The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II, 2018. The cut-offs apply to all four training academies — Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Candidates can download the complete cut-off marks PDF from the official UPSC website and use it to understand previous year trends while preparing for upcoming examinations.
I am sharing this information because CDS aspirants often depend on accurate cut-off data to judge competition levels and plan their target scores. Many new candidates do not understand how cut-offs differ between academies or why there is a variation. Knowing past cut-offs helps them choose the right strategy, manage expectations and gauge how tough the selection process can be. Since thousands of students prepare for CDS every year, reliable cut-off details can help them improve their performance in the written test and the subsequent SSB interview. That is why accessing authentic cut-off data from UPSC plays such an important role in smart preparation.
CDS II 2018 Cut-off Marks: Overview
The cut-off marks released by UPSC include:
- Minimum qualifying marks in written exam
- Marks required after SSB for final selection
- Academy-wise cut-offs based on vacancies and difficulty level
CDS cut-offs vary for each academy because the number of seats, physical standards and training requirements are different.
How to Download the Official Cut-off PDF
Follow these steps to download the cut-off from the UPSC website:
- Visit the official UPSC website
- Go to the Examination section
- Click on Cut-off Marks
- Select Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2018
- Download the PDF and save it for reference
Candidates can also print the PDF to compare trends across other years.


















