UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 Released: Download Maths, GAT, English, GK Keys and Calculate Scores

UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026: The Union Public Service Commission has released provisional answer keys for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II) 2026 and Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026.

Both examinations were conducted on September 13, 2026. Candidates can now use the provisional keys to compare their responses and estimate their performance before the subsequent stages of the examination process.

For NDA and NA (II), separate provisional answer-key documents are available for Mathematics and the General Ability Test.

CDS (II) candidates should check the applicable answer-key papers according to the academy for which they appeared, including English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics where applicable.

UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026: Highlights

Particulars	Details
Examination	NDA & NA II 2026 and CDS II 2026
Conducting authority	Union Public Service Commission
Exam date	September 13, 2026
NDA answer key	Provisional key released
CDS answer key	Provisional key released
NDA Mathematics key	Available
NDA GAT key	Available
Answer-key type	Provisional

How to Check UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key

Open the UPSC examination portal.
Go to the latest examination updates or answer-key section.
Select National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026.
Open the Provisional Answer Key.
Select Mathematics or General Ability Test.
Match the applicable question-paper series carefully.
Compare your responses.

NDA 2 Mathematics Answer Key

The Mathematics provisional answer key allows NDA candidates to compare their responses to the Mathematics paper.

Candidates should make sure they are matching answers against the correct paper/set information before calculating an estimated score.

NDA 2 GAT Answer Key

The General Ability Test answer key covers the NDA GAT paper.

GAT is a major component of the NDA written examination and includes English and General Knowledge-related content under the prescribed examination scheme.

How to Check CDS 2 Answer Key

Open the UPSC website.
Go to the provisional answer-key update for CDS Examination (II), 2026.
Select the relevant subject.
Open the answer-key document.
Identify the applicable set.
Compare the official provisional answers with your responses.

CDS 2 Papers

The papers applicable to a CDS candidate depend on the academy.

For admission to IMA, INA and AFA, the written examination includes:

English.
General Knowledge.
Elementary Mathematics.

For OTA, the written examination includes:

English.
General Knowledge.

NDA vs CDS

NDA	CDS
Entry route after senior-secondary stage under applicable eligibility	Graduate-level defence entry examination
NDA and Naval Academy pathways	IMA, INA, AFA and OTA pathways
Mathematics + GAT written papers	Paper combination varies by academy

How to Calculate NDA 2 Expected Score

Candidates should use the official examination marking scheme rather than simply counting correct answers.

The NDA written examination carries:

Paper	Maximum Marks
Mathematics	300
General Ability Test	600
Total Written Marks	900

Because incorrect answers attract negative marking under the examination scheme, estimated scores should account for both correct and incorrect responses.

NDA Negative Marking

UPSC uses negative marking for incorrect objective responses.

Candidates should calculate their estimated marks according to the actual paper instructions rather than using an arbitrary one-mark deduction.

How to Calculate CDS 2 Score

CDS candidates should:

Count correct responses.
Count incorrect responses.
Apply the prescribed marks for correct answers.
Apply the applicable negative marking.
Calculate the subject-wise estimated score.
Add the applicable papers for an estimated written total.

What Is a Provisional Answer Key?

A provisional answer key is an initial official key published before the examination process reaches its final answer-key stage.

Candidates should therefore distinguish it from a final answer key.

Provisional vs Final Answer Key

Provisional Key	Final Key
Initial official answer key	Finalized answer key
Published before finalization	Reflects final accepted answers
Can be subject to the prescribed representation process	Used as the final answer reference

Can Candidates Challenge the Answer Key?

Candidates should follow the representation instructions and deadline issued by UPSC for the provisional answer keys. A challenge or representation should be submitted only through the prescribed mechanism and within the specified period.

What If My Answer Differs From the Key?

First confirm:

Correct examination.
Correct subject.
Correct question-paper set.
Correct question number.
Correct provisional-key document.

If a genuine discrepancy remains, follow the applicable UPSC representation procedure.

