UPSC CDS 2 Answer Key 2025

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam II on September 14, 2025. After the recruitment cycle is complete, UPSC will release the official CDS 2 2025 answer key PDFs on its official website. These will be published subject-wise (English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics) in different sets.

Meanwhile, top coaching institutes like KGS Defence have already released CDS 2 answer keys to help candidates check responses and get an estimated score. These provisional keys allow aspirants to analyze their performance before the official results are out.

CDS 2 2025 Exam Highlights

Details	Information
Exam Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	CDS (Combined Defence Services)
Frequency	Twice a Year
Exam Date	14 September 2025
Mode of Examination	Offline (Pen & Paper)
Subjects	English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics
Marks Distribution	English: 100, GK: 100, Maths: 100 (Total: 300 Marks)
Negative Marking	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer
Official Website	www.upsc.gov.in

Official CDS 2 2025 Answer Key

The official answer key of CDS 2 2025 will be uploaded on UPSC’s website only after the result declaration. Candidates can download the subject-wise solutions for English, GK, and Mathematics in PDF format.

Once available, the answer key will help candidates:

Cross-check responses
Calculate approximate marks
Predict whether they will clear the cut-off
Raise objections (if applicable, as per UPSC norms)

How to Download CDS 2 2025 Answer Key?

To download the UPSC CDS 2 2025 official answer key, candidates must follow these steps:

Visit the official UPSC website: www.upsc.gov.in
Go to the “Examinations” section.
Find the link for CDS 2 2025 Answer Key PDF.
Download the subject-wise PDF (English, GK, Mathematics).
Match your answers with the official key to evaluate your score.

Direct Link to Check & Download UPSC CDS 2 2025 Answer Key – Click Here

CDS 2 2025 Marking Scheme & Score Calculation

The CDS exam follows a negative marking system. The score is calculated using this formula:

CDS Score=C−0.33×W

CDS Score=C−0.33×W

Where:

C
C = Number of correct answers
W
W = Number of wrong answers

Key Points:

Each correct answer gives +1 mark.
Each wrong answer deducts 0.33 marks.
No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
Each section carries a maximum of 100 marks.

Example: If a candidate answered 70 questions correctly and 20 incorrectly, the score would be:

Marks=70−(0.33×20)=70−6.6=63.4
Marks=70−(0.33×20)=70−6.6=63.4

Importance of CDS 2 2025 Answer Key

The answer key is a valuable resource for candidates because it helps in:

Self-evaluation and score prediction
Assessing accuracy before result declaration
Analyzing subject-wise strengths and weaknesses
Estimating expected cut-off marks

What Happens After Answer Key Release?

After the release of answer keys, UPSC will publish the CDS 2 2025 result and merit list. Candidates who secure marks above the cut-off will be shortlisted for the SSB Interview Stage, which tests personality, leadership, and suitability for defence services.

The final merit list will be prepared based on written exam performance and the SSB Interview.