The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), serves as a critical gateway for aspiring candidates seeking entry into prestigious institutions such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). This national-level examination evaluates candidates’ aptitude in English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, aligning with the rigorous demands of defence services. The CDS 2 2025 edition, held recently, underscores the ongoing commitment to selecting disciplined and intellectually capable officers for the Indian Armed Forces.
Accessing original question papers from past examinations, including CDS 2 2025, is essential for aspirants. These papers provide insights into the exam’s structure, question types, and difficulty levels, enabling effective preparation for future attempts. Given the examination’s recency, obtaining authentic versions requires reliance on official and reputable sources to ensure accuracy.
Overview of CDS 2 2025 Examination
The UPSC released the notification for CDS 2 2025 on May 28, 2025, announcing 453 vacancies across various academies. The application window extended until June 20, 2025, with admit cards made available in August-September 2025. The written examination took place on September 14, 2025, in an offline, pen-and-paper mode across multiple shifts.
Exam Pattern and Subjects
The CDS examination for IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three papers:
- English: 120 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours duration.
- General Knowledge (GK): 120 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours duration.
- Elementary Mathematics: 100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours duration (applicable for IMA, INA, and AFA candidates).
For OTA candidates, only English and GK papers are required. The exam was conducted in three shifts: English from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, GK from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and Mathematics from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Negative marking applies at a rate of one-third for incorrect answers.
This structure tests candidates’ command over language, current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, science, and quantitative skills, reflecting the multifaceted requirements of defence personnel.
Availability of CDS 2 2025 Question Papers
As of September 16, 2025, the official question papers for CDS 2 2025 have not yet been released by UPSC, which typically uploads them to its website several weeks or months post-examination. In the interim, memory-based question papers (MBT) reconstructed by subject matter experts and coaching institutes from candidate recollections are widely available. These serve as near-original approximations and are valuable for immediate analysis.
Also Check: CDS 2 2025 Cut Off Marks Expected [Updated]
Distinguishing Original from Memory-Based Papers
- Original Papers: Issued directly by UPSC, these are verbatim reproductions of the exam booklet. They include exact wording, options, and diagrams, ensuring precision for practice.
- Memory-Based Papers: Compiled post-exam, these may vary slightly in phrasing but capture the essence of questions. They are not substitutes for official versions but prove instrumental for early review.
Aspirants are advised to prioritize official releases for long-term preparation while using MBT papers for short-term evaluation.
How to Download CDS 2 2025 Question Papers
Downloading question papers is straightforward through both official and secondary channels. Below is a step-by-step guide:
For Official UPSC Question Papers (When Available)
- Visit the UPSC official website: upsc.gov.in.
- Navigate to the “Examinations” tab and select “Previous Question Papers.”
- Filter by “Combined Defence Services” and locate “CDS Examination (II), 2025.”
- Download the subject-wise PDFs (English, GK, Mathematics) directly from the links provided.
UPSC also releases answer keys and cut-off marks alongside papers, facilitating self-assessment.
Ensure downloads from secure sites to avoid malware. For previous years’ official papers, the UPSC archive includes CDS papers from 2014 onward, aiding pattern recognition.
Subject-Wise Analysis of CDS 2 2025 Question Papers
Post-exam reviews indicate a moderate overall difficulty level, with variations across subjects. This analysis is derived from expert evaluations and candidate feedback.
English Paper
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate.
- Key Topics: Reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, error spotting, sentence rearrangement, and idioms.
- Good Attempts: 80-90 out of 120.
- Observations: The paper emphasized vocabulary and grammar fundamentals, with fewer tricky inferences compared to prior years. Questions were straightforward, favoring well-prepared candidates.
General Knowledge (GK) Paper
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, with some sections challenging.
- Key Topics: Current affairs (last 12-18 months), Indian history, geography, polity, economy, science, and defence-related events.
- Good Attempts: 60-70 out of 120.
- Observations: A surprise element in defence and international relations questions elevated the difficulty. Static GK dominated, but recent events like geopolitical developments tested awareness. Some candidates found it tougher than expected.
Elementary Mathematics Paper
- Difficulty Level: Moderate.
- Key Topics: Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, profit/loss), algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration, and statistics.
- Good Attempts: 50-60 out of 100.
- Observations: The paper balanced basic and application-based problems, with geometry and trigonometry sections proving time-intensive. Calculations were manageable without advanced calculus.
Overall, the exam favored consistent preparers, with an estimated cut-off of 100-120 marks for IMA/INA/AFA (varying by category). Response sheets and unofficial answer keys are already available on platforms like SSBCrackExams for score estimation.
Benefits of Reviewing CDS 2 2025 Question Papers
Engaging with these papers offers multifaceted advantages:
- Familiarity with Format: Understanding question distribution and marking schemes reduces exam-day anxiety.
- Time Management Practice: Simulating timed conditions hones speed and accuracy.
- Weakness Identification: Analyzing errors in solved papers targets specific topics for improvement.
- Trend Analysis: Comparing with prior years reveals evolving patterns, such as increased focus on analytical GK.
- Performance Benchmarking: Using answer keys to calculate scores aligns preparation with cut-off trends.
Aspirants preparing for CDS 1 2026 or other defence exams should integrate these papers into a structured revision plan, alongside mock tests.
Conclusion
The CDS 2 2025 question papers represent a vital resource for defence aspirants, encapsulating the examination’s intellectual and strategic demands. While official originals from UPSC are pending, memory-based versions from trusted educational portals provide immediate access for analysis and practice. By systematically reviewing these materials, candidates can enhance their readiness for future opportunities in the armed forces. For the latest updates, regularly monitor the UPSC website and authorized channels to secure authentic downloads upon release. This proactive approach not only bolsters academic proficiency but also instills the discipline essential for military service.
