CDS PYQ PDF – Download CDS Previous Year Papers (Last 10 Years)

CDS Previous Year Question Papers: Prepare for UPSC CDS 1 & CDS 2 Exams with CDS Previous Year Question Paper PDFs. Download UPSC CDS Previous Year Paper PDFs through this page. The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for entry into the Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and Officers Training Academy. Candidates appearing for the CDS Exam are advised to practice CDS Previous Year Question Papers more than once to perform well in the final examination.

CDS Previous Year Question Papers PDF – Download CDS PYQ (Last 10 Years for IMA, OTA & AFA)

Aspirants preparing for the CDS exam often seek guidance and resources to enhance their preparation. Previous year's question papers are invaluable study materials for the CDS 2025 Exam, providing detailed information about the CDS Exam Pattern, types of questions, and difficulty level. Reviewing and practicing with these papers can help candidates familiarize themselves with the exam format, identify repetitive topics, and refine their time management and problem-solving skills.

Download CDS PYQ Last 10 Years

Understanding the question pattern of the Combined Defence Service Examination is essential to clear the CDS Cutoff of the written exam. The most effective and pertinent method to familiarise oneself with the UPSC CDS Exams is studying the previous year's question papers. During the initial phase of CDS preparation, these papers help understand the types and difficulty levels of questions. Additionally, during the revision stage, candidates can polish their preparation level by revisiting the CDS Previous Year Question Papers. Physics Wallah is providing you with CDS Previous Year Questions Papers of the last 10 years to help you with your preparation and become a helping hand in this crucial stage.

CDS Previous Year Question Papers PDF (Last 10 Years)

The Combined Defence Service Exam (CDS) is held 2 times in a year to fill various vacancies for competent officers in the IAF, IMA, INA, and OTA. With the announcement of CDS 1 2025 Exam Dates set for April 13, 2025, aspirants must start their preparation to secure good marks in the CDS Exam. Practicing CDS Previous Year Question Papers significantly helps in enhancing your preparation for the written examination. In recent years, the CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam has seen some subtle changes in the type of questions asked, particularly in the General Knowledge and English sections. The exam has increasingly focused on current affairs, with a noticeable emphasis on national and international events, defense-related updates, and governmental policies.
 
In the English section, there has been a shift toward more comprehension-based questions, with passages requiring a deeper understanding of context and vocabulary. Meanwhile, in the Mathematics section, the level of difficulty has remained consistent, but candidates have observed that questions demand more logical reasoning and quick calculations. These changes reflect the evolving nature of the examination, which now not only tests theoretical knowledge but also practical awareness and problem-solving skills.

CDS PYQ PDF – Subject-Wise Download

In the following table, we have provided subject-wise CDS Previous Year Question Paper PDFs with year-wise links for your convenience. Download the CDS Previous Year Question Papers and Start preparing for the upcoming UPSC CDS Exams.

CDS OTA Previous Year Question Papers PDF

If you are aiming for the Officers Training Academy (OTA), your exam pattern is slightly different. This is a very important point to remember.

• No Mathematics: OTA candidates (both male and female) do not have to appear for the Elementary Mathematics paper.  

• Only Two Papers: You only take the English and General Knowledge papers.  

• Total Marks: The total written marks for OTA are 200 (100 for English + 100 for GK).  

The good news is that the English and General Knowledge papers are exactly the same for OTA and all other academies (IMA, AFA, INA). You can download the PDFs from the main table above and ignore the Maths papers.  

The Catch: Because you skip Maths (a high-scoring, predictable subject), your cutoff percentage is often higher than IMA/AFA. This means you must aim for top scores in English and GK.  

CDS General Knowledge PYQ PDF

Practicing General Knowledge questions plays a huge role in the preparation of the CDS Examination as it carries a weightage of 100 marks. The General Knowledge section comprises 120 questions, and candidates are allotted 2 hours to attempt it. Success in this segment can significantly impact your chances of selection. To enhance your General Knowledge preparation and increase your likelihood of excelling in the CDS 1 2025 Examination, we offer CDS GK Previous Year Papers in the above table. Please download from there and start practicing now.

Download Combined CDS Previous Year Question Papers PDF (All Subjects)

CDS English PYQ & Question Papers

The English section in the CDS Exam holds a weightage of 100 marks and allows candidates a time limit of 2 hours. This section is important to get selection in any of the military academies: IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. It is crucial not to overlook this section, as it is essential for all students preparing for the exam. Physics Wallah offer CDS English Previous Year Papers in the above table. Please download from there and start practicing now.

CDS Maths PYQ & Previous Year Papers

CDS Mathematics Section is constructed around topics from Class 10th, 11th, and 12th Mathematics. While the questions in this section may be challenging and intricate, they offer the opportunity to score full marks with high accuracy. To excel in this section of the CDS exam, it is advisable to attempt and thoroughly analyze the previous year's papers provided by Physicswallah. By doing so, you can aim for the highest possible score in the Mathematics Section. Download and Attempt Now! from the table provided above.

CDS PYQ with Solutions & Books PDF

To boost your CDS preparation, it’s essential to practice previous year question papers along with verified solutions and trusted reference books. We’ve provided the CDS PYQ with Solutions PDF and the recommended CDS preparation books link below — helping you analyze exam trends, improve accuracy, and strengthen your concepts for the upcoming CDS 2025 exam.

Download CDS PYQ with Solutions PDF: Check Recommended Books Here

Why You Need Solutions Now

The UPSC has a custom of releasing the official answer key after declaring the final results. This takes a couple of months, and one cannot be patient enough. 

With that, an aspirant must assess his performance using unofficial answer keys or solutions of coaching institutes. 

These unofficial sources give instant access to scoring one's performance. They help you to get into SSB fast. 

CDS PYQ Books 

Almost all publishing houses compile previous year question papers from the last 10 years. These books help in many ways: 

• Organizing Everything: They bring together 60+ question papers.

• Giving Solutions: They have elaborate expert-verified solutions for Maths and GK.

• Saving Time: No need to download 60 individual PDFs. 

If you prefer to have a physical book to mark and practice, buying a PYQ compilation book is a good idea. It saves you hassle and has pre-prepared solutions.

CDS PYQ Topic-Wise Analysis (English, GK, Maths)

This table shows you where UPSC puts its focus. Use this to plan your preparation time wisely. Topics that are "Moderate to Difficult" need more practice time.

CDS PYQ PDF for IMA, AFA, and INA

If joining the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Air Force Academy (AFA) or the Indian Naval Academy(ANA) is your ultimate dream, you will have a paper for each of the three subjects, namely: English (120 Questions), General Knowledge (120 Questions), and Elementary Mathematics (100 Questions) jointly carrying 300 marks for written examination.   

Key Takeaway: The papers for IMA, AFA, and INA are the same. So basically, you need to download just one set of papers having English, GK, and Maths for all three academies.   

The only difference lies in the cutoff marks. AFA usually has the highest written cutoff, after which it is IMA, and INA comes next. Your practice marks must coincide with the cutoff of the academy of your choice.

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