maths field.
Get CDS Question Paper From Here.
Is the CDS Answer Key Released by UPSC?
Union Public Service Commission publishes answer keys for all its exams either with the result or after it. So just after exam, the answer keys you get here are not by UPSC.
Then who publishes the CDS exam answer key?
A number of coaching centers, ex-CDS cleared defence candidates, passionate defence aspirants who are experts in the fields, and several individuals publish the unofficial version of UPSC CDS answer key.
Some coaching centers that usually publish CDS answer key in PDF form are:
- Major Kalshi
- Minerva Academy
- The Cavalier
- TIDES Academy
- Olive Greens Institute
Others who have published answer key of CDS exam in video format are:
- Gyanematics
- Exampur
- Adhyayan Academy
- Lifegoal Education, and others.
Is the UPSC CDS Answer Key Reliable?
The coaching centers and individuals who publish answer key of UPSC CDS have experienced faculty. They are usually people who have been teaching candidates the subjects of defence exams for quite some time. As a result, their knowledge of the subjects is strong. They try their best to provide the most accurate answer keys.
Nevertheless, it may sometimes happen that some errors may creep in the unofficial answer key. Hence, candidates should anticipate some difference between the official and unofficial answer key.
Our suggestion: Do go through the unofficial answer key, to get an idea of what to expect in the result. But do not take any action like celebrating sure shot success, or lamenting imminent failure. Wait for CDS 2021 result to be out.
Declaration of CDS 2021 Result and Cut Offs
UPSC declares the result of the CDS 2021 exam at the official UPSC website only. Candidates can easily check the same by visiting the website when released. It is prepared on the basis of the marks obtained in the written exam. The final results are however published only after the personal interviews are over.
Who will qualify? Candidates who clear the cut-offs are shortlisted for SSB, on the basis of their performance in the written exam.
Past Year Cut Offs
Academy | CDS (2) 2018 Cut Off for SSB | CDS (1) 2018 Cut Off for SSB | CDS (2) 2017 Cut Off for SSB | CDS (1) 2017 Cut Off for SSB |
IMA | 116 | 118 | 120 | 125 |
INA | 102 | 98 | 111 | 118 |
AFA | 131 | 138 | 135 | 144 |
OTA Men | 80 | 69 | 86 | 82 |
OTA Women | 80 | 69 | 86 | 82 |
About UPSC CDS 2021
The examinations for Combined Defence Services (CDS) is conducted by Union Public Service. Each year, the candidate can participate for CDS Exam twice – the first session takes place in February and the second session starts from November. On qualifying CDS exam, aspirants are shortlisted for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) SSC (Men) and Officers Training Academy, Chennai SSC Women.
Archives
UPSC CDS (1) 2020 Paper | Download Answer Key PDF |
All Papers | Click Here – Available! |
English | Click Here – Available! |
GK | Click Here – Available! |
Maths | Click Here – Available! |
CDS 1 Answer Key 2020 by Coaching Centers
Name of institute | Download CDS 1 2020 Answer Key by Institute |
Major Kalshi Classes | Click Here – Available! |
Complete Answer Key of CDS 1 2020
In the following table, answers of each paper are given in the order – Set A, Set B, Set C, Set D.