NDA 2 Result 2026

The answer-key release and written result are separate events. Candidates should wait for the UPSC written-result notice rather than treating an estimated score as qualification.

CDS 2 Result 2026

Similarly, CDS candidates must wait for the official written result to determine whether they have progressed to the next stage.

Expected Cut-Off vs Official Cut-Off

Expected cut-offs published before the official result or final examination data are estimates.

They should not be presented as UPSC's official cut-off.

NDA Written Cut-Off

The NDA written cut-off can vary from examination to examination according to candidate performance, paper difficulty, vacancies and other relevant factors.

Candidates may also need to satisfy applicable minimum standards in individual papers under the examination rules.

CDS Cut-Off

CDS cut-offs differ by academy.

The cut-off for:

Indian Military Academy.
Indian Naval Academy.
Air Force Academy.
Officers' Training Academy.

should therefore not be treated as one universal score.

What Happens After NDA Written Qualification?

Candidates who qualify the written stage proceed according to the defence-selection process, including the applicable Services Selection Board stages and subsequent eligibility requirements.

SSB Interview

The SSB process evaluates officer-like qualities through a multi-stage selection system.

Preparation can involve:

Psychological testing.
Group tasks.
Interview preparation.
Communication skills.
General awareness.
Self-awareness.

NDA Final Selection

Final selection is not based only on the written examination.

Candidates must satisfy the subsequent selection, medical, eligibility and merit requirements applicable to the entry.

CDS Selection Process

CDS selection similarly continues beyond the written examination through the applicable SSB and medical stages before final merit and academy admission.

NDA 2 Answer Key FAQs

Is NDA 2 answer key 2026 released?

Yes. UPSC has published the provisional answer key.

Which NDA papers have answer keys?

Mathematics and General Ability Test.

When was NDA 2 held?

September 13, 2026.

Is the answer key final?

No. It is identified by UPSC as a provisional answer key.

Does the answer key confirm qualification?

No. Candidates must wait for the official written result.

CDS 2 Answer Key FAQs

Is CDS 2 answer key 2026 released?

Yes. UPSC currently lists the provisional answer key for CDS Examination (II), 2026.

When was CDS 2 conducted?

September 13, 2026.

Do OTA candidates take Elementary Mathematics?

No. The OTA written scheme uses English and General Knowledge.

Do IMA candidates take Mathematics?

The IMA written scheme includes English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics.

Can an estimated score guarantee SSB selection?

No. Only the official written result establishes progression from the written stage.

UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026: Final Update

UPSC has now published provisional answer keys for both major September 13 defence examinations. NDA candidates can check Mathematics and GAT answers, while CDS candidates should use the subject keys applicable to their academy.

Candidates should calculate scores carefully using the official marking scheme and correct question-paper set. An estimated score can help assess performance, but it is not a result. The official written-result notices will determine which candidates proceed to the next stage.

UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026 Released: Download Maths, GAT, English, GK Keys and Calculate Scores

For NDA and NA (II), separate provisional answer-key documents are available for Mathematics and the General Ability Test.

CDS (II) candidates should check the applicable answer-key papers according to the academy for which they appeared, including English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics where applicable.

UPSC NDA and CDS 2 Answer Key 2026: Highlights

Particulars	Details
Examination	NDA & NA II 2026 and CDS II 2026
Conducting authority	Union Public Service Commission
Exam date	September 13, 2026
NDA answer key	Provisional key released
CDS answer key	Provisional key released
NDA Mathematics key	Available
NDA GAT key	Available
Answer-key type	Provisional

How to Check UPSC NDA 2 Answer Key

Open the UPSC examination portal.
Go to the latest examination updates or answer-key section.
Select National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026.
Open the Provisional Answer Key.
Select Mathematics or General Ability Test.
Match the applicable question-paper series carefully.
Compare your responses.

NDA 2 Mathematics Answer Key

The Mathematics provisional answer key allows NDA candidates to compare their responses to the Mathematics paper.

Candidates should make sure they are matching answers against the correct paper/set information before calculating an estimated score.

