The Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025 General Knowledge Question Paper is now available for download for candidates who appeared in the exam or are preparing for the next cycle. The General Knowledge paper plays a crucial role in the CDS selection process, especially for candidates targeting IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. By downloading the official question paper, aspirants can understand the exam pattern, difficulty level and types of questions asked in the latest exam.
I am writing this because many candidates focus heavily on coaching notes but do not analyse the actual UPSC question papers. In my experience, solving the real paper gives a much clearer idea of how topics are framed and what UPSC expects from aspirants. Whether you are reviewing your performance or preparing for CDS (II), this question paper can help you plan your strategy better.
About CDS Examination
The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined Defence Services Examination twice every year. Through this exam, candidates are selected for:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA)
- Indian Naval Academy (INA)
- Air Force Academy (AFA)
- Officers Training Academy (OTA)
For IMA, INA and AFA, the written exam consists of three papers: English, General Knowledge and Mathematics. For OTA, only English and General Knowledge are conducted.
Importance of the General Knowledge Paper
The General Knowledge paper carries 100 marks and tests a candidate’s awareness across multiple subjects. It is often considered unpredictable because questions can come from both static and current topics.
The paper usually covers:
- Indian History
- Geography
- Indian Polity
- Economy
- General Science
- Current Affairs
- Defence-related updates
From what I have observed, a strong foundation in NCERT-level concepts combined with regular current affairs revision is essential for scoring well.
CDS (I) 2025 General Knowledge Paper Pattern
Here is a quick overview of the exam pattern:
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Type of Questions: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Negative Marking: One-third mark deducted for each wrong answer
The questions are designed to test conceptual clarity rather than rote learning.
How to Download CDS (I) 2025 General Knowledge Question Paper
Aspirants can easily download the official question paper by following these steps:
- Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission
- Go to the “Examinations” section
- Click on “Previous Question Papers”
- Select “Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2025”
- Click on the General Knowledge paper link
- Download the PDF and save it for practice
N.B: If you want to download the question paper without any difficulty, you can easily download it by Click Here.
It is always advisable to rely only on the official UPSC website for authentic documents.


















