CDS GK Question Paper 2026 with Answer Key PDF: CDS 1 & CDS 2 Previous Year Papers
General Knowledge is often called the most unpredictable of the three CDS papers, since it pulls questions from History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science, Current Affairs, Defence and Sports. All CDS 1 and CDS 2 candidates, whether they apply for IMA, INA, AFA or OTA, must clear this paper. The paper carries 100 marks with 100 objective questions to be solved in two hours. Year wise papers for CDS 2026 and older cycles are listed below.
CDS General Knowledge Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
CDS General Knowledge Exam Pattern
CDS 2026 General Knowledge paper follows a pattern UPSC has not touched for years. Reading the exam pattern once before opening a past paper helps candidates plan how many questions to guess and how many to leave, since the negative marking bites hardest in this paper due to the wide subject range.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline, pen and paper with an OMR sheet |
| Question Type | Objective multiple choice, four options each |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 (one mark for each question) |
| Time Allowed | 2 Hours |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted for every wrong answer |
| Language of Paper | English and Hindi (bilingual) |
| Applicable For | IMA, INA, AFA and OTA candidates |
CDS General Knowledge Topic-wise Weightage 2026
CDS 2026 aspirants should give more study hours to subjects that carry higher weightage in the paper, since 100 questions leave no room to prepare every subject with equal depth. The weightage below is drawn from the last five CDS 1 and CDS 2 papers and gives a fair idea of how UPSC splits the paper.
| Subject | Approx. Questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 20 to 25 | 20 to 25 % |
| History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Freedom Struggle) | 15 to 20 | 15 to 20 % |
| Geography (Indian and World) | 15 to 20 | 15 to 20 % |
| Current Affairs | 15 to 20 | 15 to 20 % |
| Polity and Constitution | 10 to 15 | 10 to 15 % |
| Economy | 8 to 12 | 8 to 12 % |
| Defence | 4 to 6 | 4 to 6 % |
| Sports | 3 to 5 | 3 to 5 % |
CDS General Knowledge Frequently Asked Question Types
CDS aspirants going through old CDS 1 and CDS 2 papers will notice that a small set of question types repeats across every subject in the syllabus. Grouping the question types subject by subject makes revision faster, since candidates can target the exact areas UPSC keeps coming back to.
History
- Freedom Struggle personalities, sessions of Congress, and major movements.
- Governor Generals, Viceroys, and their key acts or reforms.
- Match the following on Ancient India dynasties and their capitals.
Geography
- Rivers, tributaries, and dams built on them.
- Mountain passes and their locations.
- Ocean currents, wind systems, and cyclone naming.
Polity
- Article numbers linked with Fundamental Rights, DPSP, and Fundamental Duties.
- Constitutional Amendments and what they changed.
- Powers and functions of the President, Governor, and Election Commission.
Economy
- Budget terms, taxation slabs, and Finance Commission recommendations.
- RBI monetary policy tools and repo, reverse repo, CRR, SLR.
Science
- Human body systems, vitamins, and common diseases.
- Units of physical quantities and simple laws (Newton, Ohm, Boyle).
- Chemical formulas, common compounds, and their everyday uses.
Current Affairs, Defence and Sports
- New defence exercises, missile launches, and ship or aircraft inductions.
- International summits India attended and their host cities.
- Sports tournament winners, venues, and captains.
General Knowledge is built brick by brick, not in a week. A candidate who reads a newspaper daily, keeps monthly current affairs notes short, and revises static subjects on a fixed weekly cycle will beat someone who tries to cram in the final month. Adding CDS General Knowledge previous year papers once a week and full length mock tests every fortnight rounds off the preparation, since the papers show which static topics keep coming back and the mocks train the guessing instinct that keeps the negative marking under control.
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| CDS Application Process | CDS Answer Key | CDS Selection Process |
| CDS Eligibility | CDS Cutoff | CDS Salary |
CDS General Knowledge Previous Year Question Papers FAQs
Ques: How many months of Current Affairs should a candidate cover for CDS General Knowledge?
Ans: Six to eight months before the exam date is a safe window. For CDS 1 held in April, cover events from August to March. For CDS 2 held in September, cover January to August.
Ques: Which single book covers most of the CDS General Knowledge syllabus?
Ans: Lucent's General Knowledge is the standard single book choice. Candidates usually add Manorama Yearbook for updated static data and a monthly current affairs magazine for events.
Ques: Is Static General Knowledge more important than Current Affairs in CDS?
Ans: Yes. Roughly 75 to 80 percent of the paper comes from static subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy and Science. Current Affairs adds about 15 to 20 questions, so both matter but static gives the base.
Ques: Are Defence and Sports questions in CDS General Knowledge predictable?
Ans: To a large extent, yes. Questions come from recent defence exercises, missile tests, top brass appointments, major tournament winners, and hosting cities. A short two page note on each covers the section.
Ques: Should candidates guess in the CDS General Knowledge paper given the negative marking?
Ans: Blind guessing hurts the score. But smart elimination, where two options can be ruled out, brings the odds down to 50 percent and is usually worth the risk. Candidates should skip any question where they cannot eliminate at least two options.
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