CDS 2 General Knowledge Exam Analysis 2026 provides a detailed review of the General Knowledge paper, including its difficulty level, good attempts, subject-wise question distribution, important topics, and questions. CDS 2 General Knowledge exam was conducted on September 13, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. The paper consisted of 120 questions carrying 100 marks, with negative marking for incorrect answers. Based on the initial paper review and candidate feedback, the overall difficulty level of the General Knowledge paper was Moderate.
Click Here to Download: CDS 2026 Question Paper with Solution for English, GK & Maths
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | CDS 2 2026 |
| Subject | General Knowledge |
| Exam Date | September 13, 2026 |
| Exam Timing | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Attempts | 55-65 |
The overall difficulty level of the CDS 2 General Knowledge paper was Moderate. The paper included questions from History, Geography, Polity, Economy, General Science, Current Affairs, Defence, Space and other areas of General Knowledge. While several static GK and science questions were manageable, some questions from History, Economy and Current Affairs required deeper factual knowledge and careful elimination of options.
| Area | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate |
| History | Moderate to Difficult |
| Geography | Moderate |
| Polity | Moderate |
| General Science | Easy to Moderate |
| Current Affairs | Moderate to Difficult |
| Economy | Moderate to Difficult |
The number of good attempts depends on the overall difficulty of the paper and the accuracy maintained by candidates. Based on the Moderate level of the CDS 2 General Knowledge paper, around 55-65 questions attempted with good accuracy can be considered a reasonable attempt range. Since the CDS General Knowledge paper carries negative marking, candidates should focus on accuracy rather than the total number of attempted questions.
| Paper Difficulty | Expected Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| Easy | 75-85 |
| Easy to Moderate | 65-75 |
| Moderate | 55-65 |
| Moderate to Difficult | 45-55 |
The CDS 2 General Knowledge paper included questions from History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Current Affairs, Defence and Static General Knowledge. General Science, History, Geography and Current Affairs accounted for a significant portion of the paper. The approximate subject-wise distribution based on the initial paper analysis is given below.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| History | Approx. 16 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Geography | Approx. 17 | Moderate |
| Indian Polity | Approx. 11 | Moderate |
| Economy | Approx. 9 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Physics | Approx. 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Chemistry | Approx. 9 | Easy to Moderate |
| Biology | Approx. 9 | Easy to Moderate |
| Current Affairs | Approx. 17 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Defence | Approx. 7 | Moderate |
| Static General Knowledge | Approx. 15 | Moderate |
The CDS 2 General Knowledge paper covered a broad mix of static General Knowledge and current affairs. Questions were reported from areas such as Indian History, Geography, Polity, General Science, Current Affairs, Defence and Space. Candidates with strong fundamentals in static GK and regular current affairs preparation were better positioned to attempt the paper accurately.
The major areas analysed include:
General Science and familiar static General Knowledge areas were comparatively manageable for candidates with clear basic concepts. Geography, Polity and direct factual questions also provided scoring opportunities, while some History, Economy and Current Affairs questions required greater factual depth. Accuracy remained important because of the negative marking scheme.
The CDS 2 General Knowledge paper had a balanced distribution of static GK, General Science and Current Affairs. General Science carried one of the highest combined shares, while History, Geography and Current Affairs also had significant representation. The approximate subject-wise weightage based on the initial paper analysis is given below.
| Subject | Questions | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| History | Approx. 16 | Approx. 13% |
| Geography | Approx. 17 | Approx. 14% |
| Polity | Approx. 11 | Approx. 9% |
| Science | Approx. 28 | Approx. 23% |
| Current Affairs | Approx. 17 | Approx. 14% |
| Economy | Approx. 9 | Approx. 8% |
| Other Topics | Approx. 22 | Approx. 18% |
The CDS 2 General Knowledge paper was Moderate overall and included a mix of factual and conceptual questions. Static GK remained important, while Current Affairs, Defence and Space-related topics were also represented. Some questions could be answered directly, whereas others required candidates to use conceptual understanding and elimination. Candidates with balanced preparation across static subjects and recent current affairs were better positioned to handle the paper.
Based on the initial exam review, candidates found the General Knowledge paper Moderate overall. General Science and some static GK questions were comparatively manageable, while History, Economy and Current Affairs included several questions that required stronger factual knowledge. The wide coverage of topics made accuracy and selective attempts important.
Time management was important in the CDS General Knowledge paper because candidates had to solve 120 questions within two hours. Candidates who quickly completed direct factual and conceptual questions were able to spend more time on questions requiring elimination or deeper recall.
Candidates needed to avoid spending too much time on uncertain questions and consider the negative marking before making guesses. A balanced approach with selective attempts and good accuracy was important for maximising the score.
CDS 2 2026 written examination consists of three objective-type papers: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper carries 100 marks and is conducted for two hours. Candidates applying for Officers' Training Academy (OTA) appear only for the English and General Knowledge papers.
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | English | 120 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2 | General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 3 | Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| CDS Exam Pattern | CDS Syllabus | CDS Cutoff |
| CDS Study Material | CDS Mock Tests | CDS Latest Updates |
Ques. When was the CDS 2 General Knowledge exam conducted in 2026?
Ans. The CDS 2 General Knowledge examination was conducted on September 13, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Ques. How many questions are asked in CDS General Knowledge?
Ans. The CDS General Knowledge paper consists of 120 questions carrying 100 marks.
Ques. What was the difficulty level of CDS 2 General Knowledge 2026?
Ans. The CDS 2 General Knowledge 2026 paper was Moderate overall. Some questions from History, Economy and Current Affairs were comparatively challenging, while General Science and familiar static GK areas were more manageable.
Ques. What are good attempts in CDS 2 General Knowledge 2026?
Ans. Based on the Moderate difficulty level of the paper, around 55-65 questions attempted with good accuracy can be considered a reasonable attempt range.
Ques. What subjects were asked in the CDS General Knowledge paper?
Ans. The paper covered areas such as History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, General Science, Current Affairs, Defence, Space and Static General Knowledge.
Ques. Is there negative marking in CDS General Knowledge?
Ans. Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer.
Ques. When will the CDS 2 2026 official answer key be released?
Ans. UPSC releases the official answer key after the examination process. Candidates should check the official UPSC website for the latest update.
Download the PREPP App and attempt FREE CDS Mock Tests and get complete study material!
Comments