The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2023. This document lists the minimum written marks and final aggregate scores of the last selected candidate for each academy such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). Candidates can download the PDF to check where they stand and set their preparation targets accordingly.
I’m writing about this topic because having access to the official cut-off is vital for anyone preparing for the CDS exam. It helps you understand how competitive the exam was, what score you might aim for and how you should plan your study strategy. Without a clear benchmark, preparation can be vague and unfocused. By analysing these figures, you can set realistic targets, track your progress, and adjust your preparation method to match the level of previous successful candidates.
How to Download the Official Cut-Off PDF
- Go to the UPSC official website and navigate to the “Examinations” section.
- Under “Cut-Off Marks” or “Results”, look for the link titled Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2023.
- Click to open the PDF titled MksRcdCndts‐CDSE‐I‐23‐engl‐310124.pdf.
- Download and save the document for reference.
Why This Cut-Off Matters for You
- Target Setting: If you see that the last selected candidate for IMA scored ~132 in written and ~257 in final, you’ll know you must aim higher if you’re preparing this year.
- Strategy Planning: Understanding the gap between written and final marks helps you decide how much effort to place on the interview/SSB stage in addition to written exam.
- Benchmarking Competition: These numbers reflect the level of competition and difficulty of the exam that year, letting you calibrate your preparation.
- Motivation & Tracking: When you know concrete figures, you can track your mock exam scores against these benchmarks and see how far you are from your goal.
