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The Combined Defence Services exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC. These exams are held to shortlist promising and eligible candidates for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, and Officer’s Training Academy. The commission has announced the 2023 CDS examination dates. The CDS 1 examination will be conducted on 6th April 2023. The official notification for the same will be released on 21st December 2022.
CDS Exam Cut Off 2022
A candidate must score the cut-off marks to be shortlisted for the next phase of the recruitment process. The CDS Exam Cut Off marks differ every year owing to various factors. The Cut-off is decided by considering different factors – candidates taking the exam, availability of seats, difficulty level of question paper, and others.
CDS 2022 Cut Off Dates
| Events | Dates |
| CDS 1 examination | 6th April 2023 |
| Announcement of cut off marks | Sometime in May 2023 (tentative) |
How to Check the CDS Exam Cut Off?
The Exam Commission will upload the CDS Exam Cut Off marks on their website after the exam process is over. The below-given steps will help you download the cut-off marks:
Step 1: Open the commission’s official website https://www.upsc.gov.in/
Step 2: On the homepage select the Examination tab
Step 3: Click on the link for CDS Cut-Off Marks.
Step 4: The different Cut-off links will be available on that page. Click on the cut-off you wish to check
Step 5: The cut-off will be visible on your screen
Step 6: Click on download and save it
CDS Expected Cut-off 2022
| Academy | Written Examination | Final Examination |
| IMA | 120-130 | 245-255 |
| INA | 105-120 | 233-245 |
| AFA | 145-150 | 268-270 |
| OTA – Men | 73-85 | 162-170 |
| OTA – Women | 74-85 | 164-170 |
Factors Influencing the CDS Exam Cut Off
CDS shortlists candidates according to their performance in the written examination followed by a five-day Psychological & Physical test in the three SSB’s in the country. The following factors are considered when deciding on the CDS Exam Cut Off
- Number of seats
- Number of Candidates sitting for the exam
- Difficulty Level of the Exam
- Previous years’ cut-offs
CDS Cut Off for Written Exam
- Candidates must attain the minimum qualifying marks in each subject that is 20%
- Candidates are required to secure the minimum aggregate cut-off marks to qualify the written exam
- Candidates who qualify the written examination are sent for the SSB Round.
CDS Cut Off for SSB Interview
SSB Interview is held for the candidates who clear the written examination.
The SSB interview is a 2-stage selection process.
- Stage 1: Officer Intelligence Rating tests and Picture Perception Description Test
- Stage 2: Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference
To qualify for the SSB Interview, candidates must attain the minimum qualifying marks.
CDS Cut Off for the Final Selection
- The Final cut-off is decided after considering the written exam result and the Interview marks.
- It is decided based on the marks scored by the last recommended candidates.
Previous Years’ CDS Cut Off Marks
- CDS 1 Cut-off 2021
| Academy | Written examination – Minimum qualifying marks for each Subject | Written Examination – Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Final Exam – Marks of last recommended candidate |
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 145 | 268 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 136 | 260 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 158 | 281 |
| OTA – Men | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 107 | 189 |
| OTA – Women | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 107 | 191 |
- CDS 2 Cut off 2021
| Academy | Written Result Minimum qualifying marks for each Subject | Written Result Minimum aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Final Result Marks of last recommended candidate |
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 138 marks (i.e., 46 percent) | 263 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 132 marks (i.e., 44 percent) | 256 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 148 marks (i.e., 49.33 percent) | 270 |
| OTA – Men | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 102 marks (i.e., 51 percent) | 183 |
| OTA – Women | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 102 marks (i.e., 51 percent) | 184 |
- CDS 1 Cut-Off 2020
| Academy | Written examination – Minimum qualifying marks for each Subject | Written Examination – Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Final Exam – Marks of last recommended candidate |
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 130 | 250 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 118 | 242 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 143 | 274 |
| OTA – Men | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 93 | 173 |
| OTA – Women | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 93 | 177 |
- CDS 2 Official Cut off 2019
| Academy | Written examination – Minimum qualifying marks for each Subject | Written Examination – Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Final Exam – Marks of last recommended candidate |
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 134 marks (i.e., 44.67 percent) | 258 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 122 marks (i.e., 40.67 percent) | 245 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 148 marks (i.e., 49.33 percent) | 272 |
| OTA – Men | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 95 marks (i.e., 47.5 percent) | 176 |
| OTA – Women | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 95 marks (i.e., 47.5 percent) | 179 |
- CDS 1 Official Cut off 2019
| Academy | Written examination – Minimum qualifying marks for each Subject | Written Examination – Aggregate marks of last qualified candidate | Final Exam – Marks of last recommended candidate |
| IMA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 116 | 242 |
| INA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 105 | 233 |
| AFA | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 129 | 264 |
| OTA – Men | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 78 | 160 |
| OTA – Women | 20 marks (i.e., 20 percent) | 78 | 162 |
Conclusion:
If you wish to take the CDS examination, the CDS Exam Cut Off will be helpful to you in preparing for the written exam. Since the cut-off will be issued after the exam, you must depend on the previous year’s cut-off to decide on a target and study accordingly. Start preparing earnestly for the examination. You will succeed.
