The official cut-off marks PDF for the Combined Defence Services Examination – I, 2016 is now available for candidates who want to analyse past trends and understand the selection standards followed by UPSC. Released by the Union Public Service Commission, these cut-off marks clearly show the minimum scores required to qualify for different academies after the written examination. For defence aspirants, this document remains a valuable reference even years later.
I am writing about the CDS I 2016 cut-off marks because many serious aspirants still rely on past cut-off data to plan their preparation strategy. Whether you are preparing for upcoming CDS exams or comparing your mock test performance, understanding historical cut-offs helps set realistic score targets. It also gives clarity on competition levels and how marks vary across academies like IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
About Combined Defence Services Examination – I, 2016
The Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted twice a year by UPSC to recruit officers for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. CDS Examination – I, 2016 was held as part of this regular recruitment cycle and attracted a large number of defence aspirants from across the country.
The selection process included a written examination followed by the SSB interview. The cut-off marks released later reflect the minimum qualifying marks for the written exam as well as the final selection after SSB.
CDS I 2016 Official Cut-off Marks Overview
The official cut-off marks were released academy-wise and category-wise. These cut-offs help candidates understand how much score was required to move to the next stage.
Some key points to remember:
- Cut-offs are different for each academy
- Written exam cut-off and final cut-off are released separately
- Final cut-off includes marks of written exam and SSB interview
- Cut-offs vary based on vacancies and overall performance of candidates
Why CDS I 2016 Cut-off Marks Are Still Relevant
Even though the exam was conducted in 2016, the cut-off data is still useful today.
- Helps identify long-term cut-off trends
- Useful for setting safe score targets
- Helps understand academy-wise competition
- Acts as a benchmark for mock test analysis
I personally believe that studying at least the last 8–10 years of CDS cut-offs gives a much clearer picture than focusing only on recent exams.
How to Download CDS I 2016 Official Cut-off Marks PDF
Aspirants can download the official PDF by following these steps.
- Visit the official UPSC website
- Go to the Examination section
- Click on Cut-off Marks
- Choose 2016
- Select Combined Defence Services Examination – I, 2016
- Download the official cut-off marks PDF
Always make sure you are downloading the document from the official UPSC portal for accuracy.
