The Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 Examination 2026 has been successfully conducted on 12th April 2026 (Sunday) across various exam centres in the country. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now check the CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 and download the official paper PDF. In this article, we have provided the CDS 1 2026 Question Paper PDF, exam pattern, and key details to help candidates analyze their performance.
CDS 1 Question Paper 2026 Out
Based on students feedback and our expert team’s analysis, we provide the paper PDF as per the CDS 1 question paper, for the exam conducted on 12th April 2026. The official paper is very useful for candidates preparing for upcoming defence exams or to understand the latest exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked. Candidates who will clear the written exam will move to the Interview stage.
CDS 1 Question Paper 2026: Overview
Before we dive into the paper PDF, refer to the table below for key updates and information:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | CDS 1 Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Exam Date | 12th April 2026 (Sunday) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted for wrong answer |
| Duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Papers | English, General Knowledge, Mathematics |
CDS 1 Question Paper 2026: Official PDF Download
Candidates can download the question paper for the CDS 1 exam, conducted on 12th April, from below:
CDS 1 Exam Pattern 2026
The exam pattern varies depending on the academy applied for:
For Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy & Air Force Academy
| S. No. | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English | 120 | 2 hours |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 120 | 2 hours |
| 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
For Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)
| S. No. | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English | 100 | 2 hours |
| 2 | General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
Importance of CDS Question Papers
Question papers are very important for candidates preparing for future defence exams:
- Help understand the latest exam trends
- Provide real exam-level questions for practice
- Assist in analyzing strengths and weaknesses
- Useful for revising important topics



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