The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS I), 2024. Candidates who appeared for the examination can now download the official cut-off list directly from the UPSC website. This announcement provides clarity on the minimum qualifying marks required for each course – IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA – marking the final step of the selection process for one of India’s most respected defence recruitment exams.
I am writing about this because the CDS Exam plays a crucial role in selecting young men and women who aspire to join the Indian Armed Forces as commissioned officers. Knowing the official cut-off helps aspirants analyse their performance, understand category-wise competition, and prepare better for the upcoming CDS (II) 2024 or CDS (I) 2025 examinations. The UPSC’s transparency in releasing these marks also allows candidates to compare trends from previous years and identify how the level of competition is evolving.
Combined Defence Services (CDS I) 2024 – Overview
The Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024, is conducted by UPSC twice every year to recruit officers for:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
The exam is held in two stages – a written examination followed by an SSB Interview for shortlisted candidates.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024 |
| Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
| Exam Type | National-level Defence Recruitment |
| Stages | Written Test + SSB Interview |
| Cut-off Released For | Written and Final Selection |
| Mode of Download | Online PDF |
How to Download CDS (I) 2024 Official Cut-off Marks
Here’s a simple step-by-step process to download the official cut-off marks from the UPSC website:
- Visit the official UPSC website – www.upsc.gov.in.
- Go to the Examination section on the homepage.
- Click on Cut-off Marks from the drop-down menu.
- Search for Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2024.
- Click on the PDF link provided to view and download the document.
- Save the file for reference or comparison.
The PDF contains course-wise and category-wise cut-offs for both written and final selection stages.

















