CDS 2 Answer Key 2025: Download PDF Math & GK

The CDS 2 Answer Key 2025 will be released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after the completion of the entire selection process, which consists of the written exam, SSB interviews, and the declaration of the final result. The exam is scheduled to be held on 14 September 2025, and the official answer key is expected to be published in early 2026 on the UPSC website. The CDS 2 admit card is expected to be released few days before the exam. 

Candidates can visit our website, which is prepared after surveying multiple candidates who have given the exam. Several coaching institutes also release unofficial answer keys within a day or two of the exam to help candidates estimate their scores. These keys provide correct responses for English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics papers, and follow the same marking scheme as followed by the UPSC, which is of +1 for correct answers and –0.33 for incorrect ones, with no penalty for unattempted questions.

CDS 2 Answer Key 2025

The answer key for CDS 2 is released by UPSC after all the stages related to the recruitment are completed. Like others, UPSC does not release the answer key just after the exams are held; instead, it releases the answer key after the complete recruitment process is completed. It releases the answer key for the written exam, which was taken by it in the first stage of the process.

The answer key is displayed in the PDF format on the official website, and it consists of all the correct answers to the questions asked in the exam. It is very important for the candidates as it helps them in estimating their average scores. It should also be kept in mind that the UPSC does not allow candidates to raise any objection in the answer key or open any challenge window. If candidates still find any discrepancy in the answer key, they can contact the UPSC by emailing them at their official mailing address.

How to Download CDS 2 Answer Key 2025?

Candidates will be able to download the answer key by visiting the UPSC portal and follow the steps below:

Step 1: Head over to the official website of the UPSC https://upsc.gov.in/. 

Step 2: Find the tab for examination and click on it.

Step 3: On the examination tab, search for the answer key and click on the tab.

Step 4: Look out for the CDS 2 answer key.

Step 5: After clicking on it, the answer key PDF will be opened.

Step 6: Save the PDF on your computer and use it for matching with your responses.

CDS 2 Answer Key 2025 Release Date

CDS 2 Answer Key 2025 PDF Download Link

The CDS 2 answer key will be released officially by the UPSC once the recruitment cycle of 2025 is complete, after the release of the final results. Applicants can visit the official site of UPSC for downloading the answer key. The answer key for CDS previous years can be downloaded by visiting the following link.

CDS 2 Answer Key 2025 – Marking Scheme

The CDS 2 marking scheme same for all the academies. The exam consists of three subjects: English, GK, and mathematics. Candidates will get 1 mark for the correct answers, and there is negative marking for very incorrect answers. No deductions will be made for the unattempted questions. The marking scheme of the exam is mentioned below. 

Marking Scheme for CDS 2 2025

Steps to Calculate Marks from the CDS 2 Answer Key

Step 1: Download the correct answer key for your question paper set (A, B, C, or D) from the UPSC website or a trusted coaching institute.

Step 2: Match your responses with the official answers for each subject: English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics (only for IMA, INA, AFA).

Step 3: Count the number of correct answers and multiply by 1 

(each correct answer = +1 mark).

Count the number of incorrect answers and multiply by 0.33

(each wrong answer = –0.33 mark).

Apply the formula: 

Total Score = (Correct × 1) – (Incorrect × 0.33). No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.

For Example: 

• English:
• Correct: 65
• Incorrect: 20
• Unattempted: 15
• General Knowledge:
• Correct: 50
• Incorrect: 30
• Unattempted: 20
• Mathematics:
• Correct: 40
• Incorrect: 35
• Unattempted: 25

Step-by-step Calculation:

English: Score = (65 × 1) – (20 × 0.33) = 65 – 6.6 = 58.4

General Knowledge: Score = (50 × 1) – (30 × 0.33) = 50 – 9.9 = 40.1

Mathematics: Score = (40 × 1) – (35 × 0.33) = 40 – 11.55 = 28.45

Total Score (Out of 300) = 58.4 + 40.1 + 28.45 = 126.95