UPSC CDS 1 answer key 2026 released at upsc.gov.in. Check details

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the CDS 1 2026 answer keys on its official website, upsc.gov.in, bringing relief and clarity to thousands of aspirants who appeared for the exam. Candidates can now download the answer key PDFs for all three subjects — English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics — and evaluate their performance.

The answer keys have been published for all paper sets, including A, B, C, and D, allowing candidates to match their responses accurately. By comparing their answers with the official keys, candidates can calculate their expected scores and get a fair idea of their chances before the final result is announced.

The UPSC CDS 1 2026 examination was conducted on April 12, 2026, across multiple exam centres nationwide. The recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 451 vacancies in top defence training institutes such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Training Academy (OTA).


The exam was held in three separate sessions on the same day. The English paper took place from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by the General Knowledge paper from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and finally the Elementary Mathematics paper from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Each paper consisted of objective-type multiple-choice questions and carried a duration of two hours, with the total exam accounting for 300 marks.

The answer key PDFs not only include the correct answers but also mention the question paper set codes (A, B, C, D) and subject-wise solutions. This helps candidates conduct a detailed self-assessment.

Steps to Download UPSC CDS 1 Answer Key 2026

Candidates can follow these simple steps to access the answer keys:

Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
Navigate to the “What’s New” or “Examinations” section
Click on the link titled “CDS 1 Answer Key 2026”
Choose the relevant subject and paper set
Download the PDF and check your answers

With the answer keys now available, candidates are advised to keep an eye on the official website for further updates, as the UPSC CDS 1 2026 result is expected to be declared soon.