NDA 2 GAT Answer Key

The General Ability Test answer key covers the NDA GAT paper.

GAT is a major component of the NDA written examination and includes English and General Knowledge-related content under the prescribed examination scheme.

How to Check CDS 2 Answer Key

Open the UPSC website.
Go to the provisional answer-key update for CDS Examination (II), 2026.
Select the relevant subject.
Open the answer-key document.
Identify the applicable set.
Compare the official provisional answers with your responses.

CDS 2 Papers

The papers applicable to a CDS candidate depend on the academy.

For admission to IMA, INA and AFA, the written examination includes:

English.
General Knowledge.
Elementary Mathematics.

For OTA, the written examination includes:

English.
General Knowledge.

NDA vs CDS

NDA	CDS
Entry route after senior-secondary stage under applicable eligibility	Graduate-level defence entry examination
NDA and Naval Academy pathways	IMA, INA, AFA and OTA pathways
Mathematics + GAT written papers	Paper combination varies by academy

How to Calculate NDA 2 Expected Score

Candidates should use the official examination marking scheme rather than simply counting correct answers.

The NDA written examination carries:

Paper	Maximum Marks
Mathematics	300
General Ability Test	600
Total Written Marks	900

Because incorrect answers attract negative marking under the examination scheme, estimated scores should account for both correct and incorrect responses.

NDA Negative Marking

UPSC uses negative marking for incorrect objective responses.

Candidates should calculate their estimated marks according to the actual paper instructions rather than using an arbitrary one-mark deduction.

How to Calculate CDS 2 Score

CDS candidates should:

Count correct responses.
Count incorrect responses.
Apply the prescribed marks for correct answers.
Apply the applicable negative marking.
Calculate the subject-wise estimated score.
Add the applicable papers for an estimated written total.

What Is a Provisional Answer Key?

A provisional answer key is an initial official key published before the examination process reaches its final answer-key stage.

Candidates should therefore distinguish it from a final answer key.

Provisional vs Final Answer Key

Provisional Key	Final Key
Initial official answer key	Finalized answer key
Published before finalization	Reflects final accepted answers
Can be subject to the prescribed representation process	Used as the final answer reference

Can Candidates Challenge the Answer Key?

What If My Answer Differs From the Key?

First confirm:

Correct examination.
Correct subject.
Correct question-paper set.
Correct question number.
Correct provisional-key document.

If a genuine discrepancy remains, follow the applicable UPSC representation procedure.

NDA 2 Result 2026

The answer-key release and written result are separate events. Candidates should wait for the UPSC written-result notice rather than treating an estimated score as qualification.

CDS 2 Result 2026

Similarly, CDS candidates must wait for the official written result to determine whether they have progressed to the next stage.

Expected Cut-Off vs Official Cut-Off

Expected cut-offs published before the official result or final examination data are estimates.

They should not be presented as UPSC's official cut-off.

NDA Written Cut-Off

The NDA written cut-off can vary from examination to examination according to candidate performance, paper difficulty, vacancies and other relevant factors.

Candidates may also need to satisfy applicable minimum standards in individual papers under the examination rules.

CDS Cut-Off

CDS cut-offs differ by academy.

The cut-off for:

Indian Military Academy.
Indian Naval Academy.
Air Force Academy.
Officers' Training Academy.

should therefore not be treated as one universal score.

What Happens After NDA Written Qualification?

Candidates who qualify the written stage proceed according to the defence-selection process, including the applicable Services Selection Board stages and subsequent eligibility requirements.

SSB Interview

The SSB process evaluates officer-like qualities through a multi-stage selection system.

Preparation can involve:

Psychological testing.
Group tasks.
Interview preparation.
Communication skills.
General awareness.
Self-awareness.

NDA Final Selection

Final selection is not based only on the written examination.

Candidates must satisfy the subsequent selection, medical, eligibility and merit requirements applicable to the entry.

CDS Selection Process

CDS selection similarly continues beyond the written examination through the applicable SSB and medical stages before final merit and academy admission.