The CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 was released on April 13, 2026, one day after the exam was conducted on April 12, 2026. It includes question papers for English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.
Candidates can download the CDS Question Paper 2026 PDF to check questions, analyse difficulty level, and compute their tentative scores using the answer key.
The CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 has been officially released on April 13, 2026. Candidates who participated in the written exam can now download the question papers for all three subjects: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.
The CDS 1 2026 exam was conducted on April 12, 2026, in three shifts across various exam centres in India. With the release of the CDS 1 2026 question paper, candidates can now assess their performance, calculate their tentative scores, and start preparing for the next
phase.
Read ahead to download the CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 PDF, detailed analysis, difficulty level, and answer key insights.
CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 PDF Out: Download Subject-Wise
The CDS question papers 2026 have been released for all three sections. Candidates can access them from the direct download links shared below:
Subject | CDS Official Question Paper PDF links |
English | |
General Knowledge | |
Elementary Mathematics |
Quick Links:
- CDS 1 2026 Answer Key
- CDS 1 2026 Maths answer key
- CDS 1 2026 English answer key
- CDS 1 2026 GK Answer Key
How to Download CDS 1 2026 Question Paper PDF
UPSC have released the CDS Question Paper 2026 for all three sections in the PDF file. Follow the given instructions to access the question paper without any hassles:
- Go to the official UPSC website.
- On the homepage, click “Active Examination” under the “Examination” tab.
- Find and click the “Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026” link.
- You will CDS 1 2026 question paper PDF links in the table.
- Download or save the document for future reference.
CDS 1 Question Paper 2026- Section-Wise Analysis
The overall difficulty level of the CDS 1 2026 exam was moderate. However, the difficulty level varied slightly across sections. The English section was moderately easy, while the GK & Math sections were moderately difficult. Here is the section-wise analysis of the CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 shared below:
CDS 1 English Question Paper 2026 Out: Topic-Wise Weightage Analysis
Topic | Number of Questions (approx) | Difficulty Level |
Idioms & Phrases | 10 | Easy-Moderate |
Antonyms | 10 | Easy |
Synonyms (Single Words) | 10 | Easy |
Usage of Paired Words | 10 | Moderate |
Synonyms (Underlined Words) | 10 | Easy-Moderate |
Commonly Used Words | 10 | Easy |
Prepositions & Determiners | 10 | Moderate |
Word Class (Parts of Speech) | 10 | Easy-Moderate |
Ordering of Sentences (Para Jumbles) | 10 | Moderate |
Sentence Improvement / Correlation | 10 | Moderate |
Spotting Errors | 5 | Moderate |
Matching List (Word–Meaning) | 10 | Easy |
Reading Comprehension | 5 | Moderate |
CDS 1 GK Question Paper 2026 Out: Topic-Wise Weightage Analysis
Topic | Number of Questions (approx) | Difficulty Level |
History (Ancient + Medieval + Modern) | 22-25 | Moderate |
Miscellaneous / Static GK | 5-6 | Easy |
Geography (Indian + World) | 18-20 | Easy-Moderate |
Science (Physics + Chemistry + Biology) | 20-22 | Easy-Moderate |
Polity | 10-12 | Moderate |
Economy | 8-10 | Moderate |
Defence & Space | 5–7 | Moderate |
Current Affairs | 10-12 | Moderate |
CDS 1 Maths Question Paper 2026 Out: Topic-Wise Weightage Analysis
Topic | Number of Questions (approx) | Difficulty Level |
Arithmetic (Percentages, Time & Work, SI/CI, Ratio, Profit-Loss) | 28-32 | Easy-Moderate |
Mensuration (2D & 3D) | 10-12 | Moderate |
Algebra | 18-22 | Moderate |
Geometry | 15-18 | Moderate |
Trigonometry | 10-12 | Moderate |
Statistics | 4-6 | Easy |
Number System | 6-8 | Easy-Moderate |
CDS 1 2026 Answer Key
The unofficial CDS 1 2026 Answer Key has been released by MKC. As per the latest update, the official answer key will be released on April 16, 2026. Candidates can use the CDS answer keys to calculate the tentative score, accuracy level, and predict qualifying chances.
Importance of CDS 1 Question Paper 2026
The CDS 1 question paper 2026 is a crucial resource for current and future aspirants. Some of its benefits are:
- Improves familiarity with the latest exam pattern
- Provides clarity on topic-wise weightage
- Improves question-solving speed
- Helps recognise weak areas
- Useful for revision and mock practice
- Boosts accuracy and confidence
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