Qs. No. | English | GK | Maths |
1 | ACAB | CABA | ADAA |
2 | CACA | DCCC | BDBC |
3 | ADAC | CAAC | BBCC |
4 | BABA | BAAB | BADD |
5 | ADAA | DCCC | DDBA |
6 | DCAA | ABDC | BABC |
7 | AACD | ADDA | ADAC |
8 | CABB | AABB | BADD |
9 | AADD | CADB | CADC |
10 | AAAA | DDDA | BCDC |
11 | CCAA | ABCC | ADDB |
12 | CADB | DCCC | BDDC |
13 | ABCB | BCDB | AADC |
14 | BDBC | DADB | BACA |
15 | ACAA | BBAB | DBAC |
16 | BABA | CDAA | CBBA |
17 | ACBA | CBBB | DCCB |
18 | CBCB | BBCB | BDBB |
19 | CDAC | DCBC | BDDB |
20 | BABC | BADC | BCAD |
21 | AAAC | ABBA | CCCB |
22 | CCCA | CCDC | CBBA |
23 | AAAD | CADA | CADB |
24 | BBDA | BAAA | CACC |
25 | AADD | CCBC | ACBB |
26 | DAAC | CDBB | BADA |
27 | ACAA | ADAD | BBDB |
28 | CBDA | BBAA | CDBA |
29 | ADAA | BDAA | DBAB |
30 | AACA | ADCD | ABDD |
31 | CAAC | CCAB | DAAB |
32 | CDBA | CCAC | DBDC |
33 | ACBB | BDBC | DCAD |
34 | BBAD | BDCA | CDAD |
35 | AAAC | BADB | ABCC |
36 | BBAA | AAAD | BBDC |
37 | ABBC | BBCB | CADB |
38 | CCDB | BCBB | BDAA |
39 | CABD | CBDC | DDAA |
40 | BBAA | CDAA | ADBC |
41 | AABA | BCAC | CAAA |
42 | CBAC | DDCD | BBCB |
43 | ABCA | DDCC | DBCD |
44 | DCAB | ADBB | CBDB |
45 | DAAA | BACD | BDAB |
46 | ABAD | BBCA | BBCD |
47 | ADDA | ADAA | CACD |
48 | DDBC | ACBA | DBDB |
49 | ADDA | ABBC | DCCA |
50 | CAAA | CCAD | CBCD |
51 | AAAC | ADCA | CABA |
52 | BABC | ABCD | BBCD |
53 | BCBA | BBBB | AACA |
54 | ACCB | CABD | ABAA |
55 | ACAA | DABB | CDCC |
56 | AAAB | AAAC | ADBD |
57 | BAAA | CCBC | BDCD |
58 | DBBC | BDBB | DDDA |
59 | BCCC | DACD | BCDA |
60 | ABCB | ACCB | BACB |
61 | AAAA | CBCB | ABCC |
62 | BCCC | DDDC | CCBD |
63 | BAAA | DDCA | CBAB |
64 | CDBB | DABA | DDAB |
65 | ADAA | ABDC | AACB |
66 | BADA | BBAD | CCAC |
67 | DAAC | DAAD | CBBC |
68 | DDCB | CAAB | DDDC |
69 | DAAD | BACD | CCBC |
70 | ACAA | CCDD | CBBA |
71 | AACA | DAAC | BACB |
72 | ABCD | BADC | CCDB |
73 | CBAC | BBBD | CCBC |
74 | CABB | ACDD | ADBD |
75 | CAAA | ADBA | CABA |
76 | AABB | AACA | DCCA |
77 | ABAB | CCCB | DCCB |
78 | BDCC | DBBC | BDCC |
79 | CBCA | ADDB | ACCD |
80 | BABB | CABD | DCAB |
81 | ABCA | BAAC | ABBB |
82 | CAAB | CCCD | DCBA |
83 | ACDB | ACAD | ACCD |
84 | BAAC | ABAD | AADD |
85 | AADA | CCCA | CCAD |
86 | AACB | DCBB | DCAD |
87 | CDAD | DADD | DDBD |
88 | BBAD | BBAC | ABBD |
89 | DDAD | DBAB | ABBC |
90 | AAAA | DADC | BBDA |
91 | AACA | CCBD | ACBB |
92 | DBAA | CCCB | BCAC |
93 | CBBC | DBCB | CCBB |
94 | BCDC | DBAA | DCCD |
95 | AACC | ABBA | BABA |
96 | BAAA | AADA | BBAC |
97 | BACA | BBBC | ABBB |
98 | CBBB | CBBD | DCAD |
99 | ACDC | BCCA | DDBC |
100 | BCAB | DCAC | DADB |
101 | CAAA | ACCB | |
102 | ACBC | CDDD | |
103 | DABA | ACDD | |
104 | ABCD | ABDA | |
105 | DAAD | CDAB | |
106 | CDBA | BABB | |
107 | AADA | DADA | |
108 | ACDD | AACA | |
109 | AADA | ACBA | |
110 | AAAC | DDCC | |
111 | CCAA | BADA | |
112 | ACAB | CDBA | |
113 | BACB | CBBB | |
114 | DBCA | ADAC | |
115 | CACA | BBAD | |
116 | ABAA | DCAA | |
117 | CAAB | BCCC | |
118 | BCBD | BBDB | |
119 | DCCB | CDAD | |
120 | ABBA | ABCA |
CDS 2020 Answer Key Frequently Asked Questions
Ans : Yes, UPSC releases official answer key for CDS exam after the result.
Ans : No, the answer key is available for reference purpose only. You cannot object the official answer key.
Ans : Yes, UPSC releases separate answer key for every subject. A PDF of answer key will have list of all the correct answer of each set.
Ans : Yes, representation against question paper will be available from the day after the exam date. You can object the questions asked in the exam in the form for representation.