Summary: The CDS 2 2026 Expected Cut-Off is one of the most searched topics among candidates appearing for the Combined Defence Services Examination on 13 September 2026. After the examination, candidates will want to know whether their score is sufficient to qualify for the SSB stage.

UPSC has announced 451 vacancies for CDS 2 2026 across IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. UPSC will release the actual cutoff later, so the figures below are expected ranges based on previous cutoff trends, exam difficulty, and competition.

CDS 2 2026 Expected Cut-Off

Note: These are estimates, not the official CDS 2 2026 cutoff. The final cutoff may move depending on the paper's difficulty, vacancies, and candidate performance.

CDS 2 2026 Safe Score for IMA

For Indian Military Academy (IMA), candidates should aim for around 135 marks or higher to maintain a reasonable safety margin above the expected cutoff.

The IMA written examination is conducted for 300 marks, covering English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.

CDS 2 2026 Safe Score for INA

For Indian Naval Academy (INA), a score of around 125+ marks can be considered a safer target based on recent trends.

Candidates should not rely on the minimum expected cutoff and should aim considerably higher to account for variations in paper difficulty and competition.

CDS 2 2026 Safe Score for AFA

The Air Force Academy (AFA) generally has a comparatively higher written cutoff. Candidates should therefore target around 155+ marks out of 300.

Previous official cutoff data also shows AFA maintaining a higher written cutoff than IMA, INA and OTA. For example, the CDS 2 2024 written cutoff was 126 for AFA, compared with 117 for IMA and 90 for INA.

CDS 2 2026 Safe Score for OTA

OTA candidates appear for English and General Knowledge, making the written examination 200 marks.

A score of around 100+ marks can provide a reasonable safety margin if the paper remains within the expected difficulty range.

The previous CDS 2 2024 official written cutoff for OTA was 81 marks for both men and women.

Previous CDS Cut-Off Trend

The previous official CDS 2 cutoff provides a useful benchmark for estimating the 2026 range.

The official CDS 2 2024 figures show that the cutoff can vary substantially between academies and examination cycles.

What Score Should You Target in CDS 2 2026?

Instead of preparing around the expected cutoff, candidates should aim for a comfortable margin.

A higher score does not guarantee final selection because the CDS selection process also includes the SSB Interview, medical fitness, and final merit.

Factors Affecting CDS 2 Cut-Off

The final cutoff can change depending on:

• Difficulty level of the examination
• Number of candidates appearing
• Number of vacancies
• Overall candidate performance
• Academy-wise competition
• Previous cutoff trends

The written cutoff is therefore different from the final cutoff, which is based on the combined selection process.

CDS 2 2026 Cut-Off: What After the Exam?

After the CDS 2 examination on 13 September 2026, candidates should calculate their expected marks using the answer key and compare them with the expected cutoff.

Candidates scoring around or above the safe-score range should start preparing for the SSB Interview without waiting for the written result.

The official CDS 2 2026 cutoff will be available only after UPSC completes the relevant result process.

Conclusion

The CDS 2 Expected Cut-Off 2026 can help candidates evaluate their performance after the examination. However, candidates should target a score comfortably above the expected cutoff rather than aiming for the minimum qualifying marks.