CDS 2 Previous Year Cutoff: The CDS 2 written cutoff is an important benchmark for candidates preparing for the Combined Defence Services Examination. It helps aspirants understand the minimum marks required to qualify for the SSB interview and assess how their preparation and expected score compare with previous years.

CDS 2 Written Cutoff 2025: Previous Year 

The Union Public Service Commission releases the official cutoff after the examination process is completed. The cutoff is different for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA, as the written examination marks vary for OTA and the other academies.

According to the official UPSC cutoff, candidates had to secure at least 20% marks in each subject. The academy-wise written cutoffs were:

The AFA cutoff was the highest at 132.51 marks, while the lowest written cutoff was 80.01 marks for OTA Men. 

CDS 2 Written Cutoff 2024: Previous Year

For CDS 2 2024, UPSC recorded the following written cutoff marks:

The minimum qualifying marks in each subject were 20%. 

What Does the CDS 2 Previous Year Cutoff Mean?

The previous-year cutoff should be used as a reference point rather than a guaranteed target. The cutoff can change every year depending on factors such as:

• Difficulty level of the examination
• Number of candidates appearing
• Number of vacancies
• Overall performance of candidates
• Number of candidates qualifying for the next stage

Therefore, candidates should avoid preparing only around the previous cutoff. A score comfortably above the previous-year cutoff provides a better margin.

CDS 2 Written Cutoff and SSB Qualification

Candidates who qualify the CDS written examination become eligible for the next stage of the selection process, subject to fulfilling the prescribed eligibility conditions.

For CDS 2 2025, UPSC declared the written result on 9 October 2025. The result shortlisted candidates for the SSB process for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA courses. 

It is important to remember that clearing the written cutoff does not mean final selection. Candidates must subsequently qualify the SSB interview and meet the required medical and other eligibility conditions.

Why Should Candidates Check Previous Year CDS Cutoff?

Checking the CDS 2 previous year cutoff helps candidates:

• Set a realistic score target.
• Evaluate their preparation level.
• Understand academy-wise competition.
• Estimate their chances after the examination.
• Plan their revision and mock-test strategy.

Candidates can also compare their expected marks with both the 2024 and 2025 cutoffs instead of relying on a single year's data.

CDS 2 Cutoff: Important Points

• The CDS cutoff is released separately for IMA, INA, AFA and OTA.
• IMA, INA and AFA have a 300-mark written examination.
• OTA has a 200-mark written examination.
• UPSC specifies minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects.
• Written cutoff marks are different from the final cutoff.
• Final selection depends on the written examination, SSB performance and other applicable selection requirements.
• Previous-year cutoffs can help with score planning but cannot predict the next cutoff exactly.