The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS II), 2024 on its website. Candidates who appeared for the written examination can now download the official cut-off marks PDF to check the minimum qualifying marks required for selection to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). The cut-off marks serve as a benchmark to determine eligibility for the next phase — the SSB Interview.
I am writing about this update because the CDS examination is one of the most sought-after defence recruitment exams in India, opening prestigious career paths in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The official cut-off marks provide clarity to thousands of aspirants about their standing and help them understand how competitive this year’s exam was. It also sets a reference for future candidates preparing for CDS 2025, allowing them to gauge how much they need to score to secure a call for the SSB.
UPSC CDS (II) 2024 – Overview
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for officer-level positions in India’s Armed Forces. Those who qualify through the written exam and SSB Interview are admitted to:
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad
- Officers’ Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Men and Women)
Exam Conducting Authority: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2024
Category: Official Cut-off Marks Released
Selection Process: Written Examination + SSB Interview
Official Website: https://www.upsc.gov.in
How to Download the Official Cut-off Marks PDF
Candidates can download the official UPSC CDS (II) 2024 Cut-off Marks PDF by following these steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website at https://www.upsc.gov.in
- On the homepage, click on the “Examination” tab.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Cut-off Marks.”
- Look for the link titled “Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2024.”
- Click on the link to open the PDF.
- Download and save the file for reference.
The PDF contains academy-wise and category-wise cut-off marks for both the written exam and final selection (including SSB Interview).
Official Cut-off Marks (As per UPSC PDF)
The official cut-off marks for CDS (II) 2024 are expected to be released in the following format:
| Academy | Written Exam (Out of 300 for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 for OTA) | Final Cut-off (Out of 600 for IMA/INA/AFA, 400 for OTA) |
|---|---|---|
| IMA (Dehradun) | To be updated from PDF | To be updated from PDF |
| INA (Ezhimala) | To be updated from PDF | To be updated from PDF |
| AFA (Hyderabad) | To be updated from PDF | To be updated from PDF |
| OTA (Men) | To be updated from PDF | To be updated from PDF |
| OTA (Women) | To be updated from PDF | To be updated from PDF |
Note: The official data will be updated as soon as UPSC publishes the PDF.
