UPSC CDS Examination (I) 2022 Cut-off Marks Released – Download Official PDF and Check Academy-wise Details

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2022. Candidates who appeared for the exam or are preparing for the upcoming CDS exams can now check and download the official cut-off PDF from the UPSC website. The cut-off marks reveal the minimum score required for selection to different academies such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).

I am writing about this topic because the CDS exam remains one of the most sought-after gateways to India’s armed forces. Thousands of aspirants appear every year with dreams of serving the nation in uniform, and understanding the official cut-off helps them assess their preparation level and set realistic targets. The 2022 cut-off list, released by UPSC, offers valuable insight into how competitive each academy is, what marks are typically safe for selection, and how the difficulty level of papers impacts the final merit. Analysing these numbers can help future aspirants prepare more strategically for the next CDS examination cycle.

About the Combined Defence Services Examination

The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is conducted twice a year by the UPSC to select candidates for training in the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Indian Naval Academy (Ezhimala), Air Force Academy (Hyderabad), and Officers’ Training Academy (Chennai). The exam is followed by the Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview, which tests the candidate’s personality, leadership, and officer-like qualities.

The CDS (I) 2022 exam was conducted in April 2022, and the results were announced after a few months. The final cut-off marks have now been officially published by UPSC, giving complete clarity on the marks required for written and final selection.

Key Details of the Exam

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2022
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Mode of Exam	Written + SSB Interview
Total Vacancies	As per official notification
Academies Covered	IMA, INA, AFA, OTA (Men and Women)
Official Website	https://www.upsc.gov.in

How to Download the Official Cut-off PDF

Candidates can easily download the official UPSC CDS (I) 2022 cut-off marks PDF from the UPSC website by following these steps:

Go to the official website https://www.upsc.gov.in
On the homepage, click on the “Examinations” tab
Select “Cut-off Marks” from the list
Find and click on “Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2022”
The official PDF file will open — download and save it for future reference

UPSC CAPF ACs Examination 2018 Cut-off Marks Released: Download Official PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2018. Candidates who appeared in this recruitment or those preparing for upcoming CAPF exams can now download the cut-off PDF for reference. The CAPF AC exam is one of the most competitive defence recruitment tests in India, conducted to select Assistant Commandants for forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB.

I am sharing this update because understanding previous year cut-off trends is essential for aspirants preparing for CAPF AC exams. Many candidates focus only on syllabus and physical tests, but cut-off marks help them plan their score target more realistically. The marks vary for each stage — written exam, physical tests and interview — and they differ across categories. Analysing official cut-off patterns offers clarity on how tough the competition is, which papers require more effort and how many marks are usually safe to qualify. This guide will help you download the correct PDF and also explain how to use it effectively in your preparation.

About the CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination

The CAPF AC exam is conducted annually by UPSC for direct recruitment of Assistant Commandants in central paramilitary forces. The selection process includes:

Written Examination
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Medical Examination
Personality Test (Interview)

The official cut-off is released only after the final result, showing marks needed to clear each stage.

What Does the 2018 Cut-off PDF Contain?

The official cut-off PDF includes:

Written exam qualifying scores for all categories
Final selection cut-off after interview
Marks for both male and female candidates
Relaxation details for reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC etc.)

It helps candidates compare their target with actual qualifying benchmarks.

Why the Cut-off Marks Matter for Aspirants

Going through the 2018 cut-off helps aspirants:

Understand minimum score to clear the written exam
Set realistic goals during practice tests
Compare competition levels across years
Plan strategy for Paper-I (General Ability & Intelligence) and Paper-II (Essay & Comprehension)
Judge how much effort is required to secure a final rank

Often, candidates underestimate Paper-II because it is descriptive, but past cut-offs show that strong performance in Paper-II can significantly improve final merit.